A bill to amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to reduce the amounts of reclamation fees, to modify requirements relating to transfers from the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund, and for other purposes.

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

S.2208 through Congress

S.2208 keeps its number as it moves between the House and Senate.

SenateMar 12, 2004IntroducedOfficial record

Major milestones in the imported record. See all actions.

No House action is available in our imported record yet.

Separate related House measures (1)

These are different measures identified as related by Congress.gov. Their text and outcomes may differ; they are not the House stage of S.2208.

Related House bill: H.R.5308 To amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to modify requirements relating to transfers from the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund, and for other purposes.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Mar 12, 2004

Amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to reduce reclamation fees required to be paid by operators of coal mining operations.

Revises the statutory formula under which the Secretary of the Interior is required to transfer funds from the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund to: (1) United Mine Workers of America Combined Benefit Fund; (2) United Mine Workers of America 1992 Benefit Plan; and (3) the multiemployer health benefit plan established after July 1991, by the parties that are settlors of the 1992 Benefit Plan.

Prescribes guidelines for transfer by the Secretary of additional amounts of previously credited interest and previously allocated amounts.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV] · D–WV

Committees

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

4 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.

Mar 12, 2004
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Mar 12, 2004
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

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

Introduced in Senate · Mar 12, 2004 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 5308 · To amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to modify requirements relating to transfers from the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund, and for other purposes.

Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.2208 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 S.2208, 108th Congress: A bill to amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to reduce the amounts of reclamation fees, to modify requirements relating to transfers from the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/senate-bill/2208

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2004-03-12.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/s2208/BILLS-108s2208is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:12:06Z. 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 S.2208 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 S.2208 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 S.2208, 108th Congress: A bill to amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to reduce the amounts of reclamation fees, to modify requirements relating to transfers from the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/senate-bill/2208

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2004-03-12.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/s2208/BILLS-108s2208is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:12:06Z. 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 S.2208 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 S.2208 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 S.2208, 108th Congress: A bill to amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to reduce the amounts of reclamation fees, to modify requirements relating to transfers from the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/senate-bill/2208

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2004-03-12.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/s2208/BILLS-108s2208is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:12:06Z. 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 S.2208 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 S.2208 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 S.2208, 108th Congress: A bill to amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to reduce the amounts of reclamation fees, to modify requirements relating to transfers from the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/senate-bill/2208

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2004-03-12.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/s2208/BILLS-108s2208is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:12:06Z. 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 S.2208 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.