NW Kentucky News

House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer has requested information from the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and General Services Administration (GSA) regarding the sale of the United States’ Federal Helium System (FHS) to Messer LLC, a company linked to the Chinese Communist Party. The Biden Administration announced this sale on June 27, 2024, transferring the government's remaining helium reserve to Messer LLC, a subsidiary of a German industrial gas group operating in China.

Chairman Comer sent a letter to DOI Secretary Doug Bergum and GSA Acting Administrator Stephen Ehikian seeking briefings from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and GSA. The aim is to understand the transfer's impact on national security and American businesses. "The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is conducting oversight focused on the sale of the United States’ Federal Helium System (FHS) to Messer LLC — 'a domestic subsidiary of the German industrial gas business Messer Group (Messer).' Messer is tied to the Chinese Communist Party," wrote Chairman Comer.

Helium, a critical element for scientific research, medical technology, high-tech manufacturing, space exploration, and national defense, is produced in only four countries: the United States, Qatar, Algeria, and Russia. The FHS has been vital for both domestic needs and global supply. This sale marks an end to federal ownership of helium.

Chairman Comer expressed concerns about potential impacts on American consumers and businesses: "The Committee requests a briefing from BLM and GSA to evaluate the impacts this sale could have." NASA also voiced concerns over national security risks related to supply chain disruptions. Private stakeholders in various industries warned that "the sale presents a significant risk of disruption to the helium supply chain."