Thursday: House to start work on two energy bills

H.R. 1230, the Restarting American Offshore Leasing Now Act, would restart offshore lease sales to allow for exploration on the continental shelf.

After debating and voting on the rule, the House is only expected to take up H.R. 1230 on Thursday. The rule approved by the House Rules Committee on Wednesday makes two Democratic amendments in order, which seek to ensure that offshore lease sales don’t interfere with Defense Department operations and would require environmental and safety reviews.

The House is out Friday, so consideration of H.R. 1229 is expected next week. The Rules Committee made 11 amendments in order for this bill, many of which relate to the safety and transparency of Gulf drilling.