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119-hr-3071119th Congress

Increasing Penalties for Offshore Polluters Act

Sponsored By: Representative Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]

In Committee

Summary

This bill would increase penalties for offshore oil spills by creating minimum civil-penalty floors and raising criminal fines and prison terms across multiple offense levels.

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  • Operators and companies would face minimum civil penalty floors under section 311(b)(7) where those subparagraphs apply, replacing some previous "up to" limits.
  • Individuals convicted of lower- and mid-level offenses would face larger fines and longer prison caps, with imprisonment rising up to 6 years and some fines up to $100,000.
  • Top-tier penalties for the most serious offenses would increase to $500,000 and prison exposure could reach 30 years, and certain statutory monetary thresholds are raised where specified.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Stronger fines and jail for oil spills

This bill would raise penalties for oil spills. Civil fines would have minimum amounts in some cases, not just caps. Criminal fines would rise from $2,500 to $5,000 and from $25,000 to $50,000, with jail up to 2 years. For tougher offenses, minimum fines would be at least $10,000, maximums up to $100,000, and jail up to 6 years. The most serious cases would raise a $250,000 amount to $500,000 and a $1,000,000 amount to $2,000,000, with prison up to 30 years. Where current law uses per‑day penalties, the maximum fine and jail time would be doubled instead. These changes would take effect upon enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]

CA • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 4/29/2025

  • Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 4/29/2025

  • Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2025

  • Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 10/19/2026

  • Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 11/19/2025

  • Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 11/20/2025

  • Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 12/1/2025

  • Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 12/3/2025

  • Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 12/9/2025

  • Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 12/12/2025

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 1/12/2026

  • Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 1/12/2026

  • Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 4/27/2026

  • Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 6/2/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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