{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20130929072226/http://www.barrasso.senate.gov:80/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressOffice.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=5c3f20e5-b9c1-a2b9-fe81-9d73d34b7dc7", "Helium Bill With AML Funding is Headed to President's Desk", "2013-09-26", "2013", "2013-09", "Republican", "House", "WY", "John Barrasso", "B001261", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Helium Bill With AML Funding is Headed to President\u2019s Desk \n Delegation secures additional AML funding for Wyoming and a competitive royalty rate for America\u2019s soda ash producers.   \n September 26, 2013   \nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013Today, U.S. Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso, both R-Wyo., praised the Senate and House for coming together to pass an amended version of the bipartisan Helium Stewardship Act of 2013. The bill provides a responsible management strategy for the Federal Helium Reserve and encourages the private production of alternative supplies of helium in states like Wyoming which has over 50 percent of the nation\u2019s helium reserves. \nThe bill also raises additional federal revenue that will go toward reducing our national debt, partially restoring Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) funding to Wyoming, and establishing a competitive royalty rate for America\u2019s soda ash producers, among other things. Wyoming is now set to receive an additional $13 million in AML funding in Fiscal Year 2014 and $60 million in AML funding in Fiscal Year 2015. \nSenators Barrasso and Enzi released a joint statement praising the bill\u2019s final passage: \n\u201cCongress has just sent the President a bipartisan bill that will ensure America has a stable supply of helium.\u00a0 He should sign it into law quickly to prevent a helium crisis and support important technology like MRI scanners and semiconductors,\u201d said the Senators. \u201cThanks to the revenue raised by this bill, Wyoming will soon start receiving part of its AML funding that was stolen last year. Although it\u2019s not the full amount\u2014it\u2019s a significant step in the right direction. The delegation will continue to take every opportunity to make sure Washington fully restores Wyoming\u2019s AML funds.\u201d \nOn April 26, 2013, the House of Representatives passed a version of H.R. 527 that did not include the Wyoming provisions related to AML and soda ash. On September 19th, the Senate passed its own version of H.R. 527 which included AML funding for Wyoming and a royalty reduction for soda ash producers. The House amended the Senate passed bill to comply with House budget rules on September 25th. The Senate passed the amended bill unanimously on September 26th. It is now on its way to the President\u2019s desk to be signed into law. \nBackground on the Helium Stewardship Act:\nThe bill will extend the Secretary of the Interior\u2019s authority to sell crude helium from the Federal Helium Reserve. The bill establishes a number of reforms to ensure the Secretary sells crude helium at market prices. For years, the Secretary has been selling crude helium at less than the market value, costing U.S. taxpayers millions of dollars and discouraging the production of alternative supplies of helium, such as those in Wyoming.\nRevenue is used to reduce the federal debt by $90 million.\u00a0 It also funds critical priorities within the Energy Committee\u2019s jurisdiction, including, among other things:\n\u2022\u00a0Provides an additional $13 million in AML funding for Wyoming in Fiscal Year 2014 and $60 million in AML funding for Wyoming in Fiscal Year 2015. \n\u2022\u00a0Establishes a competitive royalty rate for America\u2019s soda ash producers of 4 percent over the next two years. \n\u2022\u00a0Provides a one-year extension of the Secure Rural Schools program.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://web.archive.org/web/20130929072226/http://www.barrasso.senate.gov:80/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressOffice.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=5c3f20e5-b9c1-a2b9-fe81-9d73d34b7dc7"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.400180160999298, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}