The US House of Representatives has passed new helium legislation which is specifically designed to encourage private production, following ongoing concerns about a global helium shortage.
The House brought up and passed H.R. 3279 (the Helium Extraction Act) on Wednesday 1 November 2017. There was overwhelming support for the motion with very little debate to the contrary.
The official amendment text reads: “To amend the Mineral Leasing Act to provide that extraction of helium from gas produced under a Federal mineral lease shall maintain the lease as if the helium were oil and gas.”
The purpose of the new bill is primarily to increase the domestic supply of helium throughout the US by providing new incentives and new authority for helium gas exploration and drilling on federal lands.
Currently, all helium extraction from the Federal Helium Reserve is scheduled to end by September 30, 2021. Following the new legislation, this will no longer be the case.
The Helium Extraction Act was first introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Paul Cook (R-California) in July of this year. The legislation was considered, formally approved and sent to the full House of Representatives for potential consideration and passage. Similar legislation, S. 1572, has also been introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah).
