One week after introducing the Energy Supply and Distribution Act of 2015 (S. 1312), which would lift the US ban on exporting its crude oil to other nations, Senators Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) have introduced a second, more focused bill on the issue.

The House passed the Spurring Private Aerospace Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship Act (SPACE) of 2015 on May 21, which is designed to facilitate exploration and exploitation of space resources by American businesses.

Members of the House and Senate have introduced bills that would give the Department of the Interior (DOI) authority over natural gas pipeline permitting on federal lands in lieu of congressional oversight.

The Senate Appropriations Committee met on May 21 to mark up the fiscal year (FY) 2016 energy and water development funding bill. The bill that passed the committee totals $35.4 billion, $1.2 billion above the FY 2015 enacted level and $668 million below the President’s request.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) regulations regarding royalty payments and measurement standards for onshore oil and gas production.

On May 20, the House Appropriations Committee passed the fiscal year (FY) 2016 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies spending bill with language setting directorate-level funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF), a change from current agency-level funding.

Texas governor Greg Abbott signed TX HB 40 into law on May 19 in an effort to create continuity in oil and gas restrictions across the state.

Witness 

General Charles Bolden

Administrator, NASA

 

Members in attendance 

Steven Palazzo (R-MS), Space Subcommittee Chair

Donna Edwards (D-MD), Space Subcommittee Ranking Member

Lamar Smith (R-TX), Committee Chair

Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Committee Ranking Member

Brian Babin (R-TX)

Don Beyer (D-VA)

Mo Brooks (R-AL)

Bill Johnson (R-OH)

Frank Lucas (R-OK)

Steve Knight (R-CA)

Ed Perlmutter (D-CO)

Bill Posey (R-FL)

Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA)

Marc Veasey (D-TX)

The House Appropriations Committee passed the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) spending bill for fiscal year (FY) 2016 by voice vote on May 20.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management issued a statement on May 11 granting Royal Dutch Shell PLC conditional drilling rights in the Chukchi Sea off Alaska’s northwest coast.