SEA Jobs Act

SEA Jobs Act

The SEA Jobs Act, S.2202, expands America’s energy production to offshore Atlantic states to increase responsible offshore energy production, create jobs, grow the economy, lower energy prices, spur new educational training programs, and strengthen America’s national security by lessening dependence on dangerous countries for energy.

Creates Responsible Offshore Energy Production

·      Reverses the Obama administration’s moratorium on offshore Atlantic energy production and creates one single “South Atlantic” offshore energy planning area, comprised of South Carolina, North Carolina Georgia, and Virginia. Opening the Atlantic to energy production could create 280,000 jobs, add $24 billion to the economy, generate $51 billion in government revenue, and help produce over 1 million barrels of oil and natural gas per day.

·      Strengthen America’s national security interests by reducing dependence on dangerous countries for energy while increasing America’s energy independence by requiring new offshore lease sales.

·      Increases American energy production to help reduce high energy prices that disproportionately impact lower-income Americans. Energy prices consume a quarter of after-tax income for families making $30,000 or less.

·      Provides flexibility to States in the South Atlantic Planning area by providing the states more control over offshore areas closest to their shoreline to help protect coastal sightlines by allowing the prohibition of permanently visible drilling infrastructure up to 20 miles from the shoreline.

Provides Access to Job Training for Veterans and STEM Research Funding

·      Establishes a veteran’s workforce training program, using revenues from Atlantic offshore energy production, to fund employment training that supports U.S. oil and natural gas production.

·      Creates a public-private partnership with Institutes of Higher Education and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) to enhance and broaden the study of geological and geophysical sciences, encourage new seismic studies of offshore energy resources and educate the next generation of America’s offshore energy scientists.

Supports Deficit Reduction and Supports Revenue Creation

·      Establishes revenue sharing, which allows states within the South Atlantic planning area to receive 37.5% of all revenues from energy production, and stays consistent with the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA).

·      Dedicates 10% of new federal revenue to deficit reduction.