Yes, this has been the case for a long time. Absolutely stupid to use a definitely-limited natural resources that is vital for some genuinely important things, for unnecessary use such as party balloons that absolutely can use a substitute (hydrogen.) Fire hazard from hydrogen? Not really when you're talking a few party balloons. You just get a loud pop (I've done it.) Not much actual mass of hydrogen in a balloon so not much effect. On helium mines, there aren't any. It was possible to separate it out as a byproduct from a very few natural gas fields in Texas and I believe nowhere else. What's odd is that the insanity wasn't stopped many years ago. Well, with Obama that wasn't odd, he loved weakening the US in any way, and W was no winner either, so that does account for 16 years of inaction.