Steven Holt: “Then I will close with a few remarks, again, with thanks to the chairman; and I yield myself such time as I may consume.…”

“Then I will close with a few remarks, again, with thanks to the chairman; and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I just want to stress how important the operation of the Federal Helium Reserve has been to science, to technology, to manufacturing, to health care in the United States. Three-quarters of a century ago, farsighted legislators began stockpiling helium thinking it might be used for dirigibles and blimps lighter than aircraft. They didn't know what else it would be used for, but they recognized and understood that helium had some very special properties. Additionally, the Federal Helium Reserve--the country's domestic stockpile of helium--has been a good investment for taxpayers. Helium is without a doubt a rare valuable resource, critical to our economic and national security. Because of decisions by Congress in past years, we are now in a position where failure to act in the next 5 days will result in nearly half of America's helium supply being cut off, creating a crisis in health care, in research, in manufacturing, and in many other areas. Here we have an example of where Congress was farsighted and then subsequently shortsighted. Today, I think we are taking wise steps to remedy the situation.…”