II Calendar No. 413 109th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2603 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 7, 2006 Mr. Thomas (for himself and Mr. Enzi) introduced the following bill; which was read the first time April 24, 2006 Read the second time and placed on the calendar 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 Soda Ash Royalty Reduction Act of 2006.

2.

Reduction in royalty rate on soda ash

Notwithstanding section 102(a)(9) of the Federal Land Policy Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701(a)(9)), 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 the quantity or gross value of the output of sodium compounds and related products at the point of shipment to market from Federal land in the 5-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act shall be 2 percent.

3.

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 sodium compounds and related products at the point of shipment to market from Federal land during that 4-year period; (2)the number of jobs that have been created or maintained during the royalty reduction period; (3)the total amount of royalty paid to the United States on the quantity or gross value of the output of sodium compounds and related products at the point of shipment to market produced during that 4-year period, and the portion of such royalty paid to States; 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.

April 24, 2006 Read the second time and placed on the calendar