Legislative Activity

The "Regulatory Integrity for Gulf Energy Development Act of 2025" ensures continuity of offshore oil and gas permits by maintaining the terms of expired permits until new ones are issued. It allows the Secretary of Interior and/or Commerce to coordinate with other agencies to uphold permit terms and stipulates that compliance with existing biological opinions satisfies certain environmental regulations until updated opinions are approved. This act aims to streamline offshore energy development while adhering to federal laws and safety standards.

The POWER Act of 2025 introduces a tax credit for individuals who purchase emergency generators for use in their primary residence. This credit, capped at $500, is available to qualified individuals whose primary residence is in an area declared as a major disaster area at least twice in the last 5 years and who have received individual assistance under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. The credit amount is reduced for taxpayers with higher incomes, and it applies to generators purchased within 2 years of the Act's enactment. The bill specifies that disasters declared for public health purposes are not covered.

The Comprehensive Offshore Resource Enhancement (CORE) Act of 2025 aims to enhance U.S. offshore energy resource assessment and development. It mandates reports on transboundary hydrocarbon reservoirs, legal frameworks, and cooperation with neighboring countries, while also requiring comparative analyses of offshore oil and gas practices in other major producing countries. The Act further directs the Secretary of Interior to periodically assess the costs, benefits, and accuracy of models used by the Department of Interior. Finally, the CORE Act seeks to improve data collection, analysis, and international collaboration to strengthen U.S. energy security and economic interests.

This bill amends the Mineral Leasing Act to streamline the process for commingling production from multiple sources before royalty measurement. It requires the Secretary of the Interior to approve commingling applications, regardless of ownership or royalty rates. Applicants must install measurement devices for each source or use an allocation method with a volume measurement uncertainty of plus or minus 2 percent, reported monthly.