A top executive of Praxair Inc. earlier this week called for a responsible winding down of the federal helium program in a way that won’t jeopardize jobs and research programs that depend on a consistent supply of helium.
Scott Kaltrider, vice president of business management and helium for the Danbury company, applauded a Senate plan to wind down the program while criticizing a bill that was recently passed by the House of Representatives.
The comments by Kaltrider come as both houses of Congress are debating bills that would complete the privatization of the federal government’s helium stockpile. In addition to its ubiquitous presence at birthday parties, helium is a crucial ingredient in the manufacture and operation of things like MRI machines, communications satellites, semiconductors and fiber optics, according to Praxair.
Kaltrider said in a statement that a proposal by Sen. Ron Wyden, a Democrat and chairman of the Senate energy and natural resources committee, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, ranking Republican on the committee, “provides a thoughtful approach that institutes free-market reforms while also ensuring access to all market participants.”
On the contrary, Kaltrider said the House bill, if enacted into law as proposed, “would replace the current, highly predictable helium supply system with a semi-annual auction that destabilizes the entire helium supply system.”
As industrial gas companies invest in expanding the global helium capacity, Kaltrider stressed that it’s important to provide continued stable access to taxpayer-owned helium supplies.
Praxair hates the House version of the Helium Bill because, if it were adopted, they would have to pay MUCH MORE for the helium they buy from the U.S. Government. If the Senate version were adopted, they would continue to buy helium cheaply from the Government and sell it quite expensively around the world (just like they’ve been doing for years). If a version of the House Bill prevails, WE THE PEOPLE of the United States will reap the immediate benefit – we’d be selling this scarce, non-renewable commodity (that we own) for market prices and millions of dollars would go directly to the Treasury. If the Senate bill prevails, these millions of dollars will continue to go to the balance sheet of Praxair and the other refiners along the Government helium pipeline.
It’s time to do away with the sweetheart deal that these helium refiners have had for years. Senators need to be urged to sway their legislation to something resembling the House version.