[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 56 (Tuesday, April 23, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2898-S2901]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. WYDEN (for himself and Ms. Murkowski):
  S. 783. A bill to amend the Helium Act to improve helium stewardship, 
and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources.
  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, today Senator Murkowski and I are 
introducing the Helium Stewardship Act of 2013. This legislation is 
designed to establish a responsible management strategy for the Federal 
Helium Reserve that will prevent the disruption of the entire helium 
supply chain that impacts major parts of the U.S. economy.
  Helium is a valuable national resource that is used for a wide range 
of applications such as a coolant for magnetic resonance imagining 
machines, semiconductor manufacturing, military aviation, aerospace, 
and Federal R&D pressurizing and purging systems; leak detection; 
welding; and breathing mixtures. Helium uses are diverse. Substitutes 
are often unavailable. The current global supply is constrained.
  The Federal Government has long been in the helium business. In the 
1920s, helium was used to float blimps or national defense purposes. 
Since that time the Federal Government has continued to play a 
significant role in the production, refining, and storing of helium. 
This has included establishing a U.S. underground stockpile known as 
the Federal Helium Reserve located just outside of Amarillo, TX. The 
Reserve currently supplies 40 percent of the domestic and 30 percent of 
global helium demand. Eventually, the helium supplies in the Reserve 
will become too depleted to be used, but for now they provide a 
critical source of supply.
  Current law requires the Federal government to sell off the crude 
helium remaining in the Federal Helium Reserve in order to repay the 
U.S. Treasury the $1.3 billion debt incurred creating it. That debt 
will be fully repaid this fiscal year. As a result, the helium program 
will terminate in October absent Congressional action. The result, if 
Congress does not extend operation of the Reserve, will be significant 
disruption in sector after sector of economy--everything from medical 
imaging to semiconductor manufacturing.
  We need to act. It is important that we act now.
  Our bottom line goal is to keep the Federal Helium Reserve open, 
until new sources of supply can be developed, and prevent significant 
disruptions to a number of critical U.S. industries.
  This bipartisan bill has two primary objective; one is to ensure 
helium market stability for end-users, and to ensure a fair return on 
this Federal asset to American taxpayers. We believe that it is 
essential that there be an adequate price discovery mechanism for the 
sale price of helium to nongovernmental organizations. Our bill would 
require the Secretary of Interior to establish an auction process to 
ensure that government prices for helium reflect its value in the 
marketplace based on an initial auction of 10 percent of supply and 
increasing that amount by an additional 10 percent a year. But it is 
also important to keep in mind that the Reserve currently provides 
major shares of the domestic and global helium supply and we do not 
want this legislation to disrupt the many industrial and heath care 
activities that are dependent on helium.
  I believe this legislation strikes the right balance. The bill 
provides for an orderly, gradual transition among three phases, 
resulting in minimal market disruption to end users. It introduces a 
price discovery mechanism and transparency measures that will increase 
the taxpayer return and stimulate investment in private-sector sources. 
It further gives priority to meeting the needs of Federal users at 
Federal agencies, national laboratories, and universities. This 
legislation maintains access to crude helium for Federal users to 
perform the experiments that lead to the discoveries that drive 
economic growth, while requiring the development of a long-term plan 
for Federal helium purchases.
  Helium may not be the most high profile natural resources, but it is 
one resource that is central to our economy. This legislation is 
urgent, critical, and necessary to ensure that we continue on a 
trajectory for economic growth that protects the jobs of domestic 
manufacturers and industrial partners as well as Federal users across 
the Nation.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 783

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Helium Stewardship Act of 
     2013''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       Section 2 of the Helium Act (50 U.S.C. 167) is amended to 
     read as follows:

