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S 956 115th Congress Senate Energy Administrative law and regulatory procedures Marine and coastal resources, fisheries Monuments and memorials Oil and gas Parks, recreation areas, trails Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

OCEAN Act

Introduced: April 27, 2017 Introduced by: Cassidy, Bill Republican · Louisiana See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) 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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 27, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Apr 27, 2017
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Outer Continental Shelf Energy Access Now Act or the OCEAN Act

This bill amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to limit the President's authority to prohibit oil and gas leasing on the outer Continental Shelf.

The President may prohibit, through a rule making, oil and gas leasing on areas of the outer Continental Shelf located in a national marine sanctuary.

Any suspension of operations under a lease arising from a state of war or declaration of national emergency shall be for 90 days and may be renewed.

The bill rescinds existing moratoriums on oil and gas leasing on areas of the outer Continental Shelf other than marine sanctuaries and national monuments.

The President may not declare or reserve any ocean waters or lands beneath ocean waters as a national monument.

What's happening now April 27, 2017

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 956: OCEAN Act. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-956/
MLA
"S. 956: OCEAN Act." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-956/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 956, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-956/.
Markdown link
[S. 956: OCEAN Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-956/)
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