US Congress Senate Bill 2374 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: Introduced on April 26 2012 - 25% progression, died in chamber
Action: 2012-05-10 - Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-540.
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]

Helium Stewardship Act of 2012 - Amends the Helium Act to name all U.S.-owned helium reserves the Federal Helium Reserve, including: (1) the Cliffside Field helium storage reservoir; (2) the federally owned helium pipeline system; and (3) all associated infrastructure owned, leased, or managed under contract by the Secretary of the Interior for helium storage, transportation, withdrawal, purification, or management. Revises the authority of the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to offer crude helium for sale for federal, medical, scientific, and commercial uses, dividing such sales into three phases the second of which is to maximize total recovery of helium from the Reserve. Authorizes extramural holders of federal research grants, as well as federal agencies, to purchase refined helium for federal uses, including medical and scientific uses, from persons who have entered into enforceable contracts to purchase an equivalent quantity of crude helium from the Secretary. Replaces the current formula for determining the price of helium with guidelines referring to current market crude helium prices. Instructs the Secretary to undertake a national helium gas assessment. Directs the Secretary of Energy to support research, development, commercial application, and conservation to: (1) expand domestic production of low-Btu gas and helium resources, (2) separate and capture helium from natural gas streams at the wellhead, and (3) reduce venting helium and helium-bearing low-Btu gas during natural gas operations. Instructs the Secretary of Energy to support or carry out directly research programs to develop: (1) advanced membrane technology, (2) helium separation technology, and (3) an industrial helium program. Directs the Secretary to cooperate with the Secretary of Energy on any assessment or research regarding extraction and refinement of the isotope helium-3 from crude helium at the Reserve or along the helium pipeline system. Amends the Soda Ash Royalty Reduction Act of 2006 to extend from 5 to 7 years the reduced royalty rate on soda ash produced from federal land.

Helium Stewardship Act of 2012

Sen. Jeff Bingaman [D-NM]	Sen. John Barrasso [R-WY]	Sen. Richard Blumenthal [D-CT]	Sen. John Boozman [R-AR]
Sen. Scott Brown [R-MA]	Sen. Sherrod Brown [D-OH]	Sen. Robert Casey [D-PA]	Sen. Daniel Coats [R-IN]
Sen. Michael Enzi [R-WY]	Sen. Al Franken [D-MN]	Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand [D-NY]	Sen. Kay Hagan [D-NC]
Sen. John Hoeven [R-ND]	Sen. Jeff Merkley [D-OR]	Sen. Jerry Moran [R-KS]	Sen. James Risch [R-ID]
Sen. Pat Roberts [R-KS]	Sen. Bernard Sanders [I-VT]	Sen. Charles Schumer [D-NY]	Sen. Debbie Stabenow [D-MI]
Sen. Jon Tester [D-MT]	Sen. Pat Toomey [R-PA]	Sen. Ron Wyden [D-OR]

Date	Chamber	Action
2012-05-10	Senate	Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-540.
2012-04-26	Senate	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2826-2828)
2012-04-26	Senate	Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2826)

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/senate-bill/2374/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/s2374/BILLS-112s2374is.pdf