IB 

Union Calendar No. 371 

108TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4625 

[Report No. 108–612] 

To reduce temporarily the royalty required to be paid for sodium produced 

on Federal lands, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 21, 2004 

Mrs. CUBIN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 

on Resources 

JULY 19, 2004 

Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union 

and ordered to be printed 

A BILL 

To reduce temporarily the royalty required to be paid for 

sodium produced on Federal lands, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Soda Ash Royalty Re5 duction Act of 2004’’. 
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1 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

2 The Congress finds the following: 

3 (1) The combination of global competitive pres4 sures, flat domestic demand, and spiraling costs of 

5 production threaten the future of the United States 

6 soda ash industry. 

7 (2) Despite booming world demand, growth in 

8 United States exports of soda ash since 1997 has 

9 been flat, with most of the world’s largest markets 

10 for such growth, including Brazil, the People’s Re11 public of China, India, the countries of eastern Eu12 rope, and the Republic of South Africa, have been 

13 closed by protectionist policies. 

14 (3) The People’s Republic of China is the prime 

15 competitor of the United States in soda ash produc16 tion, and recently supplanted the United States as 

17 the largest producer of soda ash in the world. 

18 (4) Over 700 jobs have been lost in the United 

19 States soda ash industry since the Department of 

20 the Interior increased the royalty rate on soda ash 

21 produced on Federal land, in 1996. 

22 (5) Reduction of the royalty rate on soda ash 

23 produced on Federal land will provide needed relief 

24 to the United States soda ash industry and allow it 

25 to increase export growth and competitiveness in 
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1 emerging world markets, and create new jobs in the 

2 United States. 

3 SEC. 3. REDUCTION IN ROYALTY RATE ON SODA ASH. 

4 Notwithstanding section 102(a)(9) of the Federal 

5 Land Policy Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 

6 1701(a)(9)), section 24 of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 

7 U.S.C. 262), and the terms of any lease under that Act, 

8 the royalty rate on the quantity or gross value of the out9 put of sodium compounds and related products at the 

10 point of shipment to market from Federal land in the 5- 

11 year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this 

12 Act shall be 2 percent. 

13 SEC. 4. STUDY. 

14 After the end of the 4-year period beginning on the 

15 date of the enactment of this Act, and before the end of 

16 the 5-year period beginning on that date, the Secretary 

17 of the Interior shall report to the Congress on the effects 

18 of the royalty reduction under this Act, including— 

19 (1) the amount of sodium compounds and re20 lated products at the point of shipment to market 

21 from Federal land during that 4-year period; 

22 (2) the number of jobs that have been created 

23 or maintained during the royalty reduction period; 

24 (3) the total amount of royalty paid to the 

25 United States on the quantity or gross value of the 
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1 output of sodium compounds and related products at 

2 the point of shipment to market produced during 

3 that 4-year period, and the portion of such royalty 

4 paid to States; and 

5 (4) a recommendation of whether the reduced 

6 royalty rate should apply after the end of the 5-year 

7 period beginning on the date of the enactment of 

8 this Act. 

Union Calendar No. 371 

108TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4625 

[Report No. 108–612] 

A BILL 

To reduce temporarily the royalty required to be 

for other purposes. paid for sodium produced on Federal lands, and 

JULY 19, 2004 

Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 

State of the Union and ordered to be printed