     ``SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       ``In this Act:
       ``(1) Cliffside field.--The term `Cliffside Field' means 
     the helium storage reservoir in which the Federal Helium 
     Reserve is stored.
       ``(2) Federal helium pipeline.--The term `Federal Helium 
     Pipeline' means the federally owned pipeline system through 
     which the Federal Helium Reserve may be transported.
       ``(3) Federal helium reserve.--The term `Federal Helium 
     Reserve' means helium reserves owned by the United States.
       ``(4) Federal helium system.--The term `Federal Helium 
     System' means--
       ``(A) the Federal Helium Reserve;
       ``(B) the Cliffside Field;
       ``(C) the Federal Helium Pipeline; and
       ``(D) all other infrastructure owned, leased, or managed 
     under contract by the Secretary for the storage, 
     transportation, withdrawal, purification, or management of 
     helium.
       ``(5) Federal user.--The term `Federal user' means a 
     Federal agency or extramural holder of 1 or more Federal 
     research grants using helium.
       ``(6) Low-btu gas.--The term `low-Btu gas' means a fuel gas 
     with a heating value of less than 250 Btu per standard cubic 
     foot measured as the higher heating value resulting from the 
     inclusion of noncombustible gases, including nitrogen, 
     helium, argon, and carbon dioxide.
       ``(7) Person.--The term `person' means any individual, 
     corporation, partnership, firm,

[[Page S2899]]

     association, trust, estate, public or private institution, or 
     State or political subdivision.
       ``(8) Priority pipeline access.--The term `priority 
     pipeline access' means the first priority of delivery of 
     crude helium under which the Secretary schedules and ensures 
     the delivery of crude helium to a helium refinery through the 
     Federal Helium System.
       ``(9) Qualified bidder.--
       ``(A) In general.--The term `qualified bidder' means a 
     person the Secretary determines is seeking to purchase helium 
     for their own use, refining, or redelivery to users
       ``(B) Exclusion.--The term `qualified bidder' does not 
     include a person who was previously determined to be a 
     qualified bidder if the Secretary determines that the person 
     did not meet the requirements of a qualified bidder under 
     this Act.
       ``(10) Qualifying domestic helium transaction.--The term 
     `qualifying domestic helium transaction' means any agreement 
     entered into or renegotiated agreement during the preceding 
     1-year period in the United States for the purchase or sale 
     of at least 20,000,000 standard cubic feet of crude or pure 
     helium to which any holder of a contract with the Secretary 
     for the acceptance, storage, delivery, or redelivery of crude 
     helium from the Federal Helium System is a party.
       ``(11) Refiner.--The term `refiner' means a person with the 
     ability to take delivery of crude helium from the Federal 
     Helium Pipeline and refine the crude helium into pure helium.
       ``(12) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.''.

     SEC. 3. AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY.

       Section 3 of the Helium Act (50 U.S.C. 167a) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(c) Extraction of Helium From Deposits on Federal Land.--
     All amounts received by the Secretary from the sale or 
     disposition of helium on Federal land shall be credited to 
     the Helium Production Fund established under section 6(d).''.

     SEC. 4. STORAGE, WITHDRAWAL AND TRANSPORTATION.

       Section 5 of the Helium Act (50 U.S.C. 167c) is amended to 
     read as follows:

     ``SEC. 5. STORAGE, WITHDRAWAL AND TRANSPORTATION.

       ``(a) In General.--If the Secretary provides helium 
     storage, withdrawal, or transportation services to any 
     person, the Secretary shall impose a fee on the person that 
     accurately reflects the economic value of those services.
       ``(b) Minimum Fees.--The fees charged under subsection (a) 
     shall be not less than the amount required to reimburse the 
     Secretary for the full costs of providing storage, 
     withdrawal, or transportation services.
       ``(c) Schedule of Fees.--Prior to sale or auction under 
     subsection (a), (b), or (c) of section 6, the Secretary shall 
     annually publish a standardized schedule of fees that the 
     Secretary will charge under this section.
       ``(d) Treatment.--All fees received by the Secretary under 
     this section shall be credited to the Helium Production Fund 
     established under section 6(d).
       ``(e) New Storage.--In accordance with this section, the 
     Secretary shall allow any person or qualified bidder to which 
     crude helium is sold or auctioned under section 6 to store 
     that helium in the Federal Helium Reserve.''.

     SEC. 5. SALE OF CRUDE HELIUM.

       Section 6 of the Helium Act (50 U.S.C. 167d) is amended to 
     read as follows:

     ``SEC. 6. SALE OF CRUDE HELIUM.

