View source for Physics:Helium Act of 1925

{{short description|United States statute}}
{{Infobox U.S. legislation
| shorttitle        = Helium Act of 1925
| othershorttitles  =
| longtitle         = An Act authorizing the conservation, production, and exploitation of helium gas, a mineral resource pertaining to the national defense, and to the development of commercial aeronautics, and for other purposes.
| colloquialacronym = 
| nickname          = Helium Conservation Act of 1925
| enacted by        = 68th
| effective date    = March 3, 1925
| public law url    = 
| cite public law   = {{uspl|68|544}}
| cite statutes at large = {{usstat|43|1110}}
| acts amended    = 
| acts repealed   = 
| title amended   = 50 U.S.C.: War and National Defense
| sections created = {{Usc-title-chap|50|10}} § 161 et seq.
| sections amended = 
| leghisturl      = 
| introducedin    = House
| introducedbill  = {{USBill|68|H.R.|5722}}
| introducedby    = Julius Kahn (R-{{wipe|California}})
| introduceddate  = May 2, 1924
| committees      = House Military Affairs
| passedbody1     = House
| passeddate1     = January 21, 1925
| passedvote1     = Passed
| passedbody2     = Senate
| passedas2       = <!-- used if the second body changes the name of the legislation -->
| passeddate2     = February 18, 1925
| passedvote2     = Passed
| conferencedate  = February 19, 1925
| passedbody3     = Senate
| passeddate3     = February 26, 1925
| passedvote3     = Agreed
| agreedbody3     = <!-- used when the other body agrees without going into committee -->
| agreeddate3     = <!-- used when the other body agrees without going into committee -->
| agreedvote3     = <!-- used when the other body agrees without going into committee -->
| agreedbody4     = <!-- used if agreedbody3 further amends legislation -->
| agreeddate4     = <!-- used if agreedbody3 further amends legislation -->
| agreedvote4     = <!-- used if agreedbody3 further amends legislation -->
| passedbody4     = House
| passeddate4     = February 28, 1925
| passedvote4     = Agreed
| signedpresident = Calvin Coolidge
| signeddate      = March 3, 1925
| unsignedpresident = <!-- used when passed without presidential signing -->
| unsigneddate    = <!-- used when passed without presidential signing -->
| vetoedpresident = <!-- used when passed by overriding presidential veto -->
| vetoeddate      = <!-- used when passed by overriding presidential veto -->
| overriddenbody1 = <!-- used when passed by overriding presidential veto -->
| overriddendate1 = <!-- used when passed by overriding presidential veto -->
| overriddenvote1 = <!-- used when passed by overriding presidential veto -->
| overriddenbody2 = <!-- used when passed by overriding presidential veto -->
| overriddendate2 = <!-- used when passed by overriding presidential veto -->
| overriddenvote2 = <!-- used when passed by overriding presidential veto -->
| amendments      = 
| SCOTUS cases    = 
}}
'''Helium Act of 1925''', 50 USC § 161, is a United States statute drafted for the purpose of conservation, exploration, and procurement of [[Chemistry:Helium|helium]] gas. The Act of Congress authorized the condemnation, lease, or purchase of acquired lands bearing the potential of producing helium gas. It banned the export of helium, for which the US was the only important source, thus forcing foreign airships to use hydrogen lift gas.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-06-09|title=There is a World-Wide Shortage of Helium|url=https://interestingengineering.com/there-is-a-world-wide-shortage-of-helium|access-date=2020-08-16|website=interestingengineering.com|language=en-US}}</ref> The Act empowered the United States Department of the Interior and United States Bureau of Mines with the jurisdiction for the experimentation, production, repurification, and research of the [[Physics:Lighter than air|lighter than air]] gas. The Title 50 codified law provided the authority for the creation of the [[Physics:National Helium Reserve|National Helium Reserve]].

==Privatization of Helium Act==
The 104th United States Congress introduced four introductory bills in pursuit of [[Finance:Privatization|privatizing]] the federal helium production and refining efforts of the {{wipe|United States}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/house-bill/846 |title=H.R. 846 ~ Helium Act of 1995 |date=February 7, 1995 |series=P.L. 104-273 ~ 110 Stat. 3315 |publisher=Congress.gov}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/house-bill/873 |title=H.R. 873 ~ Helium Privatization Act of 1995 |date=February 9, 1995 |series=P.L. 104-273 ~ 110 Stat. 3315 |publisher=Congress.gov}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/house-bill/2906 |title=H.R. 2906 ~ Helium Privatization Act of 1996 |date=January 30, 1996 |series=P.L. 104-273 ~ 110 Stat. 3315 |publisher=Congress.gov}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/house-bill/3008 |title=H.R. 3008 ~ Helium Privatization Act of 1996 |date=March 5, 1996 |series=P.L. 104-273 ~ 110 Stat. 3315 |publisher=Congress.gov}}</ref> On October 9, 1996, the Clinton Administration abolished the U.S. Federal Helium Refining Program through the passage of the [[Physics:Helium Privatization Act of 1996|Helium Privatization Act of 1996]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-104publ273/pdf/PLAW-104publ273.pdf |title=Helium Privatization Act of 1996 ~ P.L. 104-273 |date=October 9, 1996 |series=110 Stat. 3315 ~ House Bill 4168 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/house-bill/4168 |title=H.R. 4168 ~ Helium Privatization Act of 1996 |date=September 25, 1996 |series=P.L. 104-273 ~ 110 Stat. 3315 |publisher=Congress.gov}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>

