Interior official backs House offshore drilling bills

By Amelia Davidson | 05/21/2025 06:14 AM EDT

The legislation targets restrictions mandated by President Joe Biden during his final weeks in office.

Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) at a hearing.

Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) is sponsoring the “Offshore Lands Authorities Act." Angelina Katsanis/POLITICO

House Republicans were full of praise at a hearing Tuesday for two bills that would encourage more offshore drilling, while Democrats decried environmental impacts.

The Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources discussed H.R. 513, the “Offshore Lands Authorities Act,” and H.R. 2556, the “Comprehensive Offshore Resource Enhancement (CORE) Act,” both of which pave the way for expanded drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf.

Walter Cruickshank, the deputy director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, testified in favor of the two bills.

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“Offshore energy development is a vital component of U.S. national security and a critical driver of American prosperity,” Cruickshank said.

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