       ``(a) Phase A: Allocation Transition.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall offer crude helium 
     for sale in such quantities, at such times, at not less than 
     the minimum price established under subsection (b)(7), and 
     under such terms and conditions as the Secretary determines 
     necessary to carry out this subsection with minimum market 
     disruption.
       ``(2) Federal purchases.--Federal users may purchase 
     refined helium with priority pipeline access under this 
     subsection from persons who have entered into enforceable 
     contracts to purchase an equivalent quantity of crude helium 
     from the Secretary.
       ``(3) Duration.--This subsection applies during the 
     period--
       ``(A) beginning on the date of enactment of the Helium 
     Stewardship Act of 2013; and
       ``(B) ending on September 30, 2014.
       ``(b) Phase B: Auction Implementation.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall offer crude helium 
     for sale in quantities not subject to auction under paragraph 
     (2), at such times, at not less than the minimum price 
     established under paragraph (7), and under such terms and 
     conditions as the Secretary determines necessary--
       ``(A) to maximize total recovery of helium from the Federal 
     Helium Reserve over the long term;
       ``(B) to maximize the total financial return to the 
     taxpayer;
       ``(C) to manage crude helium sales according to the ability 
     of the Secretary to extract and produce helium from the 
     Federal Helium Reserve;
       ``(D) to give priority to meeting the helium demand of 
     Federal users in the event of any disruption to the Federal 
     Helium Reserve; and
       ``(E) to carry out this subsection with minimum market 
     disruption.
       ``(2) Auction quantities.--For the period described in 
     paragraph (4) and consistent with the conditions described in 
     paragraph (8), the Secretary shall annually auction to any 
     qualified bidder a quantity of crude helium in the Federal 
     Helium Reserve equal to--
       ``(A) for fiscal year 2015, 10 percent of the total volume 
     of crude helium made available for that fiscal year; and
       ``(B) for each subsequent fiscal year, a percentage of the 
     total volume of crude helium that is 10 percentage points 
     greater than the percentage available for the previous fiscal 
     year, but not to exceed 100 percent.
       ``(3) Federal purchases.--Federal users may purchase 
     refined helium-with priority pipeline access and at the in-
     kind price under this subsection from persons who have 
     entered into enforceable contracts to purchase an equivalent 
     quantity of crude helium from the Secretary.
       ``(4) Duration.--This subsection applies during the 
     period--
       ``(A) beginning on October 1, 2014; and
       ``(B) ending on the date on which the volume of recoverable 
     crude helium at the Federal Helium Reserve (other than 
     privately owned quantities of crude helium stored temporarily 
     at the Federal Helium Reserve under section 5 and this 
     section) is 3,000,000,000 standard cubic feet.
       ``(5) Safety valve.--The Secretary may adjust the 
     quantities specified in paragraph (2)--
       ``(A) downward, if the Secretary determines the adjustment 
     necessary--
       ``(i) to minimize market disruptions that pose a threat to 
     the economic well-being of the United States; and
       ``(ii) only after submitting a written justification of the 
     adjustment to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 
     of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the 
     House of Representatives; or
       ``(B) upward, if the Secretary determines the adjustment 
     necessary to increase participation in crude helium auctions 
     or returns to the taxpayer.
       ``(6) Auction format.--The Secretary shall conduct each 
     auction using a method that maximizes revenue to the Federal 
     Government.
       ``(7) Prices.--The Secretary shall annually establish, as 
     applicable, sale and minimum auction prices under subsection 
     (a)(1) and paragraphs (1) and (2) using, if applicable and in 
     the following order of priority:
       ``(A) The sale price of crude helium in auctions held by 
     the Secretary under paragraph (2).
       ``(B) Price recommendations and disaggregated data from a 
     qualified, independent third party who has no conflict of 
     interest, who shall conduct a confidential survey of 
     qualifying domestic helium transactions.
       ``(C) The volume-weighted average price of all crude helium 
     and pure helium purchased, sold, or processed by persons in 
     all qualifying domestic helium transactions.
       ``(D) The volume-weighted average cost of converting 
     gaseous crude helium into pure helium.
       ``(8) Terms and conditions.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall require all persons 
     that are parties to a contract with the Secretary for the 
     withdrawal, acceptance, storage, transportation, delivery, or 
     redelivery of crude helium to disclose, on a strictly 
     confidential basis--
       ``(i) the volumes and associated prices in dollars per 
     thousand cubic feet of all crude and pure helium purchased, 
     sold, or processed by persons in qualifying domestic helium 
     transactions;
       ``(ii) the volumes and associated costs in dollars per 
     thousand cubic feet of converting crude helium into pure 
     helium; and
       ``(iii) refinery capacity and future capacity estimates.
       ``(B) Condition.--As a condition of sale or auction to a 
     refiner under subsection (a)(1) and paragraphs (1) and (2), 
     effective beginning 90 days after the date of enactment of 
     the Helium Stewardship Act of 2013, the refiner shall make 
     excess refining capacity of helium available at commercially 
     reasonable rates to--
       ``(i) any person prevailing in auctions under paragraph 
     (2); and
       ``(ii) any person that has acquired crude helium from the 
     Secretary from the Federal Helium Reserve by means other than 
     an auction under paragraph (2) after the date of enactment of 
     the Helium Stewardship Act of 2013.
       ``(9) Use of information.--The Secretary may use the 
     information collected under this Act--
       ``(A) to approximate crude helium prices; and
       ``(B) to ensure the recovery of fair value for the 
     taxpayers of the United States from sales of crude helium.
       ``(10) Protection of confidentiality.--The Secretary shall 
     adopt such administrative policies and procedures as the 
     Secretary considers necessary and reasonable to ensure the 
     confidentiality of information submitted pursuant to this 
     Act.
       ``(c) Phase C: Continued Access for Federal Users.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall offer crude helium 
     for sale to Federal users in such quantities, at such times, 
     at not less than the minimum price established under 
     subsection (b)(7), and under such terms and conditions as the 
     Secretary determines necessary to carry out this subsection.
       ``(2) Federal purchases.--Federal users may purchase 
     refined helium with priority pipeline access under this 
     subsection from persons who have entered into enforceable

