H.R. 1505: Bonding Reform and Taxpayer Protection Act of 2021

117th Congress · introduced 2021-03-02 · Energy · Latest: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 453.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2021-03-02 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Lowenthal, Alan S. [D-CA-47] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 453. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Bonding Reform and Taxpayer Protection Act of 2021

Plain summary

Bonding Reform and Taxpayer Protection Act of 2021 This bill revises bonding requirements for oil and gas development on public land leased from the federal government. Such bonds are required to ensure oil and gas developers have adequate financial resources for implementing reclamation plans to restore public land after oil and gas development (e.g., drilling operations) ceases. Specifically, the bill increases the amount of bond that oil and gas developers must provide prior to conducting surface-disturbing activities and requires such amounts to adjust every three years for inflation. In addition, the bill sets fees to cover the cost for inspection and enforcement with respect to such leases. The bill also requires the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish uniform standards for all interim and final reclamation plans. Interior and USDA may not release any bond amounts until the standards have been met by oil and gas developers and the inspection fees have been paid. Finally, the bill gives the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service the authority to obtain and retain adequate financial assurances (e.g., bonds) from nonfederal entities to repair potential damages to resources of the National Wildlife Refuge System prior to the commencement of activities related to mineral development, such as oil and gas operations.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Bonding Reform and Taxpayer Protection Act of 2021

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Lowenthal, Alan S. [D-CA-47] · 15 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 1505, Bonding Reform and Taxpayer Protection Act of 2021 (2021-09-27)

Cosponsors on this site

Mike Levin (D-CA), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM), Sean Casten (D-IL)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)

Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Bond: A way to borrow money. A government sells bonds to raise money now and promises to pay it back with interest over time. Bonds repaid from taxes often need voter approval.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-117hr1505.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/117/hr>

Record fed-us-cong117-hr1505 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117