[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 133 (Saturday, August 6, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S4342]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 5425. Mr. DAINES submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 5194 proposed by Mr. Schumer to the bill H.R. 5376, to 
provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of S. Con. Res. 14; 
which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        Strike sections 50261 through 50263 and insert the 
     following:

     SEC. 50261. MINERAL LEASING ACT MODERNIZATION.

       (a) Oil and Gas Minimum Bid.--Section 17(b) of the Mineral 
     Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 226(b)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)(B), in the first sentence, by striking 
     ``$2 per acre for a period of 2 years from the date of 
     enactment of the Federal Onshore Oil and Gas Leasing Reform 
     Act of 1987.'' and inserting ``$10 per acre during the 10-
     year period beginning on the date of enactment of the Act 
     titled `An Act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to 
     title II of S. Con. Res. 14'.''; and
       (2) in paragraph (2)(C), by striking ``$2 per acre'' and 
     inserting ``$10 per acre''.
       (b) Fossil Fuel Rental Rates.--
       (1) Annual rentals.--Section 17(d) of the Mineral Leasing 
     Act (30 U.S.C. 226(d)) is amended, in the first sentence, by 
     striking ``$1.50 per acre'' and all that follows through the 
     period at the end and inserting ``$3 per acre per year during 
     the 2-year period beginning on the date the lease begins for 
     new leases, and after the end of that 2-year period, $5 per 
     acre per year for the following 6-year period, and not less 
     than $15 per acre per year thereafter, or, in the case of a 
     lease issued during the 10-year period beginning on the date 
     of enactment of the Act titled `An Act to provide for 
     reconciliation pursuant to title II of S. Con. Res. 14', $3 
     per acre per year during the 2-year period beginning on the 
     date the lease begins, and after the end of that 2-year 
     period, $5 per acre per year for the following 6-year period, 
     and $15 per acre per year thereafter.''.
       (2) Rentals in reinstated leases.--Section 31(e)(2) of the 
     Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 188(e)(2)) is amended by 
     striking ``$10'' and inserting ``$20''.
       (c) Expression of Interest Fee.--Section 17 of the Mineral 
     Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 226) is amended by adding at the end 
     the following:
       ``(q) Fee for Expression of Interest.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall assess a 
     nonrefundable fee against any person that, in accordance with 
     procedures established by the Secretary to carry out this 
     subsection, submits an expression of interest in leasing land 
     available for disposition under this section for exploration 
     for, and development of, oil or gas.
       ``(2) Amount of fee.--
       ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the fee 
     assessed under paragraph (1) shall be $5 per acre of the area 
     covered by the applicable expression of interest.
       ``(B) Adjustment of fee.--The Secretary shall, by 
     regulation, not less frequently than every 4 years, adjust 
     the amount of the fee under subparagraph (A) to reflect the 
     change in inflation.''.
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