[[Page S2900]]

     contracts to purchase an equivalent quantity of crude helium 
     from the Secretary.
       ``(3) Effective date.--This subsection applies beginning on 
     the day after the date described in subsection (b)(4)(B).
       ``(d) Helium Production Fund.--
       ``(1) In general.--All amounts received under this Act, 
     including amounts from the sale or auction of crude helium, 
     shall be credited to the Helium Production Fund, which shall 
     be available without fiscal year limitation for purposes 
     considered necessary by the Secretary to carry out this Act 
     (other than sections 16, 17, and 18), including capital 
     investments in upgrades and maintenance at the Federal Helium 
     System, including--
       ``(A) well head maintenance at the Cliffside Field;
       ``(B) capital investments in maintenance and upgrades of 
     facilities that pressurize the Cliffside Field;
       ``(C) capital investments in maintenance and upgrades of 
     equipment related to the storage, withdrawal, transportation, 
     purification, and sale of crude helium from the Federal 
     Helium Reserve;
       ``(D) entering into purchase, lease, or other agreements to 
     drill new or uncap existing wells to maximize the recovery of 
     crude helium from the Federal Helium System if the Secretary 
     determines the actions to be cost-effective; and
       ``(E) any other scheduled or unscheduled maintenance of the 
     Federal Helium System.
       ``(2) Excess funds.--Any amounts in the Helium Production 
     Fund described in paragraph (1) that exceed the amounts that 
     the Secretary determines to be necessary to carry out 
     paragraph (1) shall be deposited in the general fund of the 
     Treasury.
       ``(e) Minimum Quantity.--The Secretary shall offer for sale 
     or auction during each fiscal year under subsections (a), 
     (b), and (c) a quantity of crude helium that is the lesser of 
     --
       ``(1) the quantity of crude helium offered for sale by the 
     Secretary during fiscal year 2012; and
       ``(2) the maximum total production capacity of the Federal 
     Helium System.
       ``(f) Maintenance of Helium Supply.--The Secretary shall 
     minimize disruption in the supply of helium from the Federal 
     Helium System during the transition between phases of helium 
     sales under subsections (a), (b), and (c).''.

     SEC. 6. INFORMATION, ASSESSMENT, RESEARCH, AND STRATEGY.

       The Helium Act (50 U.S.C. 167 et seq.) is amended--
       (1) by repealing section 15 (50 U.S.C. 167m);
       (2) by redesignating section 17 (50 U.S.C. 167 note) as 
     section 20; and
       (3) by inserting after section 14 (50 U.S.C. 167l) the 
     following:

     ``SEC. 15. INFORMATION.

