Responsible Helium Administration and Stewardship Act

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 527, the Responsible Helium Administration and Stewardship Act.

H.R. 527 is important legislation for our Nation's high-tech, defense, medical, and scientific industries. It will ensure the continued operation of and sales of helium from the Federal Helium Reserve, providing a stable and secure supply of a critical material for the next several years.

This legislation represents a significant step forward in addressing the concerns associated with the helium supply from the Federal Helium Reserve. This also creates a situation where we have a reliable source of helium that's critical to the strategic interests of this Nation.

This bill also provides for the continued operation of the Reserve and the sale of helium to private entities, thereby helping to ensure a stable and secure supply of helium in the near term.

It provides price transparency through clear reporting requirements for both the Bureau of Land Management and for those who purchase helium. And for many industries throughout the United States, this reliability and transparency is absolutely critical.

H.R. 527 is important and is urgently needed to address this Nation's helium supply in making sure, too, that we keep in mind the implications it has for both our national and our homeland security.

I'd like to applaud Chairman Hastings and Ranking Member Markey for their work on this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source