H.R. 3279 would allow firms to retain federal oil and gas leases that would otherwise expire for the purpose of extracting helium. Based on information provided by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and firms operating in the mineral extraction industry, CBO estimates that enacting the bill would increase offsetting receipts, which are treated as reductions in direct spending, by $9 million over the 2018-2027 period. Because enacting the bill would affect direct spending, pay-as-you procedures apply. Enacting the bill would not affect revenues.
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 3279 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028.
H.R. 3279 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
