Central Louisiana News

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, criticized the Biden administration's proposed Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2024 – 2029, stating that it falls short of expectations and undermines economic, energy, and national security. Cassidy emphasized the need for Congress to take action if the administration does not act, and highlighted his Offshore Energy Security Act as a solution that would ensure the required offshore lease sales.

"Only holding three lease sales over the next five years in the Gulf of Mexico doesn’t even qualify as bare minimum effort," said Senator Cassidy. "This proposal is bad for our economic, energy, and national security. It’s a slap in the face to American energy workers and a pat on the back to Putin and OPEC dictators. If the Biden administration won’t act, Congress must. My Offshore Energy Security Act provides much-needed certainty by requiring four offshore lease sales during the next two years."

The proposed five-year plan, which only includes three oil sales in 2025, 2027, and 2029, has been met with strong criticism. Cassidy noted that this would be the smallest offshore energy program in U.S. history, contradicting previous assurances from Interior officials who claimed not to be anti-oil and gas. Cassidy has been advocating for a new congressionally mandated five-year plan since the previous one expired in June 2022.

A recent study found that oil production in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico has a carbon intensity 46% lower than the global average, surpassing major oil-producing nations such as Russia, China, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, and Nigeria.

Senator Cassidy has been actively pursuing measures to support offshore energy security. He introduced the Offshore Energy Security Act of 2023 in July, alongside Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), which would require the Department of the Interior (DOI) to hold two offshore oil and gas lease sales in 2024 and 2025. Cassidy also led colleagues in challenging the Biden administration's decision to remove 6 million acres from the Gulf Lease Sale and filed an amicus brief to restart energy production in the Gulf of Mexico.

Last year, Cassidy released a landmark energy & climate policy outline in response to the Biden administration's actions against domestic energy. The outline includes Cassidy's plan for an Energy Operation Warp Speed, aimed at cutting permitting red tape and unleashing domestic energy.

For more information on Senator Cassidy's efforts and proposals, please visit the links below:

• Offshore Energy Security Act of 2023
• Challenging the Removal of Acreage from Gulf Lease Sale
• Landmark Energy & Climate Policy Outline

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