Disapproval of offshore archaeological report rule
A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management relating to "Protection of Marine Archaeological Resources".
Signed into law Mar 14, 2025 · Public Lands and Natural Resources
What this law does
- Cancels a Bureau of Ocean Energy Management rule requiring an archaeological report with every offshore oil and gas exploration or development plan.
- Restores earlier rules that required such a report only when a regional director had reason to believe archaeological resources may be present.
Plain-language list by Voting On, based only on the official summary by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service and the bill's titles. Read the official summary.
How it became law
- IntroducedFeb 4, 2025 · Senate
- 21 daysPassed SenateFeb 25, 2025
- 9 daysPassed HouseMar 6, 2025
- 4 daysPresented to the PresidentMar 10, 2025
- 4 daysSigned into lawMar 14, 2025
Official summary
This joint resolution rescinds a requirement for lessees and operators to submit an archaeological report with any oil and gas exploration or development plan they submit to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) for approval of activities proposed on the Outer Continental Shelf. (An archaeological report identifies material remains of human life or activities that are at least 50 years old and that are of archaeological interest.)
Specifically, the joint resolution nullifies BOEM's final rule titled Protection of Marine Archaeological Resources and published on September 3, 2024.
Nullifying this rule requires BOEM to reinstate regulations that were previously in effect and authorized BOEM to require an archaeological report only if a BOEM regional director has reason to believe that an archaeological resource may be present in the lease area.
Summary by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service (Public Law, Mar 14, 2025).
Who wrote it
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]
2 cosponsors: 2 Republicans. 1 signed on the day it was introduced, 1 joined later.
Show all cosponsors
| Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|
| Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS] | Feb 4, 2025 | Original cosponsor |
| Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID] | Feb 24, 2025 |
Recorded votes
| Date | Chamber | Vote | Yeas | Nays |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 25, 2025 | Senate | Passed Senate without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 54 - 44. Record Vote Number: 92. | 54 | 44 |
| Feb 25, 2025 | Senate | Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 54 - 42. Record Vote Number: 91. | 54 | 42 |
| Mar 6, 2025 | House | On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 221 - 202, 1 Present (Roll no. 61). | 221 | 202 |
What was added
Amendments adopted (0)
No floor amendments were adopted. Any changes were made in committee or in a later version of the bill.
Sections in the final law that were not in the first version (Introduced in Senate) (0)
None. Every section heading in the final law was already in the first version (Introduced in Senate).
What was removed
Sections in the first version (Introduced in Senate) that did not make it into the law (0)
None. Every section heading from the first version (Introduced in Senate) remains in the law.
Compared by section heading between the Introduced in Senate text (Feb 4, 2025) and the Enrolled Bill text, both from GovInfo. Wording changes inside a section that kept its heading are not shown here; see the amendments and the text versions.
Proposed but not adopted
No amendments were voted down or withdrawn.
Full action history
Show all 26 official actions
| Mar 14, 2025 | Signed by President. |
| Mar 14, 2025 | Signed by President. |
| Mar 14, 2025 | Became Public Law No: 119-3. |
| Mar 14, 2025 | Became Public Law No: 119-3. |
| Mar 10, 2025 | Presented to President. |
| Mar 10, 2025 | Presented to President. |
| Mar 6, 2025 | Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. |
| Mar 6, 2025 | Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 221 - 202, 1 Present (Roll no. 61). (text: CR H1014-1015) |
| Mar 6, 2025 | On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 221 - 202, 1 Present (Roll no. 61). (text: CR H1014-1015) |
| Mar 6, 2025 | The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. |
| Mar 6, 2025 | DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on S.J. Res. 11. |
| Mar 6, 2025 | Rule provides for consideration of H.J. Res. 42, H.J. Res. 61 and S.J. Res. 11. The resolution provides for consideration of H.J. Res. 42, H.J. Res. 61, and S.J. Res. 11 under a closed rule with one of general debate on each measure. The resolution also provides for one motion to recommit on H.J. Res. 42 and H.J. Res. 61 and one motion to commit on S.J. Res. 11. |
| Mar 6, 2025 | Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 177. (consideration: CR H1014-1019) |
| Mar 4, 2025 | Rule H. Res. 177 passed House. |
| Feb 26, 2025 | Held at the desk. |
| Feb 26, 2025 | Received in the House. |
| Feb 26, 2025 | Message on Senate action sent to the House. |
| Feb 25, 2025 | Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 54 - 42. Record Vote Number: 91. (CR S1322) |
| Feb 25, 2025 | Measure laid before Senate by motion. (consideration: CR S1322-1324, S1332-1333) |
| Feb 25, 2025 | Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 54 - 44. Record Vote Number: 92. |
| Feb 25, 2025 | Passed Senate without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 54 - 44. Record Vote Number: 92. (text: CR S1333) |
| Feb 24, 2025 | Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources discharged, by petition, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 802(c). |
| Feb 24, 2025 | Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources discharged, by petition, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 802(c). |
| Feb 24, 2025 | Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 15. |
| Feb 4, 2025 | Introduced in Senate |
| Feb 4, 2025 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. |
Sources: Congress.gov (bill record, sponsors, actions, amendments, CRS summary) and GovInfo (official text). Days are calendar days.