42 U.S.C. § 19083 — Helium conservation

(a) Major research instrumentation support. (1) In general: Through the Major Research Instrumentation program, the Director^* must support proposals that request funding to buy, install, run, and maintain equipment that reduces how much helium a lab uses. (2) Cost sharing: The Director may waive the usual requirement that institutions match some of the funding themselves, for helium conservation equipment, if the institution does not grant Ph.D.s, or if it does grant Ph.D.s but is not ranked among the top 100 institutions for federal research and development funding, according to National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics data.

(b) Annual report. Within one year of August 9, 2022, and then every year for the next two years, the Director must send Congress a report on how Foundation funding for buying and conserving helium was used. The report must cover: how much helium was bought and at what price; changes in helium's price and availability; and any supply disruptions that affected a significant number of institutions.