The Medical Imaging and Technology Alliance (MITA) is applauding the introduction of the Helium Stewardship Act (S 2374) by U.S. Sens. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and John Barrasso (R-WY).
The legislation is designed to modernize and reform federal policy to better secure future supplies of helium for U.S. industry and government uses.
Helium is critical for cooling MRI magnets to temperatures suitable for patient imaging. There is no other known substitute for the element.
The Helium Stewardship Act would direct the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) of the Department of the Interior to continue to sell crude helium from the country's reserve supplies to refiners beyond January 1, 2015. The act would direct BLM to adopt market-based prices to help stimulate private development of helium sources, such as from natural gas exploration and production.
"Reliable helium access is fundamental for manufacturing and operation of [MRI] devices, which are lifesaving tools for patients and their care providers," said Lindsay Morris, MITA's senior director of government relations. "Sustaining reliable access to helium is essential to securing the availability of lifesaving and job-creating medical imaging technologies."
