In April 2025, Senator Markey and Representative Huffman reintroduced the Arctic Refuge Protection Act, legislation that would restore critical protections to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by designating the Coastal Plain ecosystem as wilderness under the National Wilderness Preservation System. This legislation would permanently halt any new oil and gas leasing, exploration, development, and drilling on the Coastal Plain, and would safeguard the subsistence rights of the Arctic Indigenous Peoples who depend upon the Arctic Refuge.
Support and reintroduce legislation to permanently halt new oil and gas leasing, exploration, development, and drilling on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Coastal Plain and restore its protections.
Occurrences
Evidence
Senator Markey's official legislation page lists recent 119th Congress sponsored/cosponsored items updated June 16-18, 2026; the visible latest entries are not Arctic Refuge bills.
Congress.gov's summary of Sec. 50104 says the enacted bill directs Interior to conduct at least four lease sales under the Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program in ANWR within 10 years after enactment.
Congress.gov lists Sen. Edward J. Markey as sponsor of S.282, introduced February 7, 2023, titled the Arctic Refuge Protection Act of 2023; status: introduced and referred to Senate Environment and Public Works. The bill designates about 1,559,538 acres in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as wilderness.
The bill text says S.282 is a bill to designate a portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as wilderness and cites the short title Arctic Refuge Protection Act of 2023.
Congress.gov lists Sen. Edward J. Markey as sponsor of S.282, introduced February 8, 2021, titled the Arctic Refuge Protection Act of 2021; status: introduced and referred to Senate Environment and Public Works.
Congress.gov lists Sen. Edward J. Markey as sponsor of S.2461, introduced September 11, 2019, titled the Arctic Refuge Protection Act of 2019; status: introduced and referred to Senate Environment and Public Works.
Assessments
Markey has materially pursued the policy by sponsoring Arctic Refuge Protection Act bills in prior Congresses, including S.282 in 2023 during his current Senate term, and earlier versions in 2021 and 2019. However, the promised substantive outcome has not been delivered: the legislation was not enacted, and current federal law instead requires additional ANWR Coastal Plain lease sales. Because he made a serious legislative attempt but did not achieve the permanent halt and restored protections, this should be scored as not delivered with an effort badge rather than full or partial delivery.