In the News

The House of Representatives last night adopted an amendment from Congressman Bradley Byrne (R-AL) to protect important revenue from off-shore oil and gas royalties that is currently set aside for Alabama and other states on the Gulf Coast.

Byrne’s amendment would prohibit any efforts to redirect funds allocated under the Gulf of Mexico Security Act (GOMESA) of 2006. GOMESA is the federal legislation that creates a revenue sharing agreement between Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Under GOMESA, each state receives a percentage of federal oil revenue from drilling of their coasts.

Byrne said: “Under current law, money from the GOMESA program belongs on the Gulf Coast, and I am committed to making sure that does not change. This money is critically important to our coastal communities, which provide a significant share of the infrastructure and workforce for the oil and gas industry.

“I am pleased my amendment was adopted on a unanimous voice vote, and I will continue standing up for our coastal communities every chance I get.”

Byrne’s amendment was co-sponsored by Representatives Steven Palazzo (R-MS), Garret Graves (R-LA), Clay Higgins (R-LA), Randy Weber (R-TX), and Mike Johnson (R-LA).