This bill pushes the federal government to expand oil and gas drilling in the ocean off America's coasts, particularly in the Gulf of Mexico. Here's what it does in practical terms: It requires the Department of Interior to hold at least two major oil and gas lease sales every year in the Gulf of Mexico, covering both the central and western planning areas. States with coastlines can now nominate specific ocean areas where they want drilling to happen, and the federal government must seriously consider those suggestions. If the government decides not to include a state's nominated area, it has to explain why in writing and give the state 60 days to argue back.

The bill also speeds up the approval process for oil companies. Once a company gets an ocean lease, they have just 75 days to get permits for actual drilling operations—or whatever the shortest deadline is under existing law. Unless the government has a clear, documented reason to reject a permit application, it must approve it. Environmental reviews that normally take years are capped at one year for smaller assessments and two years for major ones, though companies can request extensions. Essentially, this legislation removes obstacles to offshore oil and gas development by giving states more say in where drilling happens, requiring faster government approvals, and limiting the time for environmental review. The stated goal is to increase domestic energy production and job creation in the oil and gas industry.

More Energy More Jobs Act of 2023

Moran, Nathaniel

More Energy More Jobs Act of 2023 This bill revises requirements concerning oil and gas lease sales under the Outer Continental Shelf leasing program. Specifically, the bill directs the Department of the Interior to allow coastal states to nominate areas off their coasts for oil and gas development. In addition, Interior must hold at least two region-wide oil and gas lease sales per year in the Gulf of Mexico. Each lease sale must include areas in the Central Gulf of Mexico Planning Area and the Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Area. The bill also establishes deadlines for completing environmental reviews of the lease sales.