To protect the sanctity of contracts and leases entered into by surface patent holders with respect to coalbed methane gas.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

H.R.4598 through Congress

H.R.4598 keeps its number as it moves between the House and Senate.

HouseSep 18, 1998IntroducedOfficial record

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No Senate action is available in our imported record yet.

Separate related Senate measures (1)

These are different measures identified as related by Congress.gov. Their text and outcomes may differ; they are not the Senate stage of H.R.4598.

Related Senate bill: S.2500 A bill to protect the sanctity of contracts and leases entered into by surface patent holders with respect to coalbed methane gas.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Sep 18, 1998

Declares that the United States shall not deem as an infringement upon its ownership rights certain existing Federal contracts and leases covering land conveyed by the United States that in turn convey to surface patent holders any rights to coalbed methane gas exploration, extraction, sales, or production. Declares this Act applicable only to land with respect to which the United States owns coal reserved to it in a patent issued under specified Federal law. States that this Act does not: (1) apply to any tribally-owned or State-owned interest in coal or land; or (2) limit the right of any person who entered into a contract or lease for federally-owned coal before, on or after the date of enactment of this Act to mine and remove such coal, and to release coalbed methane without liability to surface patent holders with rights to explore for, extract, sell, or produce coalbed methane.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Cubin, Barbara [R-WY-At Large] · R–WY

Committees

Natural Resources Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Sep 22, 1998
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
Sep 18, 1998
Referred to the House Committee on Resources.
Sep 18, 1998
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1763)
Sep 18, 1998
Introduced in House
Sep 18, 1998
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Sep 18, 1998 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

S 2500 · A bill to protect the sanctity of contracts and leases entered into by surface patent holders with respect to coalbed methane gas.

Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.4598 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4598, 105th Congress: To protect the sanctity of contracts and leases entered into by surface patent holders with respect to coalbed methane gas.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/4598

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1998-09-18.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr4598/BILLS-105hr4598ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:23:30Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.4598 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.4598 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4598, 105th Congress: To protect the sanctity of contracts and leases entered into by surface patent holders with respect to coalbed methane gas.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/4598

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1998-09-18.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr4598/BILLS-105hr4598ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:23:30Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.4598 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.4598 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4598, 105th Congress: To protect the sanctity of contracts and leases entered into by surface patent holders with respect to coalbed methane gas.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/4598

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1998-09-18.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr4598/BILLS-105hr4598ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:23:30Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.4598 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.4598 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4598, 105th Congress: To protect the sanctity of contracts and leases entered into by surface patent holders with respect to coalbed methane gas.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/4598

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1998-09-18.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr4598/BILLS-105hr4598ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:23:30Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.4598 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.