       ``(a) Transparency.--The Secretary, acting through the 
     Bureau of Land Management, shall make available on the 
     Internet information relating to the Federal Helium System 
     that includes--
       ``(1) continued publication of an open market and in-kind 
     price;
       ``(2) aggregated projections of excess refining capacity;
       ``(3) ownership of helium held in the Federal Helium 
     Reserve;
       ``(4) the volume of helium delivered to persons through the 
     Federal Helium Pipeline;
       ``(5) pressure constraints of the Federal Helium Pipeline;
       ``(6) an estimate of the projected date when 3,000,000,000 
     standard cubic feet of crude helium will remain in the 
     Federal Helium Reserve and the final phase described in 
     section 6(c) will begin;
       ``(7) the amount of the fees charged under section 5;
       ``(8) the scheduling of crude helium deliveries through the 
     Federal Helium Pipeline; and
       ``(9) other factors that will increase transparency.
       ``(b) Reporting.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     enactment of the Helium Stewardship Act of 2013, to provide 
     the market with appropriate and timely information affecting 
     the helium resource, the Director of the Bureau of Land 
     Management shall establish a timely and public reporting 
     process to provide data that affects the helium industry, 
     including--
       ``(1) annual maintenance schedules and quarterly updates, 
     that shall include--
       ``(A) the date and duration of planned shutdowns of the 
     Federal Helium Pipeline;
       ``(B) the nature of work to be undertaken on the Federal 
     Helium System, whether routine, extended, or extraordinary;
       ``(C) the anticipated impact of the work on the helium 
     supply;
       ``(D) the efforts being made to minimize any impact on the 
     supply chain; and
       ``(E) any concerns regarding maintenance of the Federal 
     Helium Pipeline, including the pressure of the pipeline or 
     deviation from normal operation of the pipeline;
       ``(2) for each unplanned outage, a description of--
       ``(A) the beginning of the outage;
       ``(B) the expected duration of the outage;
       ``(C) the nature of the problem;
       ``(D) the estimated impact on helium supply;
       ``(E) a plan to correct problems, including an estimate of 
     the potential timeframe for correction and the likelihood of 
     plan success within the timeframe;
       ``(F) efforts to minimize negative impacts on the helium 
     supply chain; and
       ``(G) updates on repair status and the anticipated online 
     date;
       ``(3) monthly summaries of meetings and communications 
     between the Bureau of Land Management and the Cliffside 
     Refiners Limited Partnership, including a list of 
     participants and an indication of any actions taken as a 
     result of the meetings or communications; and
       ``(4) current predictions of the lifespan of the Federal 
     Helium System, including how much longer the crude helium 
     supply will be available based on current and forecasted 
     demand and the projected maximum production capacity of the 
     Federal Helium System for the following fiscal year.

     ``SEC. 16. HELIUM GAS RESOURCE ASSESSMENT.

       ``(a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
     enactment of the Helium Stewardship Act of 2013, the 
     Secretary, acting through the Director of the United States 
     Geological Survey, shall--
       ``(1) in coordination with appropriate heads of State 
     geological surveys--
       ``(A) complete a national helium gas assessment that 
     identifies and quantifies the quantity of helium, including 
     the isotope helium-3, in each reservoir, including 
     assessments of the constituent gases found in each helium 
     resource, such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and natural gas; 
     and
       ``(B) make available the modern seismic and geophysical log 
     data for characterization of the Bush Dome Reservoir;
       ``(2) in coordination with appropriate international 
     agencies and the global geology community, complete a global 
     helium gas assessment that identifies and quantifies the 
     quantity of the helium, including the isotope helium-3, in 
     each reservoir;
       ``(3) in coordination with the Secretary of Energy, acting 
     through the Administrator of the Energy Information 
     Administration, complete--
       ``(A) an assessment of trends in global demand for helium, 
     including the isotope helium-3;
       ``(B) a 10-year forecast of domestic demand for helium 
     across all sectors, including scientific and medical 
     research, commercial, manufacturing, space technologies, 
     cryogenics, and national defense; and
       ``(C) an inventory of medical, scientific, industrial, 
     commercial, and other uses of helium in the United States, 
     including Federal uses, that identifies the nature of the 
     helium use, the amounts required, the technical and 
     commercial viability of helium recapture and recycling in 
     that use, and the availability of material substitutes 
     wherever possible; and
       ``(4) submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
     Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural 
     Resources of the House of Representatives a report describing 
     the results of the assessments required under this paragraph.
       ``(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as are 
     necessary.

