The License to Drill Act (H.R. 7831) proposes extending the period during which the U.S. government collects fees from oil and gas companies applying for drilling permits on public lands. Originally set to expire in 2026, this bill seeks to continue these fees until 2037. The collected fees would be allocated to the Bureau of Land Management's Permit Processing Improvement Fund, aiming to enhance the efficiency and speed of processing drilling permits.
Supporters of the License to Drill Act argue that extending the fee collection period ensures a steady funding source for the Bureau of Land Management, facilitating more efficient processing of drilling permits. This could lead to faster approval times for energy projects, potentially boosting domestic oil and gas production. The Department of the Interior has expressed strong support for the bill, emphasizing its alignment with executive orders aimed at unleashing American energy. ([doi.gov](https://www.doi.gov/ocl/pending-legislation-113?utm_source=openai))
Critics of the License to Drill Act contend that extending the fee collection period may encourage continued reliance on fossil fuels, potentially hindering efforts to transition to renewable energy sources. Environmental groups express concern that facilitating more drilling on public lands could lead to increased environmental degradation and greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, some argue that the bill may prioritize industry interests over environmental protection and public health.
The bill H.R. 7831: License to Drill Act sponsored by Mike Kennedy does not seem to present any direct conflicts of interest based on the campaign finance data available. The top donor industries for Mike Kennedy are Health Professionals and Retired individuals, which do not overlap with the subject matter of the bill. There is no evidence of financial influence from industries that would directly benefit from the bill. Lobbying activity in the bill's policy area does not involve any entities connected to Kennedy's top donors. Therefore, it appears that the bill is not influenced by the financial interests of the sponsor's donors.
Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area.
| Client | Lobbying Firm | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NATIONAL SHOOTING SPORTS FOUNDATION | NATIONAL SHOOTING SPORTS FOUNDATION | $2,280,000 |
| HOGAN LOVELLS, LLP OBO ZHONGJI INNOLIGHT CO., LTD. | MO STRATEGIES, INC. | $350,000 |
| RADIANCE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. | VENN STRATEGIES | $60,000 |
| MOLNLYCKE HEALTH CARE US, LLC | MOLNLYCKE HEALTH CARE US, LLC | $30,000 |
| CLARK STREET ASSOCIATES ON BEHALF OF MARVELL TECHNOLOGY, INC. | HOLLAND & KNIGHT LLP | $30,000 |
| NANO NUCLEAR ENERGY INC | COVE STRATEGIES | $20,000 |
| CITY OF KOTZEBUE, ALASKA | HOLLAND & HART LLP | $10,000 |
| SPACE GOVERNANCE INSTITUTE, INC. | SPACE GOVERNANCE INSTITUTE, INC. | undisclosed |
| MCKEES ROCKS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION | CRANMER CONSULTANTS | undisclosed |
| LYTEN, INC. | JHS CONSULTING, INC | undisclosed |
| SOCIETY OF INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY | SOCIETY OF INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY | undisclosed |
| PRESERVATION ACTION | PRESERVATION ACTION | undisclosed |
| GOLD PR LTD. (ON BEHALF OF OJSC "BAKAI BANK") | THROUGHLINE GLOBAL ADVISORS | undisclosed |
| WORKIVA INC. | LSN PARTNERS, LLC | undisclosed |
| IMMIGRATION EQUALITY | IMMIGRATION EQUALITY | undisclosed |
Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026
Top industries funding Mike Kennedy, ranked by total contributions.
Source: OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics)
