Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that would use approximately $45 billion in revenues from offshore drilling on the federally owned Outer Continental Shelf to fund land acquisition, conservation, and habitat protection programs over a period of fifteen years.

Highlights:

• Requires that the Congressional Budget Office certify the following before any of the funding for this bill is distributed:
• Congress is meeting goals to cancel all publicly held debt by 2013;
• There is no on-budget deficit; and
• Neither Social Security nor Medicare is likely to run a deficit within 5 years after enactment.

• Prohibits federal government from purchasing private property unless the owner is willing to sell, or Congressional approval of that specific purchase is obtained.

• $1 billion annually to 35 coastal states and territories, including those that border the Great Lakes, to mitigate the impact of offshore oil and gas activity.

• $900 million to guarantee annual funds for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, to be split evenly between federal agencies and states, in order to conserve open lands.

• $350 million annually for fish and wildlife conservation, restoration, and education programs.

• $200 million annually for restoration of federal and Indian lands.

• $150 million for conservation easements that facilitate the recovery of threatened and endangered species.

• $125 million annually for continuing the provisions contained in the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Act of 1978.

• $100 million annually to the Historic Preservation Fund.

• $100 million for farm protection programs.

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text