[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 119 (Wednesday, September 4, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H9972]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO FEDERAL OIL AND GAS ROYALTY MANAGEMENT ACT OF 
                                  1982

  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4018) to make technical corrections in the Federal Oil and 
Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4018

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.

       The Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982 is 
     amended as follows:
       (1) In section 3(25)(B) strike the word ``provision'' and 
     insert in lieu thereof the word ``provisions''.
       (2) In the second sentence of section 115(l) insert the 
     word ``so'' before the word ``demonstrate''.
       (3) In the first sentence of section 111(i) insert the word 
     ``not'' after the word ``shall''.
       (4) In the first sentence of section 111(j) strike the word 
     ``rate'' and insert in lieu thereof the word ``date''.
       (5) In the third and fourth sentences of section 111(j) 
     strike the word ``owned'' and insert in lieu thereof the word 
     ``owed''.
       (6) In the third sentence of section 111(k)(4) strike the 
     word ``dues'' and insert in lieu thereof the word ``due''.
       (7) In section 117(b)(1)(C) strike the word ``it'' and 
     insert in lieu thereof the word ``its''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California [Mr. Doolittle] and the gentleman from Hawaii [Mr. 
Abercrombie] each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California [Mr. Doolittle].
  (Mr. DOOLITTLE asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4018, a bill making technical 
corrections to the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982, 
as amended. This corrections bill is necessary because H.R. 1975, the 
Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Simplification and Fairness Act of 1996, 
which we passed on July 16, 1996, in the House of Representatives and 
the Senate passed on August 2, contained typographical errors of 
commission and omission. H.R. 1975 amended the 1982 royalty management 
law. Senate Concurrent Resolution 70 was prepared and unanimously 
adopted in that body to instruct the House enrolling clerk to make the 
corrections to H.R. 1975, but the House had already recessed for the 
August district work period by the time that the other body had acted.
  Working with administration officials, congressional leaders decided 
to send the uncorrected bill to the President for signature with the 
promise of a forthcoming corrections bill. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4018 
fulfills that obligation. I understand that the minority is in 
agreement with the technical corrections to law set forth in this bill, 
as is the administration. I urge my colleagues to pass the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as the gentleman from California [Mr. Doolittle] 
indicated, the administration is in favor of this bill before us on the 
basis of the technical corrections that are contained in it. I have a 
copy of the statement of the administration policy on that.
  Mr. Speaker, as previously indicated, these are technical amendments 
to correct inadvertent errors in the royalty fairness bill that was 
enacted prior to the August recess. The bill was signed by President 
Clinton at a ceremony in Wyoming.
  I want to make clear for other Members who may not be entirely 
familiar with the legislation that the technical amendments clarify the 
requirements and the provisions for Government paying interest on 
overpayments as well as addressing some typographical errors.

                              {time}  1445

  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of the bill, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Wicker). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from California [Mr. Doolittle] that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4018.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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