Central Louisiana News

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Katie Britt (R-AL), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) have introduced the Warding Off Hostile Administrative Lease Efforts (WHALE) Act. This legislation aims to prevent the U.S. Departments of Commerce and the Interior from implementing maritime rules that would hinder offshore energy development and military activities related to Rice's whale.

"At the last minute, the Biden administration imposed additional mitigation measures the Department of the Interior previously said were unnecessary and removed six million acres offshore for Rice’s whales at the request of their environmental donors. Is there really no way for the whale to swim away from and around the area?" said Dr. Bill Cassidy, one of the bill's sponsors. "We can protect wildlife, military activities, and vital energy production in the Gulf of Mexico at the same time."

The WHALE Act aims to address concerns raised by the recent imposition of mitigation measures and the removal of offshore acres for the protection of Rice's whales. The senators argue that these actions were taken based on the influence of environmental donors rather than scientific evidence.

"Instead of placating Green New Deal activists, Washington needs to be doing everything we can to restore our nation's energy independence," said Senator Cynthia Lummis. "We are facing an energy crisis in this country with sky-high gas prices that have increased the cost of everything and added fuel to the inflationary fire. The WHALE Act will effectively thwart the Biden administration's latest regulatory excuse it created out of thin air to target domestic energy production."

Senator Katie Britt echoed these concerns, stating, "The Biden Administration is continually putting a leftwing agenda ahead of common sense and the wellbeing of hardworking American families. Prioritizing partisan activism over economic opportunity and domestic energy dominance is irresponsible and further fueling persistent inflation. I'll continue to fight back against President Biden's reckless regulatory regime."

The WHALE Act aims to prevent the Biden administration from implementing regulations that hinder American energy production and prioritize environmental activism over economic interests. The bill's sponsors argue that the administration's approach lacks transparency and scientific evidence.

U.S. Representative Clay Higgins (R-LA-03) has introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives, emphasizing the importance of protecting the maritime and oil and gas industries in Southwest Louisiana.

"Southwest Louisiana is home to a thriving maritime and oil and gas industry. Each serves as a critical economic engine for our community and this great nation," said Representative Higgins. "Enforcing limitations by allowing partisan politics to assuage environmental activists drastically affects our economic prosperity and sets us up for massive failure. We cannot afford to slow down transportation and devastate America's energy resources."

The WHALE Act includes provisions to prevent the Secretaries of Commerce and Interior from issuing rules or requirements that establish vessel speed or operational restrictions related to Rice's whales. It also requires the completion of a study to assess the impact of mitigation protocols on various sectors, such as energy production, military activities, and fishing. The bill emphasizes the use of real-time location monitoring and prohibits evening transit or vessel speed restrictions.

The introduction of the WHALE Act is a response to recent efforts by environmental interest groups to establish vessel speed restriction zones and other mitigation measures for Rice's whales. The senators argue that these measures ignore critical oil and gas and military activities in the Gulf of Mexico.

The bill will now undergo further consideration in the Senate, with supporters hoping it will protect offshore energy development and military activities while ensuring the preservation of wildlife.

Background

Earlier this year, a coalition of radical environmental interest groups filed a petition with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish year-round vessel speed restriction zones and other mitigation measures for Rice's whales. In response, NOAA proposed a rule to establish critical habitat for the species, acknowledging the presence of critical oil and gas and military activity in these areas.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) also reached a sue and settle agreement with radical environmental interest groups, imposing vessel transit restrictions and other obligations on offshore oil and gas leaseholders. This agreement included the removal of millions of unleased acres from leasing. While a federal district court ruled against BOEM's ability to do so, it is expected that these stipulations will reappear in the next 5-year offshore oil and gas leasing program.

For more information about the WHALE Act, please visit the official bill text.

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