Sec. 810. Report on strategic and critical minerals and metals

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Not later than June 30, 2021, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the results of a study, conducted for purposes of this section, concerning strategic and critical minerals and metals and vulnerabilities in supply chains of such minerals and metals. For purposes of this section, strategic and critical minerals and metals are minerals and metals, including rare earth elements, that are necessary to meet national defense and national security requirements, including supply chain resiliency, and for the economic security of the United States.

The study required for purposes of the report under subsection

(a)shall do the following: Identify the strategic and critical minerals and metals that are currently utilized by the Department of Defense. To the extent practicable, identify the overall annual tonnage of each strategic or critical mineral or metal identified pursuant to paragraph

(1)that was utilized by the Department during the 10-year period ending on December 31, 2020. Identify domestic and international sources for the strategic and critical minerals and metals identified pursuant to paragraph (1). Identify risks to access to the strategic and critical minerals and metals identified pursuant to paragraph

(1)from supply chain disruptions due to geopolitical, economic, and other vulnerabilities. Evaluate the benefits of a robust domestic supply chain for providing strategic and critical minerals and metals to Department manufacturing supply chains in real time. Evaluate the effects of the use of waivers by the Department of Defense Strategic Materials Protection Board on the domestic supply of strategic and critical minerals and metals. Recommend policies and procedures for the Department to ensure a capability to secure strategic and critical minerals and metals necessary for emerging technologies such as anti-microbial products, minerals, and metals for use in medical equipment among other technologies. Identify improvements required to the National Defense Stockpile in order to ensure the Department has access to the strategic and critical minerals and metals identified pursuant to paragraph (1). Evaluate the domestic processing and manufacturing capacity needed to supply the Department with the strategic and critical minerals and metals identified pursuant to paragraph

(1)in an economic and secure manner. In consultation with the United States Geological Survey, identify domestic locations already verified to contain large supplies of strategic and critical minerals and metals identified pursuant to paragraph

(1)with existing commercial manufacturing interest. Address any other matter relating to strategic and critical minerals and metals that the Secretary considers appropriate. The report required by subsection

(a)shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.