==See also==
{| style="border:0px solid gray; align:left; width:65%" cellspacing=3 cellpadding=0
| ☆ [[Physics:Airship|Airship]] || ☆ [[Physics:Lifting gas|Lifting gas]]
|-
| ☆ Cliffside Gas Field (Texas) || ☆ Loon LLC
|-
| ☆ Don Harrington Discovery Center || ☆ Masterson, Texas
|-
| ☆ Helium production in the United States || ☆ Mineral Leasing Act of 1920
|-
| ☆ [[Physics:Helium storage and conservation|Helium storage and conservation]] || ☆ [[Chemistry:Noble gas|Noble gas]]
|-
| ☆ [[Engineering:Hindenburg disaster|Hindenburg disaster]] || ☆ Petrolia Oil Field (Texas)
|-
| ☆ Hugoton Gas Field || ☆ [[Chemistry:Shielding gas|Shielding gas]]
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Amendments to 1925 Act==
U.S. Congressional amendments to the Helium Act of 1925.
{{collapse top|width=85%|clear=none|padding=0px|U.S. Statutes to Privatize & Sustain U.S. Helium}}
{| style="border:1px solid gray; align:left; width:100%" cellspacing=3 cellpadding=0
|- style="font-weight:bold; text-align:center; background:#c4d8e2; color:black;"
! style=" border-bottom:1.5px solid black"|Enactment Date
! style=" border-bottom:1.5px solid black"|Public Law No.
! style=" border-bottom:1.5px solid black"|Statute Citation
! style=" border-bottom:1.5px solid black"|U.S. Bill No.
! style=" border-bottom:1.5px solid black"|U.S. Presidential Administration
|-
| style="border-bottom:1px solid gray; background:#F5F5F5;"|March 3, 1927
| style="border-bottom:1px solid gray; background:#F5F5F5; text-align:center;"|P.L. 69-758
| style="border-bottom:1px solid gray; background:#F5F5F5; text-align:center;"|{{usstat|44|1387}}
| style="border-bottom:1px solid gray; background:#F5F5F5; text-align:center;"|{{USBill|69|H.R.|15344}}
| style="border-bottom:1px solid gray; background:#F5F5F5; text-align:center;"|Calvin Coolidge
|-
| style="border-bottom:1px solid gray; background:#F5F5F5;"|September 1, 1937
| style="border-bottom:1px solid gray; background:#F5F5F5; text-align:center;"|P.L. 75-411
| style="border-bottom:1px solid gray; background:#F5F5F5; text-align:center;"|{{usstat|50|885}}
| style="border-bottom:1px solid gray; background:#F5F5F5; text-align:center;"|{{USBill|75|S.|1567}}
| style="border-bottom:1px solid gray; background:#F5F5F5; text-align:center;"|Franklin D. Roosevelt
|-
| style="border-bottom:1px solid gray; background:#F5F5F5;"|July 26, 1954
| style="border-bottom:1px solid gray; background:#F5F5F5; text-align:center;"|P.L. 83-527
| style="border-bottom:1px solid gray; background:#F5F5F5; text-align:center;"|{{usstat|68|530}}
| style="border-bottom:1px solid gray; background:#F5F5F5; text-align:center;"|{{USBill|83|H.R.|8713}}
| style="border-bottom:1px solid gray; background:#F5F5F5; text-align:center;"|Dwight D. Eisenhower
|-
| style="border-bottom:1px solid gray; background:#F5F5F5;"|September 13, 1960
| style="border-bottom:1px solid gray; background:#F5F5F5; text-align:center;"|P.L. 86-777
| style="border-bottom:1px solid gray; background:#F5F5F5; text-align:center;"|{{usstat|74|918}}
| style="border-bottom:1px solid gray; background:#F5F5F5; text-align:center;"|{{USBill|86|H.R.|10548}}
| style="border-bottom:1px solid gray; background:#F5F5F5; text-align:center;"|Dwight D. Eisenhower
|-
| style="border-bottom:1px solid gray; background:#F5F5F5;"|October 9, 1996
| style="border-bottom:1px solid gray; background:#F5F5F5; text-align:center;"|P.L. 104-273
| style="border-bottom:1px solid gray; background:#F5F5F5; text-align:center;"|{{usstat|110|3315}}
| style="border-bottom:1px solid gray; background:#F5F5F5; text-align:center;"|{{USBill|104|H.R.|4168}}
| style="border-bottom:1px solid gray; background:#F5F5F5; text-align:center;"|William J. Clinton
|-
| style="border-bottom:1.5px solid black; background:#F5F5F5;"|October 2, 2013
| style="border-bottom:1.5px solid black; background:#F5F5F5; text-align:center;"|P.L. 113–40
| style="border-bottom:1.5px solid black; background:#F5F5F5; text-align:center;"|{{usstat|127|534}}
| style="border-bottom:1.5px solid black; background:#F5F5F5; text-align:center;"|{{USBill|113|H.R.|527}}
| style="border-bottom:1.5px solid black; background:#F5F5F5; text-align:center;"|Barack H. Obama II
|}
{{collapse bottom}}

