License to Drill Act

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Bill ID: 119/hr/7831
Last Updated: March 31, 2026

Sponsored by

Rep. Kennedy, Mike [R-UT-3]

ID: K000403

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Subcommittee Hearings Held

March 25, 2026

Introduced

Committee Review

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill moves to the floor for full chamber debate and voting.

🗳️

Floor Action

Passed House

🏛️

Senate Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another masterpiece of legislative theater, courtesy of the geniuses in Congress. The "License to Drill Act" - because who needs a clever title when you can just slap a catchy name on a bill that's essentially a handout to the oil and gas industry?

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** Ah, yes, the stated purpose: to amend the Mineral Leasing Act to extend the period of time during which the Secretary of the Interior collects a fee for new drilling permits. How noble. In reality, this bill is a symptom of a deeper disease - the perpetual corruption and cronyism that plagues our government. It's a cleverly disguised attempt to line the pockets of oil and gas companies while pretending to care about "permit processing improvements."

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill extends the fee collection period from 2026 to 2037, because who needs a sunset clause when you can just kick the can down the road? It also modifies the language to ensure that all collected fees are transferred to the BLM Permit Processing Improvement Fund - a slush fund for the oil and gas industry, if I've ever seen one. And, of course, it's all done under the guise of "improving" the permit process. Please, spare me the theatrics.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The real beneficiaries of this bill are the oil and gas companies, who will continue to reap the benefits of lax regulations and generous subsidies. The American public, on the other hand, gets to foot the bill for the environmental degradation and health problems that come with increased drilling. And let's not forget the politicians who sponsored this bill - they'll get their fair share of campaign contributions and lobbying dollars.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a classic case of " legislative lupus" - it's a disease that will slowly destroy the environment, while pretending to be a cure-all for the economy. The extended fee collection period will only serve to further entrench the oil and gas industry's stranglehold on our energy policy, ensuring that we remain addicted to fossil fuels for years to come. And as for the "improvements" to the permit process? Don't hold your breath - it's just a euphemism for "more drilling, less oversight." The real implication here is that our government is more interested in serving the interests of corporate donors than in protecting the public interest.

In conclusion, the "License to Drill Act" is a farce, a sham, and a slap in the face to anyone who cares about the environment or good governance. It's a bill that reeks of corruption, stupidity, and greed - a perfect reflection of the diseased state of our political system. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have better things to do than watch this trainwreck unfold.

Related Topics

Federal Budget & Appropriations Government Operations & Accountability National Security & Intelligence Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement State & Local Government Affairs Congressional Rules & Procedures Transportation & Infrastructure Small Business & Entrepreneurship Civil Rights & Liberties
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💰 Campaign Finance Network

Rep. Kennedy, Mike [R-UT-3]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$480,070
21 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$260,150
Committees
$0
Individuals
$219,920

No PAC contributions found

1
EDGEWORTH PROTECTIVE SERVICES
1 transaction
$245,533
2
SENECA NATION OF INDIANS
2 transactions
$6,600
3
ROSEWOOD SAND HILL
1 transaction
$2,560
4
THE CITIZEN HOTEL
1 transaction
$1,454
5
CAMBRIA HOTEL
1 transaction
$1,260
6
JETBLUE AIRWAYS
1 transaction
$789
7
HYATT CENTRIC
1 transaction
$758
8
EMBASSY SUITES
1 transaction
$646
9
OEK NJ LLC
1 transaction
$500
10
COMMON SENSE PAC
1 transaction
$50

No committee contributions found

1
REITERMAN, MARY ELIZABETH
2 transactions
$34,800
2
VIVIAN, MICHAEL A
2 transactions
$34,800
3
JONES, SHIRLEY
2 transactions
$34,800
4
LACOSTE, ROGER
2 transactions
$34,800
5
LABEDZ, DAVID
3 transactions
$34,800
6
MAKI, NEIL JAMES
2 transactions
$10,025
7
COX, SANDY
2 transactions
$10,000
8
HENLEY, DOY
1 transaction
$8,354
9
HILL, VERNON
1 transaction
$7,529
10
HARTMAN, STEPHEN
1 transaction
$5,310
11
BRADDOCK, DAVID
1 transaction
$4,702

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 2 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Rep. Maloy, Celeste [R-UT-2]

ID: M001228

Top Contributors

10

1
THE UTE INDIAN TRIBE
Organization FORT DUCHESNE, UT
$3,300
Nov 9, 2024
2
THE UTE INDIAN TRIBE
Organization FORT DUCHESNE, UT
$3,300
Nov 9, 2024
3
HOLT, CLIFF
HURRICANE FAMILY PHARMACY OWNER
Individual HURRICANE, UT
$3,300
Oct 17, 2024
4
RICKETTS, MARLENE
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual OMAHA, NE
$3,300
Oct 24, 2024
5
IPSON, DON L.
N/A RETIRED
Individual SAINT GEORGE, UT
$3,300
Dec 27, 2023
6
MCMAHON, LINDA E.
MCMAHON VENTURES EXECUTIVE
Individual GREENWICH, CT
$3,300
Dec 15, 2023
7
SCHWAB, CHARLES
CHARLES SCHWAB CORPORATION CHAIRMAN
Individual PALM BEACH, FL
$3,300
Dec 19, 2023
8
ARNOLD, JOHN
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual HOUSTON, TX
$3,300
Mar 26, 2024
9
BURGESS, BRETT
DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS GROUP, INC. PRESIDENT
Individual SAINT GEORGE, UT
$3,300
Mar 29, 2024
10
DEATON, TYLER
ALLEGIANCE STRATEGIES, LLC PRESIDENT
Individual CALHOUN, GA
$3,300
Mar 20, 2024

Rep. Hageman, Harriet M. [R-WY-At Large]

ID: H001096

Top Contributors

10

1
COW CREEK BAND OF UMPQUA TRIBE OF INDIANS
Organization ROSEBURG, OR
$5,000
Aug 6, 2024
2
PUYALLUP TRIBE OF INDIANS
Organization TACOMA, WA
$3,700
Mar 4, 2024
3
CHEROKEE NATION
Organization TAHLEQUAH, OK
$3,300
Dec 22, 2023
4
PECHANGA BAND OF INDIANS
Organization TEMECULA, CA
$3,300
Dec 22, 2023
5
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$3,300
Nov 6, 2023
6
SHINGLE SPRINGS BAND MIWOK INDIANS
Organization SHINGLE SPRINGS, CA
$3,300
Dec 22, 2023
7
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization BANNING, CA
$3,300
Mar 29, 2024
8
HPUL PROJECT OPERATIONS
Organization UPPER LAKE, CA
$3,300
Sep 6, 2024
9
MUCKLESHOOT INDIAN TRIBE
Organization AUBURN, WA
$3,300
Sep 6, 2024
10
AK-CHIN INDIAN COMMUNITY OPERATIONS ACCOUNT
Organization MARICOPA, AZ
$3,300
Sep 13, 2024

Donor Network - Rep. Kennedy, Mike [R-UT-3]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 29 nodes and 36 connections

Total contributions: $501,970

Top Donors - Rep. Kennedy, Mike [R-UT-3]

Showing top 21 donors by contribution amount

10 Orgs11 Individuals