This bill, called the Defend our Coast Act, would change the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. It adds a rule that the Secretary may not issue a lease for the exploration, development, or production of oil or gas on the outer Continental Shelf in the Mid-Atlantic Planning Area. The Mid-Atlantic Planning Area is the area shown in the 2024-2029 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Proposed Final Program (September 2023). The bill was introduced on April 10, 2025, and was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources. Sponsors include Deborah Ross, Gerald Connolly, Jennifer McClellan, Valerie Foushee, Sarah Elfreth, Robert Scott, Donald Beyer, Sarah McBride, and James Walkinshaw.
If this bill becomes law, federal officials would be barred from issuing new oil and gas leases for exploration, development, or production in the Mid-Atlantic outer Continental Shelf area shown in the 2024-2029 leasing program. The text addresses issuing new leases; it does not say anything about existing leases or other federal actions.
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The bill was introduced by the listed sponsors, who are proponents of the change. No publicly available information on additional proponents' statements or claimed benefits beyond the bill text.
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