Who it affects
- Offshore oil and gas leaseholders and operators
- Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Became lawOverturns a ruleEnergyHistory and culture
Offshore oil and gas archaeological reports
S.J.Res. 11 · Resolution · Introduced Feb. 4, 2025
This bill would end mandatory archaeological reports for offshore oil and gas leaseholders and operators and restore rules allowing reports only under certain conditions.
At a glance
Where it stands
Passed the House 221 to 202 on March 6.
Passed the Senate 54 to 44 on Feb. 25.
How South Carolina voted
Lobbying and money
6 groups lobbied on it: trade group, advocacy group or nonprofit.
Top link: Chamber of Commerce of the U.S.A. lobbied on it and gave $0 via PACs; $1,000 via lobbyists; $0 via employees to 1 SC members.
See who gave to whom ↓What it would do
- The bill would cancel a Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) rule published September 3, 2024.
- That rule requires archaeological reports with oil and gas exploration or development plans on the Outer Continental Shelf.
- These reports identify remains of human life or activity at least 50 years old that have archaeological interest.
- The bill would restore earlier rules allowing BOEM to require reports only in certain cases.
- A regional director must have reason to believe archaeological remains may be present in the leased area.
Written with AI from the official summary by Congress's research office.
How South Carolina voted
House vote coverage is incomplete for 2025–2026. Vote and flagged-bill counts reflect imported records only; missing votes don't mean a member didn't vote.
House vote
Vote to pass
March 6, 2025 · Passed 221 to 202
- Republicans
- 212 yes
- 1 no
- Democrats
- 9 yes
- 201 no
Senate vote
Vote to pass
Feb. 25, 2025 · Passed 54 to 44
- Republicans
- 51 yes
- 0 no
- Democrats
- 3 yes
- 42 no
- Independents
- 0 yes
- 2 no
Other votes on this bill (1)
Senate · Vote to start debate · Feb. 25, 2025 · Approved
Graham: Yes · Scott: Yes
Official vote ↗
Groups that lobbied on it and gave to SC's members
PAC, lobbyist campaign and qualifying employee money this election, shown separately and never added together. Lobbying reports name the bills a group worked on, not which side it took.
| Group | What it is | Gave SC members | Members |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chamber of Commerce of the U.S.A. | Trade group | Lobbyists: $1,000 | 1 |
See all groups, by member
Members without a final recorded vote are grayed out and excluded from totals. Events and honors are not campaign money and aren't included. Matches use exact organization names.
| Organization | Darline GrahamNo vote | Lindsey GrahamYes | Tim ScottYes | Jim ClyburnNo | Joe WilsonYes | Nancy MaceYes | Ralph NormanYes | Russell FryYes | Sheri BiggsYes | William TimmonsYes | Members |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamber of Commerce of the U.S.A. | – | – | – | Lobbyists: $1,000 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 |
Official record
Official title, sponsor and status
- Official title
- A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management relating to "Protection of Marine Archaeological Resources".
- Sponsor
- Sen. Kennedy, John (R-LA)
- Introduced
- Feb. 4, 2025
- Cosponsors
- 2
- Committees
- Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- Latest action
- March 14, 2025 · Became Public Law No: 119-3.
Official summary from the Congressional Research Service
This joint resolution rescinds a requirement for lessees and operators to submit an archaeological report with any oil and gas exploration or development plan they submit to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) for approval of activities proposed on the Outer Continental Shelf. (An archaeological report identifies material remains of human life or activities that are at least 50 years old and that are of archaeological interest.) Specifically, the joint resolution nullifies BOEM's final rule titled Protection of Marine Archaeological Resources and published on September 3, 2024. Nullifying this rule requires BOEM to reinstate regulations that were previously in effect and authorized BOEM to require an archaeological report only if a BOEM regional director has reason to believe that an archaeological resource may be present in the lease area.
Summary on Congress.gov ↗Everyone who lobbied on this bill (6 groups)
13 reports. Fees cover each report's whole lobbying effort, not just this bill.
Businesses and trade groups (4)
- Chamber of Commerce of the U.S.A. ↗7 reports
- American Petroleum Institute ↗Energy · 2 reports
- American Cultural Resources Assn ↗1 report
- Society for American Archaeology ↗1 report
Labor unions (0)
None.
Advocacy groups and nonprofits (2)
- League of Conservation Voters ↗1 report
- Earthjustice Action ↗1 report
Not classified (0)
None.
Lobbying firms (6)
- Chamber of Commerce of the U.S.A. ↗7 reports
- American Petroleum Institute ↗Energy · 2 reports
- League of Conservation Voters ↗1 report
- Earthjustice Action ↗1 report
- Agora Consulting, Llc ↗Lobbying firms · 1 report
- Society for American Archaeology ↗1 report
We sorted these groups by name and industry. The labels are ours, not legal categories.