     ``SEC. 17. LOW-BTU GAS SEPARATION AND HELIUM CONSERVATION.

       ``(a) Authorization.--The Secretary of Energy shall support 
     programs of research, development, commercial application, 
     and conservation (including the programs described in 
     subsection (b))--
       ``(1) to expand the domestic production of low-Btu gas and 
     helium resources;
       ``(2) to separate and capture helium from natural gas 
     streams; and
       ``(3) to reduce the venting of helium and helium-bearing 
     low-Btu gas during natural gas exploration and production.
       ``(b) Programs.--
       ``(1) Membrane technology research.--The Secretary of 
     Energy, in consultation with other appropriate agencies, 
     shall support a civilian research program to develop advanced 
     membrane technology that is used in the separation of low-Btu 
     gases, including technologies that remove helium and other 
     constituent gases that lower the Btu content of natural gas.
       ``(2) Helium separation technology.--The Secretary of 
     Energy shall support a research program to develop 
     technologies for separating, gathering, and processing helium 
     in low concentrations that occur naturally in geological 
     reservoirs or formations, including--
       ``(A) low-Btu gas production streams; and
       ``(B) technologies that minimize the atmospheric venting of 
     helium gas during natural gas production.
       ``(3) Industrial helium program.--The Secretary of Energy, 
     working through the Advanced Manufacturing Office of the 
     Department of Energy, shall carry out a research program--
       ``(A) to develop low-cost technologies and technology 
     systems for recycling, reprocessing, and reusing helium for 
     all medical, scientific, industrial, commercial, aerospace, 
     and other uses of helium in the United States, including 
     Federal uses; and
       ``(B) to develop industrial gathering technologies to 
     capture helium from other chemical processing, including 
     ammonia processing.
       ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as are 
     necessary.

     ``SEC. 18. HELIUM-3 SEPARATION.

       ``(a) Interagency Cooperation.--The Secretary shall 
     cooperate with the Secretary of Energy, or a designee, on any 
     assessment or

[[Page S2901]]

     research relating to the extraction and refining of the 
     isotope helium-3 from crude helium at the Federal Helium 
     Reserve or along the Federal Helium Pipeline, including--
       ``(1) gas analysis;
       ``(2) infrastructure studies; and
       ``(3) cooperation with refiners.
       ``(b) Feasibility Study.--The Secretary, in consultation 
     with the Secretary of Energy, or a designee, may carry out a 
     study to assess the feasibility of establishing a facility to 
     separate the isotope helium-3 from crude helium at--
       ``(1) the Federal Helium Reserve; or
       ``(2) an existing helium separation or purification 
     facility connected to the Federal Helium Pipeline.
       ``(c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of the Helium Stewardship Act of 2013, the 
     Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
     Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural 
     Resources of the House of Representatives a report that 
     contains a description of the results of the assessments 
     conducted under this section.
       ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as are 
     necessary.

     ``SEC. 19. FEDERAL AGENCY HELIUM ACQUISITION STRATEGY.

       ``Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the 
     Helium Stewardship Act of 2013, the Secretary (in 
     consultation with the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of 
     Defense, the Director of the National Science Foundation, and 
     the Director of the National Institutes of Health) shall 
     submit to Congress a report that provides for Federal users--
       ``(1) an assessment of the consumption of, and projected 
     demand for, crude and refined helium;
       ``(2) a description of a 20-year Federal strategy for 
     securing access to crude helium;
       ``(3) an assessment of the effects of increases in the 
     price of refined helium and methods and polices for 
     mitigating any determined effects; and
       ``(4) a description of a process for prioritization of uses 
     that accounts for diminished availability of helium supplies 
     that may occur over time.''.

     SEC. 7. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

       (a) Section 4 of the Helium Act (50 U.S.C. 167b) is amended 
     by striking ``section 6(f)'' each place it appears in 
     subsections (c)(3), (c)(4), and (d)(2) and inserting 
     ``section 6(d)''.
       (b) Section 8 of the Helium Act (50 U.S.C. 167f) is 
     repealed.

