I 108th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4194 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 22, 2004 Mrs. Cubin introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources A BILL To reduce temporarily the royalty required to be paid for sodium produced on Federal lands, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the &short-title1;.

2.

Findings

The Congress finds the following: (1)The combination of global competitive pressures, flat domestic demand, and spiraling costs of production threaten the future of the United States soda ash industry. (2)Despite booming world demand, growth in United States exports of soda ash since 1997 has been flat, with most of the world's largest markets for such growth, including Brazil, the People's Republic of China, India, the countries of eastern Europe, and the Republic of South Africa, have been closed by protectionist policies. (3)The People's Republic of China is the prime competitor of the United States in soda ash production, and recently supplanted the United States as the largest producer of soda ash in the world. (4)Over 700 jobs have been lost in the United States soda ash industry since the Department of the Interior increased the royalty rate on soda ash produced on Federal land, in 1996. (5)Reduction of the royalty rate on soda ash produced on Federal land will provide needed relief to the United States soda ash industry and allow it to increase export growth and competitiveness in emerging world markets, and create new jobs in the United States.

3.

Reduction in royalty rate on soda ash

Notwithstanding section 24 of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 262) and the terms of any lease under that Act, the royalty rate on soda ash produced on Federal land in the 5-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act shall be 2 percent.

4.

Study

After the end of the 4-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, and before the end of the 5-year period beginning on that date, the Secretary of the Interior shall report to the Congress on the effects of the royalty reduction under this Act, including— (1)the amount of soda ash produced on Federal land during that 4-year period; (2)the number of jobs that have been created or maintained as a result of the royalty reduction; (3)the total amount of royalty paid to the United States on soda ash produced during that 4-year period; and (4)a recommendation of whether the reduced royalty rate should apply after the end of the 5-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.