[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2556 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2556
To enhance national security and energy independence through
comprehensive offshore energy resource assessment and mapping, to
establish a framework for the regular review and standardization of
offshore resource exploration methodologies, and for related purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 1, 2025
Mr. Hunt introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on
Energy and Commerce, and Foreign Affairs, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To enhance national security and energy independence through
comprehensive offshore energy resource assessment and mapping, to
establish a framework for the regular review and standardization of
offshore resource exploration methodologies, and for related purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Comprehensive Offshore Resource
Enhancement Act of 2025'' or the ``CORE Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. ASSESSMENT OF OFFSHORE ENERGY RESOURCES AND RESERVES.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Exploration; development, production.--The terms
``exploration'', ``development'', and ``production'' have the
meanings given such terms in section 2 of the Outer Continental
Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331).
(2) Secretaries.--The term ``Secretaries'' means the
Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of the Interior, and the
Secretary of State.
(b) Report on Transboundary Hydrocarbon Reservoirs.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall jointly submit to
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee
on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Energy
and Commerce, the Committee on Natural Resources, and the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives a
report that includes the following:
(A) An identification and assessment of any
existing transboundary hydrocarbon reservoirs,
including those covered by bilateral maritime boundary
treaties and agreements, and any potential
transboundary areas for future exploration,
development, and production of hydrocarbons.
(B) An analysis of the legal frameworks established
by relevant maritime boundary treaties and agreements,
including provisions related to the equitable
exploration, development, and production of
transboundary hydrocarbon reservoirs and mechanisms for
resolving disputes, and their adoption by counterparty
nations.
(C) An evaluation of the potential economic,
environmental, and geopolitical implications of
transboundary hydrocarbon exploration, development, and
production, including impacts on domestic energy
security, greenhouse gas emissions, and international
relations.
(D) Recommendations for enhancing cooperation and
coordination among the United States and neighboring
countries in the exploration, development, and
production of transboundary hydrocarbon reservoirs,
including mechanisms for information sharing, joint
exploration, development, and production, and dispute
resolution.
(E) Data and insights derived from recent
collaborative efforts between the United States and
Canada, such as seismic data collection, and an
analysis of how such efforts can inform the delineation
of maritime boundaries.
(F) An examination of unresolved maritime
boundaries between the United States and Canada,
particularly those involving potential transboundary
hydrocarbon reservoirs, and an identification of
potential legal and diplomatic avenues to resolve
disputes over such boundaries, including the
possibility of involving international judicial bodies
such as the International Court of Justice or a chamber
constituted by such Court pursuant to a special
agreement between the parties.
(G) A review of existing data on the potential for
shared exploration, development, and production of
transboundary hydrocarbon reservoirs in disputed
maritime zones between the United States and Canada,
with recommendations for further studies or
negotiations to address uncertainties and maximize
joint exploration, development, and production
opportunities.
(H) A comprehensive review of activities by
neighboring countries, including Cuba, Mexico, Canada,
the Bahamas, and Russia, regarding the exploration,
development, seismic surveying, drilling, production,
or any other activity related to transboundary
hydrocarbon reservoirs, which such review shall include
the status of any bilateral or multilateral agreements,
an assessment of foreign exploration, development, and
production efforts within transboundary zones adjacent
to United States maritime boundaries, and an analysis
of the potential implications of these activities for
United States energy security, environmental impacts,
and geopolitical considerations.
(2) Other requirements.--In preparing the report required
to be submitted under paragraph (1), the Secretaries shall--
(A) prioritize the acquisition and use of advanced
geophysical, geological, and geotechnical data and
methods;
(B) acquire and apply new and emerging modeling and
analytic technologies, including data analysis tools,
quantum computing, artificial intelligence, modeling,
and geographic information systems, to approximate the
quantity and establish a peer-reviewed range of
resources in each regional planning area with a
discussion of the upper and lower bound of the
estimates with that discussion to include
recommendations as to how to reduce the range of
uncertainty; and
(C) in partnership with other relevant Federal
agencies, including the National Science Foundation,
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
and the Office of Naval Research, utilize any existing
maritime vessels or deployed capability, including any
geophysical, geological, or related mapping
technologies.
(c) Standardization of Existing Reports.--Section 357 of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15912) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by inserting ``, in consultation with other
relevant Federal agencies and not less frequently than
once every 5 years,'' after ``Secretary shall''; and
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``of Mexico and
Canada'';
(2) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (d);
(3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
``(b) Inclusions.--An inventory and analysis conducted under
subsection (a) shall include the following:
``(1) An assessment of the approximate quantity of
undiscovered resources in the Atlantic region, the Pacific
region off the coasts of California, Oregon, Washington, and
Hawaii, the Alaska region, the Gulf of America region, and
offshore of territories of the United States, which shall
include the following:
``(A) A detailed analysis of how the future
production of these undiscovered resources could
influence the United States capacity to competitively
produce, market, and export hydrocarbons on a global
scale. Such detailed analysis shall consider key market
variables such as global supply and demand dynamics,
projected price points, geopolitical factors, and the
role of United States production in maintaining global
energy security.
