[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 7 (Friday, January 12, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E105]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF THE ``STUDY OF WAYS TO IMPROVE THE ACCURACY OF THE 
COLLECTION OF FEDERAL OIL, CONDENSATE, AND NATURAL GAS ROYALTIES ACT OF 
                                 2007''

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 12, 2007

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, today I am re-introducing 
the ``Study of Ways To Improve the Accuracy of the Collection of 
Federal Oil, Condensate, and Natural Gas Royalties Act,'' which was 
H.R. 6368 in the 109th Congress.'' I am pleased to be joined by 
Representatives Hinchey (D-NY) and Grijalva (D-AZ) in introducing this 
legislation. On May 7, 2006, the Washington Post reported allegations 
that American taxpayers are being shortchanged by oil and gas companies 
in the royalties that they are paying to the Federal Government 
(``Firms Harvesting Energy from Public Lands May Owe U.S.''). Jack 
Grynberg, a plaintiff in a false claims action against seventy-three 
energy and pipeline companies, was featured in the article. Based on 
his expertise, the legislation I am introducing asks the National 
Academy of Engineering to conduct a study regarding improving the 
accuracy of collection of royalties on production of oil, condensate, 
and natural gas under leases of both onshore and offshore Federal lands 
and onshore Indian lands.
  These valuable resources are owned by the American people, who should 
be fairly and accurately compensated. I believe that this study would 
prove invaluable in accomplishing this important goal and will tell us 
if there is a problem, including the extent of the problem, with the 
collection of royalties from Federal lands and Indian lands.

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