Securing Helium for Science Act
Bill: H.R.655 | Sponsor: Rep. Neguse, Joe (D-CO)
Policy area: Energy

Summary:
Securing Helium for Science Act
This bill revises requirements governing the sale of the Federal Helium Reserve.
Under current law, the federal government must sell or dispose of all assets of the Federal Helium Reserve by Sept 30, 2021. The bill requires any purchaser of the assets to agree to provide helium to holders of federal research grants at a discounted rate for the next eight years as specified by the bill.

To amend the Helium Act to ensure continued access to helium for 
      holders of Federal research grants, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Securing Helium for Science Act''.

SEC. 2. SALE OF CRUDE HELIUM.

    (a) In General.--Section 6 of the Helium Act (50 U.S.C. 167d) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) in paragraph (3), by striking ``(e)'' and 
                inserting ``(f)'';
                    (B) in paragraph (4), by striking ``(e)'' and 
                inserting ``(f)''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) Responsibilities of purchaser.--The Secretary may not 
        sell the Federal Helium Reserve unless the purchaser agrees to 
        be subject to the same requirements as the Secretary under 
        subsection (e), except that such requirements shall not 
        terminate until the end of the 8-year period described in 
        subsection (e)(1).'';
            (2) by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as subsections 
        (f) and (g), respectively; and
            (3) by inserting the following after subsection (d):
    ``(e) Phase E: Continued Access for Researchers.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (3), 
        during the 8-year period beginning on the earlier of September 
        30, 2022, or the date on which the Secretary ends sales of 
        helium under subsection (c), the Secretary shall offer crude 
        helium for sale to holders of a Federal research grant in 
        quantities not to exceed 30 million cubic feet of crude helium 
        annually, at such times and under such terms and conditions as 
        the Secretary determines appropriate.
            ``(2) Price.--
                    ``(A) First year.--During the 1-year period 
                beginning on the date of the first sale of helium under 
                paragraph (1), the price of helium sold under such 
                paragraph shall be 5 percent higher than the price of 
                the most recent sale of helium under subsection (c).
                    ``(B) Subsequent years.--The Secretary shall 
                increase the price of helium offered under this 
                paragraph by 5 percent in each subsequent year in which 
                sales occur under this subsection.
            ``(3) Termination.--The requirements of this subsection 
        shall not apply to the Secretary beginning on the date that a 
        purchaser of the Federal Helium Reserve that has agreed to be 
        subject to the requirements of this subsection assumes control 
        of such Federal Helium Reserve.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 3(c) of the Helium Act (50 
U.S.C. 167a(c)) is amended by striking ``6(e)'' and inserting ``6(f)''.
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