WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump proposed Thursday a five-year plan that would open about 1.27 billion acres to oil and gas exploration and hold seven lease sales off Louisiana’s Gulf coast, leading to acclaim from state officials.

Trump’s plan will “boost domestic exploration and production in the Gulf of America and provide much-needed predictability,” said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson. Under provisions Scalise inserted into the law, Louisiana will get a larger portion of the millions of dollars the federal government shares with states from the bids and royalty payments.

The 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program , when enacted, would replace the existing five-year plan released under the Biden Administration.

The current five-year

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