SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘21st Century Buy 
American Act’’. 
SEC. 2. INCREASE OF DOMESTIC CONTENT PERCENTAGE 
TO 60 PERCENT. 
Section 8301 of title 41, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(3) SUBSTANTIALLY ALL.—Articles, materials, 
or supplies shall be treated as made substantially all 
from articles, materials, or supplies mined, pro-
duced, or manufactured in the United States, if the 
cost of the domestic components of such articles, 
materials, or supplies exceeds 60 percent of the total 
cost of all components of such articles, materials, or 
supplies.’’. 
SEC. 3. CRITERIA REQUIRED FOR USE OF OVERSEAS EX-
CEPTION. 
Section 8302 of title 41, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(c) CRITERIA
FOR USE
OF OVERSEAS EXCEP-
TION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The exception under sub-
section (a)(2)(A) for articles, materials, or supplies 
to be acquired for use outside the United States may 
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not be used unless one of the following criteria is 
met: 
‘‘(A) The articles, materials, or supplies 
are needed urgently for national security rea-
sons. 
‘‘(B) A cost analysis described in para-
graph (2) demonstrates that the articles, mate-
rials, or supplies to be acquired (if acquired 
from a firm manufacturing in the United 
States) would be more than 50 percent more 
expensive for the Federal agency acquiring the 
articles, materials, or supplies. 
‘‘(2) COST ANALYSIS.—In any case in which ar-
ticles, materials, or supplies are to be acquired for 
use outside the United States and are not needed 
urgently for national security reasons, before enter-
ing into a contract an analysis shall be made of the 
difference in the cost of acquiring the articles, mate-
rials, or supplies from a firm manufacturing the ar-
ticles, materials, or supplies in the United States 
(including the cost of shipping) and the cost of ac-
quiring the articles, materials, or supplies from a 
firm manufacturing the articles, materials, or sup-
plies outside the United States (including the cost of 
shipping).’’. 
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SEC. 4. CRITERIA REQUIRED FOR USE OF PUBLIC INTER-
EST EXCEPTION. 
(a) BUY AMERICAN ACT.—Section 8302 of title 41, 
United States Code, as amended by section 3, is further 
amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(d) CRITERIA FOR USE OF PUBLIC INTEREST EX-
CEPTION.—In determining whether a public interest ex-
ception shall be applied under subsection (a), the head of 
a Federal agency shall— 
‘‘(1) consider the short-term and long-term ef-
fects of applying such exception on employment 
within the United States, taking into account infor-
mation provided by entities that manufacture the ar-
ticles, materials, or supplies concerned in the United 
States; and 
‘‘(2) determine that preserving or increasing 
employment within the United States is consistent 
with the public interest.’’. 
(b) FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION FUNDS.— 
Section 5323(j) of title 49, United States Code, is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(10) CRITERIA FOR USE OF PUBLIC INTEREST 
WAIVER.—In determining whether a public interest 
waiver shall be issued under paragraph (2)(A), the 
Secretary shall— 
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‘‘(A) consider the short-term and long- 
term effects of applying such waiver on employ-
ment within the United States, taking into ac-
count information provided by entities that 
produce the steel, iron, and goods concerned in 
the United States; and 
‘‘(B) determine that preserving or increas-
ing employment within the United States is 
consistent with the public interest.’’. 
(c) FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION FUNDS.— 
Section 313 of title 23, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(h) CRITERIA FOR USE OF PUBLIC INTEREST FIND-
ING.—In determining whether a public interest finding 
shall be made under subsection (b)(1), the Secretary 
shall— 
‘‘(1) consider the short-term and long-term ef-
fects of making such finding on employment within 
the United States, taking into account information 
provided by entities that produce the materials or 
products concerned in the United States; and 
‘‘(2) determine that preserving or increasing 
employment within the United States is consistent 
with the public interest.’’. 
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(d) AMTRAK FUNDS.—Section 24305(f) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) In deciding whether a public interest exemption 
shall be issued under paragraph (4)(A)(i), the Secretary 
shall— 
‘‘(A) consider the short-term and long-term ef-
fects of issuing such exemption on employment with-
in the United States, taking into account informa-
tion provided by entities that manufacture the arti-
cles, material, or supplies concerned in the United 
States; and 
‘‘(B) determine that preserving or increasing 
employment within the United States is consistent 
with the public interest.’’. 
(e) FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION HIGH 
SPEED RAIL PROGRAM FUNDS.—Section 24405(a) of title 
49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(12) In determining whether a public interest waiver 
shall be granted under paragraph (2)(A), the Secretary 
shall— 
‘‘(A) consider the short-term and long-term ef-
fects of granting such waiver on employment within 
the United States, taking into account information 
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provided by entities that produce the steel, iron, or 
goods concerned in the United States; and 
‘‘(B) determine that preserving or increasing 
employment within the United States is consistent 
with the public interest.’’. 
(f) FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION FUNDS.— 
Section 50101 of title 49, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(d) CRITERIA
FOR USE
OF PUBLIC INTEREST 
WAIVER.—In determining whether a public interest waiver 
shall be granted under subsection (b)(1), the Secretary 
shall— 
‘‘(1) consider the short-term and long-term ef-
fects of granting such waiver on employment within 
the United States, taking into account information 
provided by entities that produce the steel or goods 
concerned in the United States; and 
‘‘(2) determine that preserving or increasing 
employment within the United States is consistent 
with the public interest.’’. 
