Randall Luthi, president of the National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA), commented on Sept. 6 on the House of Representatives’ passage of H.R. 5577, the Innovation in Offshore Leasing Act.

According to the website for the House Committee on Natural Resources, that committee passed H.R. 5577 "as part of a broader unanimous consent package." The website said that the committee held a markup on eight bills including H.R. 5577 on July 13, passing it that day.

“NOIA commends the House of Representatives for passing the Innovation in Offshore Leasing Act. Sponsored by Representatives Garret Graves, R.-La., and and Alan Lowenthal, D-Calif, H.R. 5577 is a bipartisan and common-sense way to incorporate modern technology and transparency into the offshore lease sale process,” Luthi said in a press release Sept. 6.

“Last month, [the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management] BOEM successfully live-streamed its Western Gulf of Mexico lease sale reading of bids and [the Bureau of Land Management] BLM issued its final rule to allow for internet-based onshore lease sales. We have repeatedly seen that incorporating internet-based technologies are cost-effective improvements that can increase transparency and efficiency in the offshore lease sale process.

“In an election in year when most of the focus is on what Congress can’t do, it is refreshing to recognize what Congress can do. It still is possible for members of Congress to work together and pass meaningful legislation, and NOIA applauds Congressmen Graves and Lowenthal for working on a bipartisan basis to make these common-sense reforms. NOIA looks forward to working with the Senate in seeing this bill passed,” Luthi said.

Offshore