Arctic Refuge Protection Act

Bill Number

H.R. 3067

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-04-29: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Last Updated

2026-06-11T08:06:47Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The Arctic Refuge Protection Act (H.R. 3067) aims to repeal the oil and gas leasing program in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) established by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, and to protect the refuge's coastal plain as wilderness. This preservation recognizes the area's unique natural ecosystems and ensures long-term benefits for current and future generations of Americans.

Key Provisions

• Repeal of Oil and Gas Program: Completely removes Section 20001 of Public Law 115-97, which had authorized oil and gas exploration, development, and leasing in the coastal plain of ANWR.
• Wilderness Designation: Designates about 1,559,538 acres of the coastal plain—specifically the area shown on a map titled "Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Coastal Plain Proposed Wilderness" (dated October 20, 2015)—as a new component of the National Wilderness Preservation System.
• Administration Requirements: The Secretary of the Interior must manage this newly designated wilderness area according to the Wilderness Act of 1964 (a federal law that protects undeveloped lands from most human development to preserve their natural condition). It will be integrated with existing wilderness areas in ANWR.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Overturns Energy Development Authorization: The bill eliminates the legal basis for oil and gas leasing in ANWR's coastal plain, which was added to tax reform legislation in 2017 to promote domestic energy production.
• Expands Protected Status: Introduces a permanent wilderness designation, which imposes stricter limits on activities like mining, road-building, or commercial development compared to the refuge's prior management under general wildlife refuge rules. This overrides any conflicting provisions in prior laws.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The Department of the Interior will shift from facilitating energy leases to enforcing wilderness protections, potentially reducing administrative burdens related to leasing but increasing responsibilities for conservation monitoring and enforcement.
• On Citizens: Alaskan communities and Native groups may see preserved cultural and subsistence resources (e.g., hunting and fishing areas), but could face economic effects from halted energy jobs. Broader U.S. citizens benefit from enhanced biodiversity protection, though it might slightly limit future domestic oil supplies, affecting energy prices indirectly.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, but it reinforces U.S. commitments to global environmental goals, such as biodiversity conservation, potentially influencing diplomatic discussions on Arctic resources and climate change.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Environmental and Conservation Groups: Benefit from expanded protections for wildlife, ecosystems, and climate resilience in the Arctic.
• Energy Industry and Oil Companies: Adversely affected by the loss of leasing opportunities in a region estimated to hold significant oil reserves.
• Alaskan Residents and Native Communities: Mixed impacts—preservation supports traditional lands and tourism, but opposes potential revenue and jobs from development.
• Federal Government: The Interior Department and wildlife agencies gain authority over wilderness management, while Congress addresses ongoing debates over resource use in public lands.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal Implications: The repeal directly amends a prior tax law, demonstrating Congress's authority to modify earlier statutes. The wilderness designation invokes the Wilderness Act, ensuring the area remains free from most development unless Congress approves exceptions, which could lead to future legal challenges from industry groups claiming property or economic rights.
• Constitutional Implications: Aligns with Congress's constitutional power to manage federal lands (under the Property Clause of Article IV), prioritizing conservation over extraction without raising major separation-of-powers issues.
• Political Implications: Sponsored by over 70 House members (primarily Democrats), the bill highlights partisan divides on energy policy versus environmental protection, potentially sparking debates in committee (referred to Natural Resources) or during floor votes about balancing economic growth with ecological preservation.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]

Cosponsors (109)

Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1], Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8], Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12], Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11], Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8], Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17], Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4], Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10], Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38], Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12], Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9], Rep. Auchincloss, Jake [D-MA-4], Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3], Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43], Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2], Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5], Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25], Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3] and 59 more

Recent Actions

• 2025-04-29: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
• 2025-04-29: Introduced in House
• 2025-04-29: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Arctic Refuge Protection Act — issued 2025-04-29 — PDF (3 pages)