View source for Physics:Helium Privatization Act of 1996

{{short description|United States statute}}
{{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.
| colloquialacronym = 
| nickname = 
| 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 = [[Physics:Helium Act of 1925|Helium Act of 1925]]
| acts repealed = 
| title amended = 50 U.S.C.: War and National Defense
| sections created = <!--{{USC}} can be used-->
| sections amended = {{Usc-title-chap|50|10}} § 167 et seq.
| leghisturl = 
| introducedin = House
| introducedbill = {{USBill|104|HR|4168}}
| introducedby = Christopher Cox (R-{{wipe|California}})
| introduceddate = September 25, 1996
| committees = House Resources
| passedbody1 = House
| passeddate1 = September 26, 1996
| passedvote1 = Passed Voice Vote
| passedbody2 = Senate
| passedas2 = <!-- used if the second body changes the name of the legislation -->
| passeddate2 = September 28, 1996
| passedvote2 = Passed Unanimous Consent
| conferencedate = 
| passedbody3 = 
| passeddate3 = 
| passedvote3 = 
| 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 = 
| passeddate4 = 
| passedvote4 = 
| signedpresident = Bill Clinton
| signeddate = October 9, 1996
| 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 -->
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| amendments = 
| SCOTUS cases = 
}}
The '''Helium Privatization Act of 1996''' is a {{wipe|United States}} statute that ordered the US government to sell much of the [[Physics:National Helium Reserve|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.<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>

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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>  The bill was amended in 2013 to use an auction to sell helium.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{USBill|104|hr|4168}}
* {{cite book |author=Helium Reserve Committee |date=May 18, 2000 |title=The Impact of Selling the Federal Helium Reserve |url={{google books|_n7eDPEITYYC|plainurl=y}} |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=National Academies Press |doi=10.17226/9860 |isbn=978-0309171878 |oclc=44547162}}
* {{cite book |author=National Research Council |date=June 30, 2010 |title=Selling the Nation's Helium Reserve |url={{google books|AHXHnEeRc-0C|plainurl=y}} |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=National Academies Press |doi=10.17226/12844 |isbn=978-0309157537 |oclc=587078069}}
* {{cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/heliumresourceso00gage |title=Helium Resources of the United States - 1997 |last1=Gage |first1=B.D. |last2=Driskill |first2=D.R. |date=July 1998 |website=Internet Archive |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=U.S. Department of the Interior}}
* {{cite book |title=Helium Resources of the United States - 2001 |last1=Gage |first1=B.D. |last2=Driskill |first2=D.R. |date=December 2001 |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=U.S. Department of the Interior|hdl = 2027/mdp.39015053944610}}


[[Category:Helium]]

{{Sourceattribution|Helium Privatization Act of 1996}}