Fairness, Accountability, and Certainty for Taxpayers in Coal Leasing Act

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

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jun 21, 2016

Fairness, Accountability, and Certainty for Taxpayers in Coal Leasing Act

This bill establishes a deadline for the Department of the Interior to complete a comprehensive review of the federal coal leasing program. The review, in the form of a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, is designed to ensure that the federal coal program is properly structured to provide a fair return to taxpayers and to reflect its impacts on the environment, while continuing to help meet energy needs.

In addition, Interior shall reestablish the Royalty Policy Committee to ensure consultation among state, tribal, environmental, energy, and federal stakeholders. The committee must provide advice to Interior on the management of federal and Indian mineral leases and shall be composed of federal and non-federal members.

The bill also requires Interior to authorize earlier emergency coal leasing than is currently authorized under federal regulations.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT] · D–MT

Committees

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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Jun 21, 2016
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Jun 21, 2016
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

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Introduced in Senate · Jun 21, 2016 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

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

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Analyze S.3079 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.

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Discuss S.3079, 114th Congress: Fairness, Accountability, and Certainty for Taxpayers in Coal Leasing Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/3079

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2016-06-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s3079/BILLS-114s3079is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:09:59Z. 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.3079 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.

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Discuss S.3079, 114th Congress: Fairness, Accountability, and Certainty for Taxpayers in Coal Leasing Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/3079

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2016-06-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s3079/BILLS-114s3079is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:09:59Z. 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.3079 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.

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Examine S.3079 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.

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Discuss S.3079, 114th Congress: Fairness, Accountability, and Certainty for Taxpayers in Coal Leasing Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/3079

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2016-06-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s3079/BILLS-114s3079is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:09:59Z. 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.

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Discuss S.3079, 114th Congress: Fairness, Accountability, and Certainty for Taxpayers in Coal Leasing Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/3079

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2016-06-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s3079/BILLS-114s3079is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:09:59Z. 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.3079 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.