Congress stops a rule that protected old sites under the ocean.
S.J.Res. 11 — 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". · Filed by John Kennedy (R-LA) · 2 cosponsors · Introduced Feb 4, 2025 · Signed
Your members of Congress
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What it does
Congress killed a federal rule made by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. That rule protected old sites under the ocean from damage. Oil, gas, and wind companies work on the ocean floor. Now these old sites have no federal rule to keep them safe.
Who it affects
People lose a federal rule that protected old sites under the ocean. Oil, gas, and wind companies no longer must follow this rule.
One thing to notice
Old sites under the ocean like shipwrecks can now be damaged. Oil, gas, and wind work can destroy them.
From the analysis of the bill text, linked under Primary records below.
Where it stands
2 cosponsors: 2 Republicans.
- Feb 4, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in Senate”
- Feb 4, 2025 — Referred to Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources · Congress.gov: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources”
- Feb 24, 2025 — Reported out of committee · Congress.gov: “Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources discharged, by petition, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 802(c)”
- Feb 25, 2025 — Passed the Senate · Congress.gov: “Passed Senate without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 54 - 44. Record Vote Number: 92. (text: CR S1333)”
- Mar 6, 2025 — Passed both chambers · Congress.gov: “On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 221 - 202, 1 Present (Roll no. 61). (text: CR H1014-1015)”
- Mar 10, 2025 — Sent to president · Congress.gov: “Presented to President”
- Mar 14, 2025 — Signed into law · Congress.gov: “Became Public Law No: 119-3”
Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.
Words to know
- Bureau of Ocean Energy Management — The federal agency that oversees oil, gas, and wind work in ocean water.
- federal rule — A law made by a government agency that people and companies must follow.
- ocean floor — The ground at the bottom of the ocean.
How this was measured
Analysis — Quorum's AI read the bill text published by Congress.gov (969 characters) on Jul 2, 2026. Section numbers in the findings refer to that text, linked below; transparency and hidden-provision scores are compared against the median of 14,206 analysed bills.
Status and sponsors — Congress.gov's bill record — actions, committee referrals and cosponsors — loaded nightly. The timeline shows status changes, not every procedural action.
As of — page rendered 2026-09-17.
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