     SEC. 8. EXISTING AGREEMENTS.

       This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall not in 
     any manner affect or diminish the rights and obligations of 
     the Secretary of the Interior and private parties under 
     agreements in existence on the date of enactment of this Act, 
     except to the extent that the agreements are renewed or 
     extended after that date.

     SEC. 9. REGULATIONS.

       The Secretary of the Interior shall promulgate such 
     regulations as are necessary to carry out this Act and the 
     amendments made by this Act, including regulations necessary 
     to prevent unfair acts and practices.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. BAUCUS (for himself and Mr. Johanns):
  S. 784. A bill to expand agricultural opportunities for military 
veterans, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Agriculture, 
Nutrition, and Forestry.
  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, in 1787, Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter 
to George Washington in which he wrote ``Agriculture is our wisest 
pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, 
good morals, and happiness.''
  Those words remain true for our farmers and ranchers today but they 
also ring true to for veterans who are returning from service and 
returning to the land.
  Our veteran unemployment rate is shameful, and it really hits home in 
rural States like Montana where so many folks volunteer for service. I 
believe we must think outside the box and look for ways to boost jobs 
for our veterans in everything we do. Which has me turning to the Farm 
bill.
  Today I, with my colleague Senator Johanns, have introduced the 
Agricultural Opportunities for Military Veterans Act which will help 
create new opportunities for our veteran populations hoping to become 
involved in farming and ranching.
  With over 45 percent of those who serve in the military coming from 
rural communities Congress must ensure our returning servicemembers 
have a variety of resources at their disposal.
  My bill will help boost veteran employment through the Farm bill. It 
would create a veteran preference in programs that make it cheaper and 
easier to institute best practices in farming and ranching.
  The bill also creates a new Military Liaison Office to assist 
veterans at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and expands outreach 
programs to help make sure veterans are aware of the resources 
available to them.
  I urge my colleagues to join myself and Senator Johanns in supporting 
veterans through our programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. REID:
  S. 788. A bill to suspend the fiscal year 2013 sequester and 
establish limits on war-related spending; read the first time.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the 
bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 788

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SUSPENSION OF THE 2013 SEQUESTER.

       Notwithstanding the sequestration order issued by the 
     President pursuant to section 251A(7)(A) of the Balanced 
     Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 
     901a(7)(A)), there shall be available for the Federal 
     Government for fiscal year 2013 the amount that would have 
     been made available for the Federal Government for fiscal 
     year 2013 but for sections 251 and 251A of the Balanced 
     Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 
     901 and 901a), sections 3001 and 3004 of the Consolidated and 
     Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013, and any 
     sequestration order issued by the President.

     SEC. 2. AMENDMENT TO OCO ADJUSTMENTS.

       Section 251 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
     Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 901) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (2) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(2) Eliminating a breach.--
       ``(A) In general.--Each nonexempt account within a category 
     shall be reduced by a dollar amount calculated by multiplying 
     the enacted level of sequesterable budgetary resources in 
     that account at that time by the uniform percentage necessary 
     to eliminate a breach within that category.
       ``(B) Overseas contingencies.--Any amount of budget 
     authority for overseas contingency operations and related 
     activities for fiscal years 2014 through 2016 in excess of 
     the levels set in subsection 251(b)(2)(E) shall be counted in 
     determining whether a breach has occurred in the security 
     category.''; and
       (2) in subsection (b)(2)--
       (A) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by inserting ``for fiscal 
     years 2017 through 2021,'' before ``the Congress''; and
       (B) by inserting at the end the following:
       ``(E) Overseas contingency operations/global war on 
     terrorism.--If, for fiscal years 2014 through 2016, 
     appropriations for discretionary accounts are enacted that 
     Congress designates for Overseas Contingency Operations/
     Global War on Terrorism in statute on an account by account 
     basis, the adjustment for the fiscal year shall be the total 
     of such appropriations for the fiscal year in discretionary 
     accounts designated as being for Overseas Contingency 
     Operations/Global War on Terrorism, but not to exceed--
       ``(i) for fiscal year 2014, $92,289,000,000 in additional 
     new budget authority;
       ``(ii) for fiscal year 2015, $37,283,000,000 in additional 
     new budget authority; and
       ``(iii) for fiscal year 2016, $37,283,000,000 in additional 
     new budget authority.''.

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