Helium Privatization Act of 1996

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.^[1]

Helium Privatization Act of 1996

Long title	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.
Enacted by	the 104th United States Congress
Effective	October 9, 1996
Citations
Public law	104-273
Statutes at Large	110 Stat. 3315
Codification
Acts amended	Helium Act of 1925
Titles amended	50 U.S.C.: War and National Defense
U.S.C. sections amended	50 U.S.C. ch. 10 § 167 et seq.
Legislative history
Introduced in the House as H.R. 4168 by Christopher Cox (R-CA) on September 25, 1996 Committee consideration by House Resources Passed the House on September 26, 1996 (Passed Voice Vote) Passed the Senate on September 28, 1996 (Passed Unanimous Consent) Signed into law by President Bill Clinton on October 9, 1996

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.^[2] The bill was amended in 2013 to use an auction to sell helium.^[3]