``(B) An economic analysis of how the development
and production of these undiscovered resources would
affect domestic employment across the supply chain.
Such economic analysis shall include direct, indirect,
and induced job impacts, emphasizing the potential for
job creation in exploration, production, refining,
logistics, and associated industries.
``(2) An identification and assessment of how the
unavailability for leasing of any lands that are withdrawn
under section 12 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43
U.S.C. 1341) or part of the National Marine Sanctuary System
established by section 301(c) of the National Marine
Sanctuaries Act (16 U.S.C. 1431(c)) affects--
``(A) the exploration, development, and production
of oil and gas;
``(B) national security, including the Nation's
ability to supply the Armed Forces, its allies, and
trade partners with products derived from offshore oil
or gas;
``(C) domestic jobs and employment; and
``(D) the amount of revenue States and coastal
political subdivisions receive pursuant to--
``(i) section 105 of the Gulf of Mexico
Energy Security Act of 2006 (43 U.S.C. 1331
note);
``(ii) the Land and Water Conservation Fund
(established under section 200301 of title 54,
United States Code); and
``(iii) division A of subtitle III of title
54 (commonly referred to as the `National
Historic Preservation Act').
``(3) An assessment, including identification of locations,
of non-energy mineral resources for commercial or national
security operations, including stone, sand, and gravel, and
offshore critical minerals.
``(c) Updating Models.--
``(1) Assessment.--The Secretary shall, in consultation
with the National Petroleum Council, the Society of Petroleum
Engineers, and the United States Association for Energy
Economics, periodically conduct an assessment of the costs,
benefits, and accuracy of the models utilized by the Department
of the Interior to conduct an inventory and analysis under
subsection (a). The first assessment under this paragraph shall
be conducted not later than 1 year after the date of enactment
of the CORE Act of 2025, and subsequent assessments not less
frequently than once every 10 years thereafter.
``(2) Updates and reports.--
``(A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the
date on which the Secretary conducts an assessment
under paragraph (1), the Secretary of the Interior
shall, based on such assessment--
``(i) update the models described in such
paragraph and publish a report on such update;
or
``(ii) publish a report on why an update to
such models is not necessary.
``(B) Inclusions.--Each report published under
subparagraph (A) shall include the following:
``(i) A clear, detailed explanation of any
updates made to the models described in
paragraph (1) or why updates were not
necessary.
``(ii) An evaluation describing how any
updates made under subparagraph (A) improve the
accuracy, cost-effectiveness, and reliability
of the inventories and analyses conducted under
subsection (a).
``(iii) If any updates recommend by the
National Petroleum Council, the Society of
Petroleum Engineers, or the United States
Association for Energy Economics are not
incorporated, a detailed explanation of why
such updates were not incorporated.''; and
(4) in subsection (d) (as so redesignated)--
(A) by striking ``The Secretary shall submit'' and
inserting ``Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of the CORE Act of 2025, the Secretary shall
submit''; and
(B) by striking ``, within 6 months of the date of
enactment of the section''.
SEC. 3. COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PRODUCTION PRACTICES FROM OFFSHORE
PRODUCING COUNTRY.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and
not less frequently than once every 10 years thereafter, the Secretary
of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the
Secretary of Energy, shall publish on the website of the Department of
the Interior and submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the Senate a comparative analysis of the offshore oil and
gas exploration, development, and production practices for each major
offshore producing country. To the fullest extent practicable, such
comparative analysis shall include the following:
(1) Data on--
(A) the number of offshore acres offered for lease;
(B) the frequency of lease auctions, sales, and
lease issuances; and
(C) lease structures, fiscal terms, and the
competitive positioning of each major offshore
producing country relative to United States leasing
practices.
(2) Detailed reporting on the volume of oil and gas
produced (measured in barrels on an annual basis and cubic
feet, respectively), including historical trends, production
forecasts, and the influence of technological advancements on
production efficiency and recovery rates.
(3) An accounting of regional market demands, export
capabilities, and contributions to energy diversification
strategies.
(4) An assessment, which shall be made in collaboration
with the United States Geological Survey, of the volume of both
undiscovered and discovered offshore oil and gas resources,
including probabilistic estimates of resource volumes that
consider geological, technological, and market factors
impacting exploration, development, and production.
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