Tech Sector Floats Support for Federal Helium Reserve

General Electric Co., International Business Machines Corp., and Intel Corp. this week raised their voices over next month's slated closure of the Federal Helium Reserve, urging Congress to move quickly to keep the storehouse's gas flowing to high-tech manufacturers. Scheduled to cease sales on October 7, the Texas-based storage reservoir accounts for about 40 percent of the U.S. helium supply, which companies use for party balloons, semiconductor chips, and medical imaging devices, among other products. GE, IBM, and Intel are part of a Semiconductor Industry Association-led coalition of more than 120 organizations that sent a letter [PDF] to congressional leaders Tuesday, calling on Congress to approve by October 1 legislation that would keep the reserve open. Affiliate publication Corporate Counsel has more.

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