H.R. 4034 — Protect the Permian Act of 2025

This section authorizes the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to establish the Permian Basin Oil Theft Task Force to combat oil theft in the Permian Basin. The task force must consist of at least two full-time FBI employees (one as head), coordinate with relevant state, local, and tribal law enforcement organizations (including, at the Director's discretion, the Railroad Commission of Texas), and submit annual reports beginning one year after enactment to the President and relevant congressional committees (i.e., Appropriations and Judiciary Committees of the House and Senate) detailing activities such as criminal charges, convictions, and obligated funds; $100,000 to $1,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated.

This section enhances criminal penalties for theft from interstate or foreign shipments by carrier, interstate transportation of stolen goods, and interstate sale or receipt of stolen goods. Specifically, it (1) expands covered facilities under 18 U.S.C. §659 to include oil refineries or related assets and increases maximum imprisonment to 15 years (from 10 years) generally or, if the value is less than $1,000, to 5 years (from 3 years); (2) expands covered items under 18 U.S.C. §2314 to include oil, pipelines, oil and gas equipment or technology and increases maximum imprisonment to 5 years (from 1 year) or 15 years (from 10 years); and (3) increases maximum imprisonment under 18 U.S.C. §2315 to 15 years (from 10 years).

This section adds to the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program—under which the Attorney General provides formula grants to states and units of local government for criminal justice purposes (e.g., law enforcement, prosecution, corrections, and mental health courts)—an authorized use for programs to reduce or combat oil theft and related crimes (including theft of pipes, technology, equipment, or other assets related to oil refineries or pipelines), as well as hiring personnel dedicated to investigating and preventing oil theft.