A reprieve for federal helium

The House of Representatives agreed to delay the closure of the Federal Helium Reserve.

The House of Representatives last week agreed to delay the closure of the Federal Helium Reserve amid fears of a potential shortage of the inert, lighter-than-air gas. The Texas-based reserve contains a third of the world’s helium supply, which is sold off by the government to U.S. companies that use it in everything from MRI machines to party balloons. In 1996 Congress voted to close the program, hoping the private sector would move in, and operations were due to terminate in October. But companies have so far been put off by high operational costs, leaving the prospect of a supply gap. The bill, passed on a vote of 394–1, will allow the reserve to operate for another year.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us