©2026 League of Conservation Voters
Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) sponsored S.J.Res. 11, a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval, which repeals the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) rule protecting marine archaeological sites, including those culturally and historically significant to Native nations and to the descendants of enslaved Africans forcibly brought to this country. The CRA is an extreme and blunt tool that is being used by anti-environmental members of Congress who want to permanently strip away protections for our environment, communities, wildlife, and natural heritage. The rule required oil and gas operators to report potential harms to marine archaeological sites and cultural heritage before receiving approval to drill for oil and gas in U.S. waters. It was developed in consultation with the federally recognized Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, as part of the federal government’s commitment to strengthen its government-to-government relationships with Native nations. By undoing this rule, oil and gas companies can proceed unchecked and put hundreds of significant sites at risk of irreparable damage. On February 25, the Senate adopted S.J.Res. 11 by a vote of 54-44 (Senate roll call vote 92). NO IS THE PRO-ENVIRONMENT VOTE. The House approved S.J.Res. 11 on March 6, and the president signed it into law on March 14.
©2026 League of Conservation Voters