Seismic Moratorium Act

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

S.1171 through Congress

S.1171 keeps its number as it moves between the House and Senate.

SenateApr 30, 2015IntroducedOfficial record

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No House action is available in our imported record yet.

Separate related House measures (2)

These are different measures identified as related by Congress.gov. Their text and outcomes may differ; they are not the House stage of S.1171.

Related House bill: H.R.2279 Seismic Moratorium Act

Related House bill: H.R.2276 Seismic Moratorium Act

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Apr 30, 2015

Seismic Moratorium Act

This bill prohibits conducting geological or geophysical activities in support of oil or gas exploration and development in any area located within a specified exclusive economic zone located off the coastline of Florida.

This moratorium shall only be terminated if the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (of the Department of Commerce) determines that the reasonably foreseeable impacts of such activities are minimal to individuals or populations of marine mammals, sea turtles, or fish.

These geological or geophysical activities are described in the final programmatic environmental impact statement of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (of the Department of the Interior) entitled "Atlantic OCS Proposed Geological and Geophysical Activities, Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic Planning Areas," completed February 2014.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL] · D–FL

Committees

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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Apr 30, 2015
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Apr 30, 2015
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

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Introduced in Senate · Apr 30, 2015 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze S.1171 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.1171, 114th Congress: Seismic Moratorium Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1171

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2015-04-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s1171/BILLS-114s1171is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:09:59Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.1171 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.1171 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss S.1171, 114th Congress: Seismic Moratorium Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1171

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2015-04-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s1171/BILLS-114s1171is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:09:59Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1171 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.1171 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Discuss S.1171, 114th Congress: Seismic Moratorium Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1171

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2015-04-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s1171/BILLS-114s1171is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:09:59Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1171 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

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View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1171, 114th Congress: Seismic Moratorium Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1171

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2015-04-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s1171/BILLS-114s1171is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:09:59Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1171 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.