Larry Combest: “the importance of helium and the Government involvement in helium conservation and production dates back to the passage…”

“the importance of helium and the Government involvement in helium conservation and production dates back to the passage of the Helium Act of 1925. The building and operation of a large-scale helium extraction and purification plant went into operation in 1929 in Amarillo, TX, that until 1960, was the only domestic helium producer. In 1960, Congress amended the Helium Act to provide incentives for stripping natural gas of its helium, for purchase of the separated helium by the Government, and for its long-term storage. With now close to 34.25 billion cubic feet of helium in Government storage and a large private-sector helium recovery industry, some have asked whether or not the Federal Government should have a role in the helium business. While interest in helium began with World War I when its military value as an inert lifting gas was recognized by the Army and Navy, its current uses have far surpassed what many could have imagined. Helium now plays a vital role in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NASA] Space Shuttle program as well as one of the most important materials in modern science. These are but a few of the current modern-day uses of helium that many of the opponents of the helium operations have failed to mention. The Space Shuttle uses more helium than any other single program in the Federal Government.”