Mineral Resources

Meeting Federal Needs for Helium Gao ID: T-RCED-93-44 May 20, 1993

The federal government uses helium in the space program, weapons systems, and superconductivity research. The Helium Act of 1960 authorizes the Interior Department to conserve, buy, store, produce, and sell helium to meet federal needs. The act also requires federal agencies to buy most of their helium from the Bureau of Mines. GAO testified that the Bureau of Mines has acted to meet the act's objectives. In addition, the helium program debt, which overshadows meaningful debate on the merits of the program, could be canceled without adversely affecting the federal budget. Finally, a reassessment of the objectives of the helium act is in order.



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