Congressional Record—House H5944
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H5944 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE July 19, 2004 nearly 20 years, and little growth is ex- try in the form of royalty rate reduc- estimate for H.R. 4625, the Soda Ash Royalty pected in the foreseeable future to tion. This reduction is intended not to Reduction Act of 2004. meet the demand for glass or glass increase the bottom line on soda ash If you wish further details on this esti- packaging. companies; it is intended entirely to mate, we will be pleased to provide them. Add to all of this the rising energy grow the market and increase the num- The CBO staff contact is Megan Carroll. costs, including a 150 percent increase ber of jobs. Sincerely, in natural gas prices over the past 4 H.R. 4625 reduces the royalty rate ELIZABETH M. ROBINSON (For Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Director). years, that have only made matters from 6 percent to 2 percent in order to worse. The much-needed growth will help the industry achieve increased ex- Enclosure. have to be found in places like Asia and port growth and competitiveness in the H.R. 4625—Soda Ash Royalty Reduction Act of Australia, and that means we must emerging world market. 2004 take the Chinese head on and with The hard-working men and women in the soda ash industry have my commit- Summary: H.R. 4625 would provide royalty every boost our government can give relief to producers of sodium compounds and the soda ash industry. ment to continue working to help open new markets and create the good-pay- related products on federal land. CBO esti- In order to allow all U.S. soda ash mates that enacting H.R. 4625 would increase producers to compete on a level play- ing jobs that will help our communities direct spending by $3 million in 2005 and $15 ing field with the likes of China, India grow and to push for a real energy pol- million over the next five years (with no ef- and synthetic producers around the icy for the Nation that will help fect after 2009). Enacting the bill would not world and, in turn, create jobs here in smooth out some of the volatility in affect revenues. the United States, we need to promote the natural gas markets by increasing H.R. 4625 contains no intergovernmental or a lower tax burden on the industry, a domestic production. private-sector mandates as defined in the Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4625 is supported reduced royalty rate and more afford- Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA). by the majority and the minority of The royalty reduction required by the bill able energy costs that are such a cru- the committee, and I urge adoption of would temporarily reduce federal payments cial part of the economic mix. this bill. to three states—Wyoming, Colorado, and California—by about $3 million a year over b 1530 U.S. CONGRESS, the 2005–2009 period. The U.S. soda ash industry pays in CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, the ballpark of $100 million in taxes to Washington, DC, July 19, 2004. Estimated cost to the Federal Govern- ment: The estimated budgetary impact of Federal, State, and local governments. Hon. RICHARD W. POMBO, Chairman, Committee on Resources, H.R. 4625 is shown in the following table. The Due to the growth of China’s soda ash House of Representatives, Washington, DC. costs of this legislation fall within budget exports, it is essential that we provide DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional function 300 (natural resources and environ- temporary relief to the soda ash indus- Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost ment). By fiscal year, in millions of dollars— 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 CHANGES IN DIRECT SPENDING Estimated budget authority ......................................................................................................................................... 3 3 33300000 Estimated outlays ........................................................................................................................................................ 3 333300000 Basis of estimate: H.R. 4625 would reduce alty Relief Act of 2004, authored by the Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance the federal royalty rate for sodium com- gentlewoman from Wyoming (Mrs. of my time. pounds and related materials produced on CUBIN). The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. federal land over the 2005–2009 period. Based Soda ash, a chemical produced from STEARNS). The question is on the mo- on information from the Minerals Manage- trona ore, means mining jobs in south- ment Service about the amount of royalties tion offered by the gentlewoman from expected to be generated by production of west Wyoming. These jobs, however, Wyoming (Mrs. CUBIN) that the House those materials under current law, CBO esti- may disappear if we do not provide suspend the rules and pass the bill, mates that this bill would reduce federal re- some measure of relief for our domestic H.R. 4625. ceipts by $6 million in 2005 and $30 million trona producers who are fighting to The question was taken; and (two- over the next five years. Those forgone re- stay competitive in today’s global thirds having voted in favor thereof) ceipts would be partially offset by a cor- economy. the rules were suspended and the bill responding decrease in direct spending for Simply put, Mr. Speaker, unfair com- was passed. payments to the states in which they are petition from China threatens to dis- A motion to reconsider was laid on generated. Hence, CBO estimates that the mantle the American soda ash indus- next increase in direct spending under H.R. the table. try. The pending bill would, for a lim- 4625 would total $3 million in 2005 and $15 f million over the 2005–2009 period. ited time, enhance the competitiveness Intergovernmental and private-sector im- of our domestic producers by providing HONORING SANDRA FELDMAN ON pact: H.R. 4625 contains no intergovern- a royalty reduction on trona produced HER RETIREMENT FROM THE mental or private-sector mandates as defined on Federal lands. PRESIDENCY OF THE AMERICAN in UMRA. The royalty reduction required by At a time when too many American FEDERATION OF TEACHERS the bill would temporarily reduce federal jobs are being lost, we must do what is Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I move to payments to three states—Wyoming, Colo- necessary to keep our workforce here rado, and California—by about $3 million a suspend the rules and agree to the reso- year over the 2005–2009 period. at home strong and competitive. We, lution (H. Res. 714) honoring Sandra Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: on this side of the aisle, have no objec- Feldman on the occasion of her retire- Megan Carroll, Impact on State, Local, and tion to passage of this bill. ment from the presidency of the Amer- Mr. Speaker, I have no further speak- Tribal Governments: Theresa Gullo, Impact ican Federation of Teachers for her on the Private Sector: Crystal Taylor. ers; and I yield back the balance of my tireless efforts to improve the quality Estimate approved by: Peter H. Fontaine, time. Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Anal- Mrs. CUBIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield my- of teaching and learning. ysis. self such time as I may consume. The Clerk read as follows: Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of I would like to thank the gentle- H. Res. 714 my time. woman from Guam (Ms. BORDALLO) for Whereas Sandra Feldman was born in New (Ms. BORDALLO asked and was her work on this issue and for man- York City and attended its public schools; given permission to revise and extend aging so many of the bills today. She Whereas Ms. Feldman is a former public el- her remarks.) certainly does a good job in the com- ementary school teacher, having taught 2nd and 3rd graders at PS 34 in Manhattan; Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield mittee, and it is great working with Whereas Ms. Feldman began her advocacy myself such time as I may consume. her. Always having someone that we efforts on behalf of children and other dis- Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in can have confidence in really helps advantaged individuals during the 1960’s civil support of H.R. 4625, the Soda Ash Roy- move the process along. rights movement; VerDate jul 14 2003 03:47 Jul 20, 2004 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K19JY7.046 H19PT1 July 19, 2004 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H5945 Whereas Ms. Feldman rose through the member American Federation of Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield ranks of the United Federation of Teachers Teachers. She served as the 15th presi- myself such time as I may consume. to the position of executive director and to dent of the AFT and the union’s first I just want to add that all of the the Federation’s presidency in 1986; female President since 1930. According words that were spoken on both sides I Whereas Ms. Feldman was elected in May 1997, as the President of the American Fed- to AFT publications, membership in- think are particularly applicable to eration of Teachers, becoming the 15th presi- creased by more than 350,000 in her 7 Sandra Feldman and the work she did dent in the Federation’s history and the first years as president. with the AFT, who, in my judgment, female president since 1930; Ms. Feldman is widely recognized as was open-minded about change and Whereas Ms. Feldman is widely recognized an authority on urban education and progression in education; and for that I as an expert on urban education and a strong an advocate for children and has long think she deserves a tremendous advocate for disadvantaged children; been willing to examine innovative ap- amount of credit.