Coal Cleanup Taxpayer Protection Act

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

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Mar 30, 2017

Coal Cleanup Taxpayer Protection Act

This bill amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act to prohibit the Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation Enforcement (OSMRE) and state regulatory authorities from accepting new self-bonds for coal reclamation. Additionally, any existing self-bonds or corporate bonds utilized for coal reclamation must be converted to surety or collateral bonds.

The OSMRE may approve state or federal alternative coal mining bond programs that result in no greater risk of financial liability to the federal government than a surety or collateral bond program.

The bill also requires the OSMRE to issue rules establishing limitations on surety bonds to minimize the financial liability to the federal or state government.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA] · D–WA

Committees

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

3 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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Mar 30, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Mar 30, 2017
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 30, 2017 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

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

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Analyze S.800 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.800, 115th Congress: Coal Cleanup Taxpayer Protection Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/800

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2017-03-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/s800/BILLS-115s800is.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.800 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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Progressive lens

Examine S.800 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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Discuss S.800, 115th Congress: Coal Cleanup Taxpayer Protection Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/800

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2017-03-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/s800/BILLS-115s800is.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.800 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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Conservative lens

Examine S.800 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.800, 115th Congress: Coal Cleanup Taxpayer Protection Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/800

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2017-03-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/s800/BILLS-115s800is.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.800 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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Examine S.800 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.

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Discuss S.800, 115th Congress: Coal Cleanup Taxpayer Protection Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/800

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2017-03-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/s800/BILLS-115s800is.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.800 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.