H.R. 8542 is a bill that proposes amendments to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. It aims to delegate authority to the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama to manage certain expanded submerged lands. This likely involves granting these states more control over the management and regulation of natural resources, such as fisheries and potentially oil and gas activities, within their offshore areas.
Supporters of H.R. 8542 argue that delegating authority to Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama would allow for more localized and efficient management of natural resources. They believe that state governments have a better understanding of regional needs and can tailor regulations to benefit local economies, particularly in the fishing and energy sectors.
Critics of H.R. 8542 express concerns that increased state control over submerged lands could lead to less stringent environmental protections. They worry that local interests might prioritize economic gains over environmental sustainability, potentially leading to overfishing or increased offshore drilling with inadequate oversight.
Based on the available data, there appears to be a low risk of conflicts of interest between the sponsor's donors and the bill's subject matter. The sponsor, Mike Ezell, does not have any direct industry overlaps with the subject matter of the bill, which pertains to the management of certain expanded submerged lands. Furthermore, the lobbying activity in this bill's policy area does not involve any of the sponsor's top donor industries. The largest lobbying expenditure in this policy area comes from Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners Inc., which spent $210,000. However, there is no evidence to suggest that this expenditure is directly related to the bill or the sponsor's donors. It is important for voters to be aware of these financial connections, but in this case, there does not appear to be a significant conflict of interest.
Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area.
| Client | Lobbying Firm | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN FUEL & PETROCHEMICAL MANUFACTURERS | AMERICAN FUEL & PETROCHEMICAL MANUFACTURERS | $1,160,000 |
| COPENHAGEN INFRASTRUCTURE PARTNERS INC. | COPENHAGEN INFRASTRUCTURE PARTNERS INC. | $210,000 |
| SOLENO THERAPEUTICS, INC. | SOLENO THERAPEUTICS, INC. | $80,000 |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER | THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER | $80,000 |
| THE AMHERST GROUP, LLC | THE MAJORITY GROUP, LLC | $60,000 |
| NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF AGRICULTURAL EDUCATORS | NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF AGRICULTURAL EDUCATORS | $31,407 |
| MARTIN COUNTY, FLORIDA | WEST & WEST, LLC | $24,300 |
| STEELSHIPS, LLC | CONSCIENCE POINT CONSULTING, INC. | $20,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL | UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL | $18,000 |
| VIPO US | CORUS FEDERAL STRATEGIES | $10,000 |
| DRONEUP | JLF CONSULTING CO | $10,000 |
| BLACK KNIGHT MEDICAL, LLC | JLF CONSULTING CO | $7,500 |
| NATIONAL AIR CARRIER ASSOCIATION | NATIONAL AIR CARRIER ASSOCIATION | undisclosed |
| TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF BUSINESS | TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF BUSINESS | undisclosed |
| CAPITOL COUNSEL, LLC ON BEHALF OF BAYER CORPORATION | MICHAEL R. PAWLOWSKI | undisclosed |
Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026
Top industries funding Mike Ezell, ranked by total contributions.
Source: OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics)
