Contact Congress about H.R. 6008: Requiring Integrity in Conservation Efforts Act; R.I.C.E.’s Whale Act

Federal agencies could not use some recent Gulf oil and gas limits for Rice's whale right away. They would first have to finish new science reviews, habitat rules, and public process steps.

Modern Action explains what the legislation does, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.

Requiring Integrity in Conservation Efforts Act; R.I.C.E.’s Whale Act is a House bill in Congress.

Who this affects: This bill mainly affects offshore oil and gas companies, federal agencies, Gulf Coast states, and people focused on Rice's whale protection. Oil and gas operators could face fewer immediate limits from the named federal actions. Federal agencies would have to follow more steps before changing the 2020 review. Conservation groups and coastal communities could see whale protections move through a longer process.

Why this matters: The bill matters because it could change how fast new protections for Rice's whale take effect in the Gulf. It gives oil and gas leasing more room under the 2020 review while agencies complete more studies and public process steps. It may improve transparency and science review. It may also delay limits meant to reduce risks to an endangered whale.

Key provisions in H.R. 6008

• For covered Gulf oil and gas work, agencies would have to rely on the 2020 Biological Opinion. That science review would count as enough under federal environmental laws unless it is revised under this bill.
• The National Marine Fisheries Service and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management could not use three named BOEM actions. Those actions involve Lease Sale 261 leasing exclusions, vessel-operation limits, and a notice expanding Rice's whale protections.
• The Interior Secretary could not use those BOEM actions when running offshore oil and gas leasing. The leasing law involved is the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, which governs federal offshore drilling areas.
• Agencies could not restart consultation on the 2020 Biological Opinion until they finish a new Rice's whale critical habitat rule. The rule must follow public rulemaking, economic review, coastal review, paperwork rules, and small-business review.
• Agencies would have to revise and finish the Gulf geophysical survey rule first. That rule covers harm to marine mammals from survey work, and the bill says the expected harm numbers must be corrected.

How Modern Action helps you take action on H.R. 6008

You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.

Questions people ask about H.R. 6008

What is H.R. 6008?

Federal agencies could not use some recent Gulf oil and gas limits for Rice's whale right away. They would first have to finish new science reviews, habitat rules, and public process steps.

How do I support or oppose H.R. 6008?

Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.

Who should I contact about H.R. 6008?

Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.

How does Modern Action help me act on H.R. 6008?

Modern Action gives you bill-specific context, lets you choose support, opposition, or changes, and drafts a message from your position and reasons.