Keep It in the Ground Act of 2023

Where This Stands

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Signed

Currently IN_COMMITTEE. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

The Frame

What this does

This legislation would fundamentally change federal energy policy by halting new fossil fuel extraction projects on public lands and waters, directly impacting energy companies' development rights and potential future domestic fossil fuel production.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Energy companies

Companies holding nonproducing leases on federal lands or the outer Continental Shelf would be unable to renew or extend those leases.

Offshore leaseholders in Beaufort, Cook Inlet, and Chukchi Seas

These entities would have their existing leases cancelled within 60 days of the bill's enactment.

What changed

Current stage: IN_COMMITTEE.

What's next

Floor Vote.

Summary

This bill would prohibit the federal government from issuing new leases or renewing existing s for coal, oil, and natural gas on federal lands and the . It also mandates the cancellation of specific existing offshore leases in the Beaufort, Cook Inlet, and Chukchi Seas within 60 days of enactment.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Why It Matters

This legislation would fundamentally change federal energy policy by halting new fossil fuel extraction projects on public lands and waters, directly impacting energy companies' development rights and potential future domestic fossil fuel production.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this bill stop all current oil and gas production?

No, it specifically targets 'nonproducing' leases—those where no extraction has occurred—and prohibits new leases or renewals. It does not explicitly mandate the shutdown of currently producing wells, except for specific offshore leases in the Beaufort, Cook Inlet, and Chukchi Seas.

Are there any exceptions to these bans?

Yes, the Secretary of the Interior may grant exemptions if there is an imminent national security threat or to prevent a of a pre-existing contract.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift100% confidence

Transition to Non-Extraction Policy

The bill explicitly codifies a policy of keeping fossil fuels in the ground to meet climate change mitigation goals, marking a departure from traditional federal land management focused on resource development.

Secretary of the Interior

Connected Entities

personJayapal, Pramila“Cosponsor of the bill”Map →

bill_numberMineral Leasing Act“The law this bill amends”Map →

personOcasio-Cortez, Alexandria“Cosponsor of the bill”Map →

date2015“Year global temperatures were measured”Map →

personGarcia of Illinois, Jesus“Cosponsor of the bill”Map →

personMcGover, James“Cosponsor of the bill”Map →

date1880“Year global temperatures began to increase”Map →

personHuffman, Patrick“Lead sponsor of the bill”Map →

personTlaib, Rashida“Cosponsor of the bill”Map →

bill_numberOuter Continental Shelf Lands Act“The law this bill amends”Map →

date2023“Year of the Act”Map →

organizationSecretary of the Interior“Responsible for managing Federal land and waters”Map →

personCarbajal, Tony“Cosponsor of the bill”Map →

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance85
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy90
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment20
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz40
Current news / social attention level