A bill to suspend certain activities in the outer Continental Shelf until the date on which the joint investigation into the Deepwater Horizon incident in the Gulf of Mexico has been completed, and for other purposes.

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

S.3308 through Congress

S.3308 keeps its number as it moves between the House and Senate.

SenateMay 5, 2010IntroducedOfficial record

Major milestones in the imported record. See all actions.

No House action is available in our imported record yet.

Separate related House measures (1)

These are different measures identified as related by Congress.gov. Their text and outcomes may differ; they are not the House stage of S.3308.

Related House bill: H.R.5222 To suspend certain activities in the outer Continental Shelf until the date on which the joint investigation into the Deepwater Horizon incident in the Gulf of Mexico has been completed, and for other purposes.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · May 5, 2010

Directs the Secretary of the Interior to suspend until a certain date: (1) all activities relating to the development of a new or revised five-year plan for the outer Continental Shelf (OCS); (2) new OCS exploration, development, and production activities (including geological and geophysical surveys); and (3) any exploration or development activities commenced before the enactment of this Act, unless the Secretary certifies they pose no significant risk of accident.

Continues the suspension of such activities until completion of: (1) the joint investigation by the Secretaries of the Interior and of Homeland Security into the Deepwater Horizon incident in the Gulf of Mexico; and (2) a final report identifying methods to prevent future incidents in the OCS.

Grandfathers any production activities commenced before enactment of this Act.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL] · D–FL

Committees

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

5 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

May 5, 2010
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
May 5, 2010
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · May 5, 2010 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 5222 · To suspend certain activities in the outer Continental Shelf until the date on which the joint investigation into the Deepwater Horizon incident in the Gulf of Mexico has been completed, and for other purposes.

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

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.3308 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.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.3308, 111th Congress: A bill to suspend certain activities in the outer Continental Shelf until the date on which the joint investigation into the Deepwater Horizon incident in the Gulf of Mexico has been completed, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-bill/3308

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2010-05-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/s3308/BILLS-111s3308is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:11:57Z. 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.3308 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.3308 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.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.3308, 111th Congress: A bill to suspend certain activities in the outer Continental Shelf until the date on which the joint investigation into the Deepwater Horizon incident in the Gulf of Mexico has been completed, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-bill/3308

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2010-05-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/s3308/BILLS-111s3308is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:11:57Z. 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.3308 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.3308 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.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.3308, 111th Congress: A bill to suspend certain activities in the outer Continental Shelf until the date on which the joint investigation into the Deepwater Horizon incident in the Gulf of Mexico has been completed, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-bill/3308

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2010-05-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/s3308/BILLS-111s3308is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:11:57Z. 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.3308 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

Examine S.3308 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.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.3308, 111th Congress: A bill to suspend certain activities in the outer Continental Shelf until the date on which the joint investigation into the Deepwater Horizon incident in the Gulf of Mexico has been completed, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-bill/3308

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2010-05-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/s3308/BILLS-111s3308is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:11:57Z. 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.3308 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.