S.Amdt. 5425

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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