US Senators voiced their support for a proposal for lower royalties on soda ash mining at a 14 July 2004 hearing before the Senate Public Lands and Forests Sub-committee. Representatives from mining groups gave testimony in favour of a proposal to cut the royalty rate on soda ash operations. The royalties go to the federal treasury. The proposal, S.2317, would amend the Mineral Leasing Act to reduce the royalty rate for soda ash leasers from 6% to 2% for a period of five years. Senator Craig Thomas, who introduced the bill, said the legislation was important to protect the soda ash industry in Wyoming, which accounts for 80% to 90% of the US' soda ash production. The US share of the market has declined in recent years as China has become the number one soda ash exporter.
