Political Quotes

“I rise to urge my Senate colleagues to support H.R. 1975, the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Fairness and Simplification Act, also known as the ``royalty fairness'' bill, which passed the House of Representatives on July 16, 1996. H.R. 1975 is identical in every respect to S. 1014, reported to the Senate by the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on May 1 by a unanimous voice vote, with one exception: It makes a technical amendment in the effective date section that was not made in S. 1014. The technical amendment was included at the urging of the administration and, as a result, the Clinton administration strongly supports H.R. 1975. The bill also is supported by the governors of fourteen States. This is historic legislation, Mr. President. It is the only legislative initiative taken in the last 14 years to cost effectively increase the Nation's third largest source of revenue--mineral royalties from Federal lands, more specifically, oil and gas royalties. This legislation would establish a comprehensive statutory plan to increase the collection of royalty receipts due the United States. Those receipts will help reduce our budget deficit. Without this legislation, an ineffective and costly royalty collection system will continue, perpetuating long delays and uncollected royalties. Let me make clear, Mr. President: This legislation does not apply to Indian lands. It applies only to royalties from oil and gas production on Federal lands.”