[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 124 (Wednesday, September 15, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1628]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES FINDINGS PURSUANT TO THE BUDGET 
                         ENFORCEMENT RESOLUTION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 15, 2010

  Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Natural 
Resources, pursuant to subsection (c)(2) of H. Res. 1493, which passed 
the House on July 1, 2010, I am submitting findings that identify 
changes in law that help achieve deficit reduction by reducing waste, 
fraud, abuse and mismanagement and promoting reform of government 
programs.
  In this regard, the Committee on Natural Resources has reported, and 
the House has passed, H.R. 3534, the ``Consolidated Land, Energy and 
Aquatic Resources Act of 2010.'' According to the Congressional Budget 
Office, this legislation would reduce future deficits by $5.3 billion 
over the 2011-2015 period and $1.7 billion over the 2011-2020 period by 
reducing abuses which have occurred in the federal offshore oil and gas 
leasing program and by promoting greater efficiencies in those 
programs.
  Specifically, the Consolidated Land, Energy, and Aquatic Resources 
Act would make several significant changes to current law in order to 
create greater efficiencies, transparency, and accountability in the 
development of federal energy resources. In this regard, the bill would 
impose tough new ethics standards, including putting an end to the 
revolving door between government and the oil and gas industry. It 
would reform the Minerals Management Service by breaking it up and 
removing the conflict-of-interest between leasing, inspections, and 
revenue collection. And it would close royalty loopholes that allow 
companies to get away with shortchanging the American people, including 
provisions designed to do away with the ability for companies to pay 
zero royalties during times of high oil prices--consumers paying sky-
high gas prices that fuel record profits should not face the indignity 
of receiving no royalty on the sale of the public's oil.
  The legislation would also provide for strong new safety standards 
for offshore drilling, including independent certifications of critical 
equipment, demonstrations of the ability to respond to future blowouts 
or major spills, increased inspections, stiffer penalties for safety 
violations, and an end to the practice of issuing environmental waivers 
for drilling plans.
  Enactment of this legislation would reduce the budget deficit and 
reform government programs while promoting the energy security of the 
United States.

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