On the recordJune 27, 2013
This amendment simply stipulates that no later than 60 days after the enactment of H.R. 2231, the Secretary of the Interior shall issue rules to provide clarity, certainty, and stability to the revenue streams we just discussed that were created by GOMESA of 2006. This Federal law allows the State to use this money for the restoration of coastal areas and the mitigation of damage to natural resources. However, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, formerly MMS, has yet to issue the necessary rules and regulations. In 2009, a letter signed by the Governors of Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas asked for these rules to be published and recommendations incorporated. It's now 2013, over 6 years since Congress passed in 2006, and the rules have still not been published. The lack of clarity in this phase 2 implementation of GOMESA impedes the ability of Gulf States and eligible coastal political subdivisions to conduct and achieve the planning efforts needed to maximize coastal protection. It's long overdue for these rules to be published. The amendment is simple. It just directs it to do so. I move for approval of the amendment.
