119th (2025–2027)
H.R. 2865
This bill would permanently prohibit the federal government from issuing oil and gas leases on the outer Continental Shelf (the underwater area extending from the New England coast) off Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. The legislation, introduced in April 2025 by a group of New England representatives, amends existing federal law to prevent any future oil and gas exploration or drilling in these waters. The bill affects coastal communities and the energy industry in the New England region, while protecting marine ecosystems and fisheries from potential oil and gas development. No specific funding is allocated in the bill, as it functions as a regulatory prohibition rather than a spending measure. The prohibition would take effect once the bill is signed into law.