Helium Privatization Act of 1996

{{short description|United States statute}}

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}

{{Infobox U.S. legislation

| shorttitle = Helium Privatization Act of 1996

| othershorttitles =

| longtitle = An Act to amend the Helium Act to authorize the Secretary to enter into agreements with private parties for the recovery and disposal of helium on Federal lands, and for other purposes.

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| enacted by = 104th

| effective date = October 9, 1996

| public law url = https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-104publ273/pdf/PLAW-104publ273.pdf

| cite public law = 104-273

| cite statutes at large = {{usstat|110|3315}}

| acts amended = Helium Act of 1925

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| title amended = 50 U.S.C.: War and National Defense

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| sections amended = {{Usc-title-chap|50|10}} § 167 et seq.

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| introducedin = House

| introducedbill = {{USBill|104|HR|4168}}

| introducedby = Christopher Cox (R-CA)

| introduceddate = September 25, 1996

| committees = House Resources

| passedbody1 = House

| passeddate1 = September 26, 1996

| passedvote1 = Passed Voice Vote

| passedbody2 = Senate

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| passeddate2 = September 28, 1996

| passedvote2 = Passed Unanimous Consent

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| signedpresident = Bill Clinton

| signeddate = October 9, 1996

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The Helium Privatization Act of 1996 is a United States statute that ordered the US government to sell much of the National Helium Reserve. The United States 104th Congressional session passed the Act of Congress presenting the legislation to the United States President on September 30, 1996. President Bill Clinton enacted the federal statute into law on October 9, 1996.{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/4733170.1996.002.umich.edu/page/1796 |title=Statement on Signing the Helium Privatization Act of 1996 - October 9, 1996 |last=Clinton |first=William J. |date=October 9, 1996 |website=Internet Archive |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=National Archives and Records Service |page=1796}}

The law was described by critics as a "fiasco" due to the formula-based sale price being significantly lower than the market price for helium.{{cite web|last1=Yglesias|first1=Matthew|title=America's Helium Privatization Fiasco|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2012/05/14/america_s_helium_privatization_fiasco.html|website=Slate|accessdate=25 February 2018|date=14 May 2012}} The bill was amended in 2013 to use an auction to sell helium.{{cite web|last1=Cho|first1=Adrian|title=New U.S. rules on helium sales said to stifle competition|url=https://www.science.org/content/article/new-us-rules-helium-sales-said-stifle-competition|website=Science {{!}} AAAS|accessdate=25 February 2018|language=en|date=8 July 2015}}