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HR 6418 110th Congress House

DRILL NOW Act of 2008

Official title: To achieve greater national energy independence by terminating longstanding moratoriums on the domestic production of offshore oil and natural gas and to autho… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To achieve greater national energy independence by terminating longstanding moratoriums on the domestic production of offshore oil and natural gas and to authorize States to petition for authorization to conduct offshore oil and natural gas exploration and extraction in the coastal zone of their State.

Introduced: July 16, 2008 See on congress.gov
Energy Administrative remediesAlabamaAlternative energy sourcesAppropriations
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Coastal zoneContinental shelfDepartment of the InteriorEconomics and Public FinanceEnvironmental ProtectionFederal-state relationsGas in submerged landsGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernment trust fundsLawLouisianaMarine and coastal resources, fisheriesMarine pollutionMississippiNatural gas
This bill died when the 110th Congress ended
It never became law before the 110th Congress (2007–2008) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 2, 2008
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
Jun 26, 2008
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Jun 26, 2008
Introduced in House
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 Latest action July 2, 2008

Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Developing Resources Immediately and Long-Term through Leases on Our Nation's Offshore Waters Act of 2008, or DRILL NOW Act of 2008 - Declares without force or effect all existing federal law which prohibits spending appropriated funds to conduct oil and natural gas leasing and preleasing on the outer Continental Shelf.

Revokes: (1) all withdrawals from leasing on federal submerged lands of the outer Continental Shelf (including withdrawals by the President); and (2) Presidential authorities with respect to such leasing (except in the interest of national security).

Amends of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to authorize a state governor to petition the Secretary of the Interior to issue leases for oil and natural gas exploration and extraction activities in any area that is at least 50 miles beyond the state's coastal zone.

Cites circumstances under which the Secretary shall approve or deny the petition.

Instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to deposit revenues from leasing operations into designated funds and accounts.

Provides that any funds that would be received by the United States as royalties under any existing federal oil and gas lease on the outer Continental Shelf that lies within 50 miles of the coastal zone of the states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, or Alabama shall be paid to that state if it enacts an expenditure plan for those funds.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 6418: DRILL NOW Act of 2008. 110th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/110-HR-6418/
MLA
"H.R. 6418: DRILL NOW Act of 2008." 110th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/110-HR-6418/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 6418, 110th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/110-HR-6418/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 6418: DRILL NOW Act of 2008](https://openamerica.io/bill/110-HR-6418/)
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