(g) WATER POLLUTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL 
GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF TREATMENT WORKS.— 
Section 215 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act 
(33 U.S.C. 1295) is amended— 
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(1) by inserting ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—’’ before 
‘‘Notwithstanding’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(b) CRITERIA FOR USE OF PUBLIC INTEREST EX-
CEPTION.—In determining whether a public interest ex-
ception shall be applied under subsection (a), the Adminis-
trator shall— 
‘‘(1) consider the short-term and long-term ef-
fects of applying such exception on employment 
within the United States, taking into account infor-
mation provided by entities that manufacture the ar-
ticles, materials, or supplies concerned in the United 
States; and 
‘‘(2) determine that preserving or increasing 
employment within the United States is consistent 
with the public interest.’’. 
SEC. 5. TRANSPARENCY REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) REQUIREMENT
FOR
AGENCIES
TO
NOTIFY 
OMB.—Each agency that applies an exception to, or 
grants a waiver under, chapter 83 of title 41, United 
States Code (popularly referred to as the Buy American 
Act) shall submit to the Director of the Office of Manage-
ment and Budget a notification of the application of the 
exception or the grant of a waiver and a statement de-
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scribing the procurement and the exception being applied 
or waiver granted. 
(b) REQUIREMENT FOR DIRECTOR OF OMB TO POST 
ON WEB SITE.—Within 7 days after receipt of any notifi-
cation under subsection (a), the Director of the Office of 
Management and Budget shall post the notification on a 
central, publicly accessible Web site of the Office. 
(c) DEFINITION OF AGENCY.—In this section, the 
term ‘‘agency’’ has the meaning given under section 551 
of title 5, United States Code. 
SEC. 6. LOANS AND LOAN GUARANTEES TO DOMESTIC MAN-
UFACTURERS UNDER DEFENSE PRODUCTION 
ACT. 
(a) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—The President, acting 
through the Secretary of Defense, may establish and carry 
out a program to make or guarantee loans under title III 
of the Defense Production Act (50 U.S.C. App. 2091 et 
seq.) to eligible entities in accordance with this section. 
(b) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary of 
Defense shall establish eligibility requirements for pur-
poses of the loans or loan guarantees under this section 
in order to provide assistance to any entity that— 
(1) is a manufacturer in the United States; 
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(2) is a firm certified as eligible to apply for ad-
justment assistance under section 251(c) of the 
Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2341(c)); and 
(3) meets one of the following criteria: 
(A) The entity mines, produces, or manu-
factures a nonavailable item. 
(B) The entity is the last remaining manu-
facturer of an item in the United States, as de-
termined by the Secretary of Defense, and can 
prove hardship because of foreign competition. 
(C) The entity is the last remaining manu-
facturer of an item in the United States and 
that item is considered to be vital for national 
security purposes by the Department of De-
fense or another department or agency of the 
United States. 
(c) AMOUNT OF LOAN OR LOAN GUARANTEE.—The 
amount of any loan made or guaranteed under this section 
may not exceed $5,000,000 per entity. 
(d) USE OF FUNDS.—Each eligible entity receiving 
a loan or loan guarantee under this section shall use the 
funds of the loan made or guaranteed only for one or more 
of the following purposes: 
(1) Increasing its ability to compete for a Gov-
ernment contract for a nonavailable item. 
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(2) Increasing its ability to produce a nonavail-
able item. 
(3) Increasing its capacity to produce items 
that are vital to national security. 
(e) APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.—To receive a 
loan or loan guarantee under this section, an eligible entity 
shall submit an application to the Secretary of Defense 
at such time, in such manner, and containing such infor-
mation as the Secretary may require. At a minimum, the 
application shall include a statement regarding the num-
ber of direct full-time domestic jobs expected to be created 
or retained as a result of the loan made or guaranteed, 
but such statement shall not be the sole factor used in 
determining the award of the loan or loan guarantee. 
(f) ANNUAL EVALUATION OF LOAN OR LOAN GUAR-
ANTEE RECIPIENTS BY DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.— 
The Secretary of Defense each year shall evaluate recipi-
ents of loans or loan guarantees under this section to de-
termine the proper allocation of loan funds that are loaned 
or guaranteed. 
(g) DEFINITION OF NONAVAILABLE ITEM.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘nonavailable item’’ means any of the 
following: 
(1) An article, material, or supply— 
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(A) that has been determined by a Federal 
agency, pursuant to chapter 83 of title 41, 
United States Code (popularly referred to as 
the Buy American Act), to not be mined, pro-
duced, or manufactured in the United States in 
sufficient and reasonably available commercial 
quantities of a satisfactory quality; or 
(B) that is listed on the list of nonavailable 
articles under subpart 25.104 of the Federal 
Acquisition Regulation. 
(2) An article or item— 
(A) that is described in section 2533a(b) of 
title 10, United States Code, and grown, re-
processed, reused, or produced in the United 
States; and 
(B) satisfactory quality and sufficient 
quantity of which cannot be procured as and 
when needed at United States market prices, as 
determined by the Secretary of Defense or the 
Secretary of the military department concerned, 
pursuant to section 2533a(c) of such title. 
(3) Compliant specialty metal— 
(A) as defined in section 2533b(b) of title 
10, United States Code; and 
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(B) satisfactory quality and sufficient 
quantity of which, and in the required form, 
cannot be procured as and when needed, as de-
termined by the Secretary of Defense or the 
Secretary of the military department concerned, 
pursuant to such section 2533b(b). 
(4) An item listed in subsection (a) of section 
2534 of title 10, United States Code, if the Sec-
retary determines, under subsection (d)(4) of such 
section, that satisfactory quality of the item manu-
factured by an entity that is part of the national 
technology and industrial base (as defined in section 
2500(1) of such title) is not available. 
Æ 
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