Senate Republicans have introduced legislation which would roll back directives from former President Joe Biden which protected certain areas of U.S. coastline from offshore drilling.

U.S. Senators Katie Britt and Tommy Tubberville announced on Wednesday, Jan. 22, that they would be joining several Senate Republicans in introducing the Offshore Energy Security Act.  The bill mandates a minimum of 74 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico be leased to offshore drilling companies by 2035.

Biden exerted authority granted to him under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act Jan. 6, to withdraw areas in the eastern Gulf of Mexico — along with waters off the East and West Coast as well as portions of the northern Bering Sea in Alaska — from offshore oil and gas drilling. A move he said was part of his administration’s efforts to combat climate change.

“Drilling off these coasts could cause irreversible damage to places we hold dear and is unnecessary to meet our nation’s energy needs.”

Biden’s order added 625 acres to a previous ban, issued by President Donald Trump, put in place off the coasts of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina in 2020. The OESA would codify the 2020 memorandum issued by Trump through 2035.

Exploration in the western and central Gulf of Mexico, which includes waters off the Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama coasts, isn’t affected under Biden’s orders.

Trump revoked the the drilling ban during his inauguration ceremony on Monday, Jan. 20, in a series of dozens of executive orders, memoranda and proclamations.

While the OCSLA allows the president to set aside federal lands; it is unclear on whether prior decisions may be revoked without congressional approval. Courts ruled against a previous attempt by Trump during his first term to revoke similar actions made by former President Barack Obama.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Britt said the legislation was an attempt to correct what she described as overreach from the Biden administration.

“It is past time to unleash American energy dominance. Alabama’s Gulf Coast plays an essential role in fueling our nation and supporting our national security — I look forward to working with the Trump Administration to reverse leftwing policies and reckless federal overreach in order to drive down costs for hardworking Alabama families,” Britt said.

Britt and Tubberville are joined by Republican senators Bill Cassidy (Louisiana), Roger Wicker (Mississippi) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (Mississippi).

Included in the release from Britt was the following statement from Cassidy:

“The Biden administration shut down offshore energy development. 2024 was the first time in over 50 years there was not a single lease sale held in the Gulf. This distinctly violates the law, costs thousands of Louisiana jobs, drives up oil prices, and empowers foreign dictators. We’re putting an end to this.”

Domestic oil and gas production reached record highs during the Biden Administration according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. According to a report the department released in March 2024, the U.S. produced “more crude oil than any country, ever” in 2023 when averaged nearly 13 million barrels per day.

The U.S. averaged 125 billion cubic feet of natural gas production in 2023, 4% higher than its previous record set in 2022.

EIA data also showed crude oil production increased by 7% in 2024.

In addition to the mandated leases, the OESA also stipulates lease terms and defines which environmental reviews will apply to sales. The bill also protects leases from being remanded or delayed as a result of civil action from environmental groups.