==Historical Bibliography==
* {{cite web |url=https://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/Details/5375000144 |title=Amarillo Helium Plant - Potter County ~ Marker Number: 144 |date=1965 |website=Texas Historic Sites Atlas |publisher=Texas Historical Commission}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/dme01 |title=Exell Helium Plant | last=Anderson |first=H. Allen |website=Handbook of Texas Online |publisher=Texas State Historical Association}}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/gas-well-in-dexter/12065 |title=Gas Well in Dexter |author=Kansas Historical Society |website=Kansapedia |publisher=Kansas Historical Society}}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1927/07/24/archives/helium-plant-to-open-dexter-kan-field-called-richest-in-world-to.html |title=HELIUM PLANT TO OPEN.; Dexter (Kan.) Field, Called Richest in World, to Supply Airships |author=Anonymous |date=July 24, 1927 |work=The New York Times |page=2}}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1938/02/26/archives/purchase-of-helium-land-completes-u-s-monopoly.html |title=Purchase of Helium Land Completes U.S. Monopoly |author=Anonymous |date=February 26, 1938 |work=The New York Times |page=4}}
* {{cite web |url=https://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/Details/5375002430 |title=Helium Time Columns Monument and Museum - Amarillo ~ Marker Number: 2430 |date=1968 |website=Texas Historic Sites Atlas |publisher=Texas Historical Commission}}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=KE018 |title=Keyes Helium Extraction Facility |last=Weaver |first=Bobby D. |website=Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture |publisher=Oklahoma Historical Society}}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.thc.texas.gov/blog/taking-preservation-lightly-historic-helium-plants-texas |title=Taking Preservation Lightly: Historic Helium Plants in Texas |last=Alsobrook |first=Adam |publisher=Texas Historical Commission}}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1961/10/17/archives/two-big-concerns-to-build-helium-plant-in-kansas.html |title=Two Big Concerns to Build Helium Plant in Kansas |author=Anonymous |date=October 17, 1961 |work=The New York Times |page=53}}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/01/03/nyregion/follow-up-on-the-news-helium-scare.html |title=Follow-Up on the News; Helium Scare |last=Haitch |first=Richard |date=January 3, 1982 |work=The New York Times |page=001033}}

==External links==
* {{cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/4731688.1930.001.umich.edu/page/428 |title=The President's News Conference of October 10, 1930  |last=Hoover |first=Herbert C. |date=October 10, 1930 |website=Internet Archive |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=National Archives and Records Service |pages=428–429}}
* {{cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/4731688.1930.001.umich.edu/page/430 |title=Statement About the Export of Helium - October 10, 1930 |last=Hoover |first=Herbert C. |date=October 10, 1930 |website=Internet Archive |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=National Archives and Records Service |page=430}}
* {{cite web |url=https://quod.lib.umich.edu/p/ppotpus/4926313.1937.001/301 |title=A Recommendation as to a Policy for the Exportation of Helium - May 25, 1937 |last=Roosevelt |first=Franklin D. |date=May 25, 1937 |website=University of Michigan Library Digital Collections |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=National Archives and Records Service |pages=223–227}}
* {{cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/4926315.1938.001.umich.edu/page/335 |title=White House Statement on the Sale of Helium for Export - May 11, 1938 |last=Roosevelt |first=Franklin D. |date=May 11, 1938 |website=Internet Archive |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=National Archives and Records Service |page=335}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.gao.gov/assets/200/192006.pdf |title=Program To Supply Current and Future Helium Requirements |date=May 18, 1970 |website=U.S. GAO ~ B-114812 |publisher=U.S. Government Accountability Office}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.gao.gov/assets/130/125734.pdf |title=Unique Helium Resources Are Wasting: A New Conservation Policy Is Needed |date=March 7, 1979 |website=U.S. GAO ~ EMD-78-98 |publisher=U.S. Government Accountability Office}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.gao.gov/assets/160/152569.pdf |title=Mineral Resources: Meeting Federal Needs for Helium |date=October 30, 1992 |website=U.S. GAO ~ RCED-93-1 |publisher=U.S. Government Accountability Office}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.gao.gov/assets/90/84825.pdf |title=Terminating Federal Helium Refining |date=August 28, 1995 |website=U.S. GAO ~ RCED-95-252R |publisher=U.S. Government Accountability Office}}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.blm.gov/programs/energy-and-minerals/helium/federal-helium-program |title=Federal Helium Program |website=U.S. Bureau of Land Management ~ Energy & Mineral Resources |publisher=U.S. Department of the Interior}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Helium Act of 1925}}
[[Category:Helium]]

{{Sourceattribution|Helium Act of 1925}}