The U.S. Senate today overwhelmingly passed the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2021, a wide-ranging $740 billion defense bill that sets policy for the U.S. military. Among its many provisions, the bill included an important provision for the maritime and offshore wind industries. Specifically, Section 9503 of the legislation affirms that the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), which governs offshore energy activities in federal waters, applies to offshore wind and other renewable energy, including the application of the Jones Act. A statement Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA) says the provision will provide for investment and ensure parity between oil and gas and renewable energy projects. The association compared the provision to an amendment offered earlier this year by U.S. Representative John Garamendi (D-CA) to the Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act, which clarifies that existing safeguards that govern offshore oil and gas also apply to offshore wind energy. That legislation passed the U.S. House in September.