I 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 9019 

To amend the Helium Act to ensure continued access to helium for holders 

of Federal research grants, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

DECEMBER 17, 2020 

Mr. NEGUSE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To amend the Helium Act to ensure continued access to 

helium for holders of Federal research grants, and for 

other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Securing Helium for 

5 Science Act of 2020’’. 

6 SEC. 2. SALE OF CRUDE HELIUM. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 6 of the Helium Act (50 

8 U.S.C. 167d) is amended— 

9 (1) in subsection (d)— 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 9019 IH

1 (A) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘(e)’’ 

2 and inserting ‘‘(f)’’; 

3 (B) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘(e)’’ 

4 and inserting ‘‘(f)’’; and 

5 (C) by adding at the end the following: 

6 ‘‘(5) RESPONSIBILITIES OF PURCHASER.—The 

7 Secretary may not sell the Federal Helium Reserve 

8 unless the purchaser agrees to be subject to the 

9 same requirements as the Secretary under sub10 section (e), except that such requirements shall not 

11 terminate until the end of the 8 year period de12 scribed in subsection (e)(1).’’; 

13 (2) by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as 

14 subsections (f) and (g) respectively; and 

15 (3) by inserting the following after subsection 

16 (d): 

17 ‘‘(e) PHASE E: CONTINUED ACCESS FOR RESEARCH18 ERS.— 

19 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para20 graph (3), during the 8 year period beginning on the 

21 earlier of September 30, 2022 or the date on which 

22 the Secretary ends sales of helium under subsection 

23 (c), the Secretary shall offer crude helium for sale 

24 to holders of a Federal research grant in quantities 

25 not to exceed 30 million cubic feet of crude helium 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 9019 IH

1 annually, at such times and under such terms and 

2 conditions as the Secretary determines appropriate. 

3 ‘‘(2) PRICE.— 

4 ‘‘(A) FIRST YEAR.—During the one year 

5 period beginning on the date of the first sale of 

6 helium under paragraph (1), the price of helium 

7 sold under such paragraph shall be 5 percent 

8 higher than the price of the most recent sale of 

9 helium under subsection (c). 

10 ‘‘(B) SUBSEQUENT YEARS.—The Secretary 

11 shall increase the price of helium offered under 

12 this paragraph by 5 percent in each subsequent 

13 year in which sales occur under this subsection. 

14 ‘‘(3) TERMINATION.—The requirements of this 

15 subsection shall not apply to the Secretary beginning 

16 on the date that a purchaser of the Federal Helium 

17 Reserve that has agreed to be subject to the require18 ments of this subsection assumes control of such 

19 Federal Helium Reserve.’’. 

20 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 3(c) of the 

21 Helium Act (50 U.S.C. 167a(c)) is amended by striking 

22 ‘‘6(e)’’ and inserting ‘‘6(f)’’. 

Æ 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS