In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Taxpayer Debt Buy-Down Act''.

SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF AMOUNTS FOR REDUCTION OF PUBLIC DEBT.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter A of chapter 61 of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 (relating to returns and records) is amended by adding at 
the end the following new part:

          ``PART IX--DESIGNATION FOR REDUCTION OF PUBLIC DEBT.

                              ``Sec. 6097. Designation.

``SEC. 6097. DESIGNATION.

    ``(a) In General.--Every individual with adjusted income tax 
liability for any taxable year may designate that a portion of such 
liability (not to exceed 10 percent thereof) shall be used to reduce 
the public debt.
    ``(b) Manner and Time of Designation.--A designation under 
subsection (a) may be made with respect to any taxable year only at the 
time of filing the return of tax imposed by chapter 1 for the taxable 
year. The designation shall be made on the first page of the return or 
on the page bearing the taxpayer's signature.
    ``(c) Adjusted Income Tax Liability.--For purposes of this section, 
the term `adjusted income tax liability' means income tax liability (as 
defined in section 6096(b)) reduced by any amount designated under 
section 6096 (relating to designation of income tax payments to 
Presidential Election Campaign Fund).''
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of parts for such subchapter A 
is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

                              ``Part IX. Designation for reduction of 
                                        public debt.''
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to taxable years ending after the date of the enactment of this 
Act.

SEC. 3. PUBLIC DEBT REDUCTION TRUST FUND.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter A of chapter 98 of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 (relating to trust fund code) is amended by adding at the 
end the following section:

``SEC. 9512. PUBLIC DEBT REDUCTION TRUST FUND.

    ``(a) Creation of Trust Fund.--There is established in the Treasury 
of the United States a trust fund to be known as the `Public Debt 
Reduction Trust Fund', consisting of any amount appropriated or 
credited to the Trust Fund as provided in this section or section 
9602(b).
    ``(b) Transfers to Trust Fund.--There are hereby appropriated to 
the Public Debt Reduction Trust Fund amounts equivalent to the amounts 
designated under section 6097 (relating to designation for public debt 
reduction).
    ``(c) Expenditures.--Amounts in the Public Debt Reduction Trust 
Fund shall be available only for purposes of paying at maturity, or to 
redeem or buy before maturity, any obligation of the Federal Government 
included in the public debt. Any obligation which is paid, redeemed, or 
bought with amounts from such Trust Fund shall be canceled and retired 
and may not be reissued.''
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for such subchapter 
is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

                              ``Sec. 9512. Public Debt Reduction Trust 
                                        Fund.''
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to amounts received after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 4. TAXPAYER-GENERATED SEQUESTRATION OF FEDERAL SPENDING TO REDUCE 
              THE PUBLIC DEBT.

    (a) Sequestration To Reduce the Public Debt.--Part C of the 
Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 is amended by 
adding after section 253 the following new section:

``SEC. 253A. SEQUESTRATION TO REDUCE THE PUBLIC DEBT.

    ``(a) Sequestration.--Notwithstanding sections 255 and 256, within 
15 days after Congress adjourns to end a session, and on the same day 
as sequestration (if any) under sections 251, 252, and 253, but after 
any sequestration required by those sections, there shall be a 
sequestration equivalent to the estimated aggregate amount designated 
under section 6097 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for the last 
taxable year ending before the beginning of that session of Congress, 
as estimated by the Department of the Treasury on May 1 and as modified 
by the total of (1) any amounts by which net discretionary spending is 
reduced by legislation below the discretionary spending limits (or, in 
the absence of such limits, any net deficit change from the baseline 
amount calculated under section 257, except that such baseline for 
fiscal year 1996 and thereafter shall be based upon fiscal year 1995 
enacted appropriations less any 1995 sequesters) and (2) the net 
deficit change that has resulted from direct spending legislation.
    ``(b) Applicability.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided by paragraph (2), 
        each account of the United States shall be reduced by a dollar 
        amount calculated by multiplying the level of budgetary 
        resources in that account at that time by the uniform 
        percentage necessary to carry out subsection (a). All 
        obligational authority reduced under this section shall be done 
        in a manner that makes such reductions permanent.
            ``(2) Exempt accounts.--No order issued under this part 
        may--
                    ``(A) reduce benefits payable the old-age, 
                survivors, and disability insurance program established 
                under title II of the Social Security Act;
                    ``(B) reduce payments for net interest (all of 
                major functional category 900); or
                    ``(C) make any reduction in the following accounts:
                            ``Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 
                        Bank Insurance Fund;
                            ``Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 
                        FSLIC Resolution Fund;
                            ``Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 
                        Savings Association Insurance Fund;
                            ``National Credit Union Administration, 
                        credit union share insurance fund; or
                            ``Resolution Trust Corporation.''.
    (b) Reports.--Section 254 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
Deficit Control Act of 1985 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by inserting before the item 
        relating to August 10 the following:
    ``May 1 . . . Department of Treasury report to Congress estimating 
amount of income tax designated pursuant to section 6097 of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986.'';
            (2) in subsection (d)(1), by inserting ``, and 
        sequestration to reduce the public debt,'';
            (3) in subsection (d), by redesignating paragraph (5) as 
        paragraph (6) and by inserting after paragraph (4) the 
        following new paragraph:
            ``(5) Sequestration to reduce the public debt reports.--The 
        preview reports shall set forth for the budget year estimates 
        for each of the following:
                    ``(A) The aggregate amount designated under section 
                6097 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for the last 
                taxable year ending before the budget year.
                    ``(B) The amount of reductions required under 
                section 253A and the deficit remaining after those 
                reductions have been made.
                    ``(C) The sequestration percentage necessary to 
                achieve the required reduction in accounts under 
                section 253A(b).''; and
            (4) in subsection (g), by redesignating paragraphs (4) and 
        (5) as paragraphs (5) and (6), respectively, and by inserting 
        after paragraph (3) the following new paragraph:
            ``(4) Sequestration to reduce the public debt reports.--The 
        final reports shall contain all of the information contained in 
        the public debt taxation designation report required on May 
        1.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--Notwithstanding section 275(b) of the Balanced 
Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, the expiration date 
set forth in that section shall not apply to the amendments made by 
this section. The amendments made by this section shall cease to have 
any effect after the first fiscal year during which there is no public 
debt.
[EX A]: Taxpayer Debt Buy-Down Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow every individual with adjusted income tax liability to designate on their tax returns that a portion of such liability (not to exceed ten percent) be used to reduce the public debt. 
Establishes a Public Debt Reduction Trust Fund for the deposit of designated amounts.  Makes amounts in such Trust Fund available only to pay at maturity, or to redeem or buy before maturity, any obligation of the Federal Government included in the public debt.  Prohibits the reissuance of any obligation which is paid, redeemed, or bought with amounts from the Trust Fund. 
Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to provide for the sequestration of amounts designated to the Trust Fund.  Specifies accounts exempt from such sequestration.  Includes aggregated amounts designated to the Trust Fund and amounts sequestered to reduce the public debt in sequestration preview and final reports.

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Paycheck Fairness Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Women have entered the workforce in record numbers.
            (2) Even in the 1990's, women earn significantly lower pay 
        than men for work on jobs that require equal skill, effort, and 
        responsibility and that are performed under similar working 
        conditions. These pay disparities exist in both the private and 
        governmental sectors. In many instances, the pay disparities 
        can only be due to continued intentional discrimination or the 
        lingering effects of past discrimination.
            (3) The existence of such pay disparities--
                    (A) depresses the wages of working families who 
                rely on the wages of all members of the family to make 
                ends meet;
                    (B) prevents the optimum utilization of available 
                labor resources;
                    (C) has been spread and perpetuated, through 
                commerce and the channels and instrumentalities of 
                commerce, among the workers of the several States;
                    (D) burdens commerce and the free flow of goods in 
                commerce;
                    (E) constitutes an unfair method of competition in 
                commerce;
                    (F) leads to labor disputes burdening and 
                obstructing commerce and the free flow of goods in 
                commerce;
                    (G) interferes with the orderly and fair marketing 
                of goods in commerce; and
                    (H) in many instances, may deprive workers of equal 
                protection on the basis of sex in violation of the 5th 
                and 14th amendments.
            (4)(A) Artificial barriers to the elimination of 
        discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex 
        continue to exist more than 3 decades after the enactment of 
        the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 201 et seq.) 
        and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000a et seq.).
            (B) Elimination of such barriers would have positive 
        effects, including--
                    (i) providing a solution to problems in the economy 
                created by unfair pay disparities;
                    (ii) substantially reducing the number of working 
                women earning unfairly low wages, thereby reducing the 
                dependence on public assistance; and
                    (iii) promoting stable families by enabling all 
                family members to earn a fair rate of pay;
                    (iv) remedying the effects of past discrimination 
                on the basis of sex and ensuring that in the future 
                workers are afforded equal protection on the basis of 
                sex; and
                    (v) ensuring equal protection pursuant to Congress' 
                power to enforce the 5th and 14th amendments.
            (5) With increased information about the provisions added 
        by the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and wage data, along with more 
        effective remedies, women will be better able to recognize and 
        enforce their rights to equal pay for work on jobs that require 
        equal skill, effort, and responsibility and that are performed 
        under similar working conditions.
            (6) Certain employers have already made great strides in 
        eradicating unfair pay disparities in the workplace and their 
        achievements should be recognized.

SEC. 3. ENHANCED ENFORCEMENT OF EQUAL PAY REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) Required Demonstration for Affirmative Defense.--Section 
6(d)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(d)(1)) 
is amended by striking ``(iv) a differential'' and all that follows 
through the period and inserting the following: ``(iv) a differential 
based on a bona fide factor other than sex, such as education, training 
or experience, except that this clause shall apply only if--
                            ``(I) the employer demonstrates that--
                                    ``(aa) such factor--
                                            ``(AA) is job-related with 
                                        respect to the position in 
                                        question; or
                                            ``(BB) furthers a 
                                        legitimate business purpose, 
                                        except that this item shall not 
                                        apply where the employee 
                                        demonstrates that an 
                                        alternative employment practice 
                                        exists that would serve the 
                                        same business purpose without 
                                        producing such differential and 
                                        that the employer has refused 
                                        to adopt such alternative 
                                        practice; and
                                    ``(bb) such factor was actually 
                                applied and used reasonably in light of 
                                the asserted justification; and
                            ``(II) upon the employer succeeding under 
                        subclause I, the employee fails to demonstrate 
                        that the differential produced by the reliance 
                        of the employer on such factor is itself the 
                        result of discrimination on the basis of sex by 
                        the employer.
        ``An employer that is not otherwise in compliance with this 
        paragraph may not reduce the wages of any employee in order to 
        achieve such compliance.''.
    (b) Application of Provisions.--Section 6(d)(1) of the Fair Labor 
Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(d)(1)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: ``The provisions of this subsection shall apply to 
applicants for employment if such applicants, upon employment by the 
employer, would be subject to any provisions of this section.''.
    (c) Elimination of Establishment Requirement.--Section 6(d) of the 
Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(d)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``, within any establishment in which such 
        employees are employed,''; and
            (2) by striking ``in such establishment'' each place it 
        appears.
    (d) Nonretaliation Provision.--Section 15(a)(3) of the Fair Labor 
Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 215(a)(3)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``or has'' each place it appears and 
        inserting ``has''; and
            (2) by inserting before the semicolon the following: ``, or 
        has inquired about, discussed, or otherwise disclosed the wages 
        of the employee or another employee, or because the employee 
        (or applicant) has made a charge, testified, assisted, or 
        participated in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, 
        hearing, or action under section 6(d)''.
    (e) Enhanced Penalties.--Section 16(b) of the Fair Labor Standards 
Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 216(b)) is amended--
            (1) by inserting after the first sentence the following: 
        ``Any employer who violates section 6(d) shall additionally be 
        liable for such compensatory or punitive damages as may be 
        appropriate, except that the United States shall not be liable 
        for punitive damages.'';
            (2) in the sentence beginning ``An action to'', by striking 
        ``either of the preceding sentences'' and inserting ``any of 
        the preceding sentences of this subsection'';
            (3) in the sentence beginning ``No employees shall'', by 
        striking ``No employees'' and inserting ``Except with respect 
        to class actions brought to enforce section 6(d), no 
        employee'';
            (4) by inserting after the sentence referred to in 
        paragraph (3), the following: ``Notwithstanding any other 
        provision of Federal law, any action brought to enforce section 
        6(d) may be maintained as a class action as provided by the 
        Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.''; and
            (5) in the sentence beginning ``The court in''--
                    (A) by striking ``in such action'' and inserting 
                ``in any action brought to recover the liability 
                prescribed in any of the preceding sentences of this 
                subsection''; and
                    (B) by inserting before the period the following: 
                ``, including expert fees''.
    (f) Action by Secretary.--Section 16(c) of the Fair Labor Standards 
Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 216(c)) is amended--
            (1) in the first sentence--
                    (A) by inserting ``or, in the case of a violation 
                of section 6(d), additional compensatory or punitive 
                damages,'' before ``and the agreement''; and
                    (B) by inserting before the period the following: 
                ``, or such compensatory or punitive damages, as 
                appropriate'';
            (2) in the second sentence, by inserting before the period 
        the following: ``and, in the case of a violation of section 
        6(d), additional compensatory or punitive damages'';
            (3) in the third sentence, by striking ``the first 
        sentence'' and inserting ``the first or second sentence''; and
            (4) in the last sentence--
                    (A) by striking ``commenced in the case'' and 
                inserting ``commenced--
            ``(1) in the case'';
                    (B) by striking the period and inserting 
                ``; or''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) in the case of a class action brought to enforce 
        section 6(d), on the date on which the individual becomes a 
        party plaintiff to the class action''.

SEC. 4. TRAINING.

    The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Office of 
Federal Contract Compliance Programs, subject to the availability of 
funds appropriated under section 9(b), shall provide training to 
Commission employees and affected individuals and entities on matters 
involving discrimination in the payment of wages.

SEC. 5. RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND OUTREACH.

    The Secretary of Labor shall conduct studies and provide 
information to employers, labor organizations, and the general public 
concerning the means available to eliminate pay disparities between men 
and women, including--
            (1) conducting and promoting research to develop the means 
        to correct expeditiously the conditions leading to the pay 
        disparities;
            (2) publishing and otherwise making available to employers, 
        labor organizations, professional associations, educational 
        institutions, the media, and the general public the findings 
resulting from studies and other materials, relating to eliminating the 
pay disparities;
            (3) sponsoring and assisting State and community 
        informational and educational programs;
            (4) providing information to employers, labor 
        organizations, professional associations, and other interested 
        persons on the means of eliminating the pay disparities;
            (5) recognizing and promoting the achievements of 
        employers, labor organizations, and professional associations 
        that have worked to eliminate the pay disparities; and
            (6) convening a national summit to discuss, and consider 
        approaches for rectifying, the pay disparities.

SEC. 6. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND EMPLOYER RECOGNITION PROGRAM.

    (a) Guidelines.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Labor shall develop 
        guidelines to enable employers to evaluate job categories based 
        on objective criteria such as educational requirements, skill 
requirements, independence, working conditions, and responsibility, 
including decisionmaking responsibility and de facto supervisory 
responsibility.
            (2) Use.--The guidelines developed under paragraph (1) 
        shall be designed to enable employers voluntarily to compare 
        wages paid for different jobs to determine if the pay scales 
        involved adequately and fairly reflect the educational 
        requirements, skill requirements, independence, working 
        conditions, and responsibility for each such job with the goal 
        of eliminating unfair pay disparities between occupations 
        traditionally dominated by men or women.
            (3) Publication.--The guidelines shall be developed under 
        paragraph (1) and published in the Federal Register not later 
        than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
    (b) Employer Recognition.--
            (1) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this subsection to 
        emphasize the importance of, encourage the improvement of, and 
        recognize the excellence of employer efforts to pay wages to 
        women that reflect the real value of the contributions of such 
        women to the workplace.
            (2) In general.--To carry out the purpose of this 
        subsection, the Secretary of Labor shall establish a program 
        under which the Secretary shall provide for the recognition of 
        employers who, pursuant to a voluntary job evaluation conducted 
        by the employer, adjust their wage scales (such adjustments 
        shall not include the lowering of wages paid to men) using the 
        guidelines developed under subsection (a) to ensure that women 
        are paid fairly in comparison to men.
            (3) Technical assistance.--The Secretary of Labor may 
        provide technical assistance to assist an employer in carrying 
        out an evaluation under paragraph (2).
    (c) Regulations.--The Secretary of Labor shall promulgate such 
rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out this section.

SEC. 7. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NATIONAL AWARD FOR PAY EQUITY IN THE 
              WORKPLACE.

    (a) In General.--There is established the Robert Reich National 
Award for Pay Equity in the Workplace, which shall be evidenced by a 
medal bearing the inscription ``Robert Reich National Award for Pay 
Equity in the Workplace''. The medal shall be of such design and 
materials, and bear such additional inscriptions, as the Secretary of 
Labor may prescribe.
    (b) Criteria for Qualification.--To qualify to receive an award 
under this section a business shall--
            (1) submit a written application to the Secretary of Labor, 
        at such time, in such manner, and containing such information 
        as the Secretary may require, including at a minimum 
        information that demonstrates that the business has made 
        substantial effort to eliminate pay disparities between men and 
        women, and deserves special recognition as a consequence; and
            (2) meet such additional requirements and specifications as 
        the Secretary of Labor determines to be appropriate.
    (c) Making and Presentation of Award.--
            (1) Award.--After receiving recommendations from the 
        Secretary of Labor, the President or the designated 
        representative of the President shall annually present the 
        award described in subsection (a) to businesses that meet the 
        qualifications described in subsection (b).
            (2) Presentation.--The President or the designated 
        representative of the President shall present the award under 
        this section with such ceremonies as the President or the 
        designated representative of the President may determine to be 
        appropriate.
    (d) Business.--In this section, the term ``business'' includes--
            (1)(A) a corporation, including a nonprofit corporation;
            (B) a partnership;
            (C) a professional association;
            (D) a labor organization; and
            (E) a business entity similar to an entity described in any 
        of subparagraphs (A) through (D);
            (2) an entity carrying out an education referral program, a 
        training program, such as an apprenticeship or management 
        training program, or a similar program; and
            (3) an entity carrying out a joint program, formed by a 
        combination of any entities described in paragraph (1) or (2).

SEC. 8. COLLECTION OF PAY INFORMATION BY THE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT 
              OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION.

    Section 709 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e-8) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(f)(1) Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of 
this subsection, the Commission shall--
            ``(A) complete a survey of the data that is currently 
        available to the Federal Government relating to employee pay 
        information for use in the enforcement of Federal laws 
        prohibiting pay discrimination and, in consultation with other 
        relevant Federal agencies, identify additional data collections 
        that will enhance the enforcement of such laws; and
            ``(B) based on the results of the survey and consultations 
        under subparagraph (A), issue regulations to provide for the 
        collection of pay information data from employers as described 
        by the sex, race, and national origin of employees.
    ``(2) In implementing paragraph (1), the Commission shall have as 
its primary consideration the most effective and efficient means for 
enhancing the enforcement of Federal laws prohibiting pay 
discrimination. For this purpose, the Commission shall consider factors 
including the imposition of burdens on employers, the frequency of 
required reports (including which employers should be required to 
prepare reports), appropriate protections for maintaining data 
confidentiality, and the most effective format for the data collection 
reports.''.

SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this Act.
[EX A]: Paycheck Fairness Act - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) to revise remedies for and enforcement of prohibitions against sex discrimination in the payment of wages (such FLSA prohibitions are also known as the Equal Pay Act). 
(Sec. 3) Amends FLSA to provide for enhanced enforcement of equal pay requirements, adding a nonretaliation requirement.  Increases penalties for such violations.  Provides for the Secretary of Labor to seek additional compensatory or punitive damages in such cases. 
(Sec. 4) Requires the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs to train EEOC employees and affected individuals and entities on matters involving wage discrimination. 
(Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary to conduct studies and provide information to employers, labor organizations, and the general public concerning the means available to eliminate pay disparities between men and women, including convening a national summit and carrying out other specified activities. 
(Sec. 6) Directs the Secretary to: (1) develop guidelines for employer evaluations of job categories based on objective criteria, to be used voluntarily by employers to compare wages for different jobs to determine if pay scales adequately and fairly reflect each job's educational and skill requirements, independence, working conditions, and responsibility, in order to eliminate unfair pay disparities between occupations traditionally dominated by men or women; and (2) establish a program to recognize employers who use such guidelines to ensure that women are paid fairly in comparison to men without lowering men's wages.  Authorizes the Secretary to provide technical assistance for employers to carry out such evaluations. 
(Sec. 7) Establishes the Robert Reich National Award for Pay Equity in the Workplace, which shall be evidenced by a medal.  Sets forth criteria for specified types of entities to receive such an award. 
(Sec. 8) Expresses the sense of the Senate that the President should: (1) take appropriate steps to increase the amount of information available with respect to wage disparities; and (2) consider ways to collect such information that maximize its utility, protect individual privacy, and minimize reporting burdens. 
(Sec. 9) Authorizes appropriations.

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Strategic and Critical 
Minerals Policy Act of 2011''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) the availability of minerals and metals is essential 
        for economic growth, national security, technological 
        innovation, and the manufacturing and agricultural supply 
        chain;
            (2) the exploration, production, processing, use, and 
        recycling of minerals contribute significantly to the economic 
        well-being, security, and general welfare of the Nation;
            (3) the industrialization of China and India has driven 
        demand for nonfuel mineral commodities, sparking a period of 
        resource nationalism exemplified by China's reduction and 
        stoppage of exports of rare-earth mineral elements necessary 
        for telecommunications, military technologies, medical devices, 
        agricultural production, and renewable energy technologies;
            (4) the United States has vast mineral resources but is 
        becoming increasingly dependent upon foreign sources;
            (5) 25 years ago the United States was dependent on foreign 
        sources for 30 nonfuel mineral materials, 6 of which were 
        entirely imported to meet the Nation's requirements and another 
        16 of which were imported to meet more than 60 percent of the 
        Nation's needs;
            (6) by 2010, United States import dependence for nonfuel 
        mineral materials more than doubled from 30 to 67 commodities, 
        18 commodities were imported entirely to meet the Nation's 
        requirements, and another 25 commodities required imports of 
        more than 50 percent;
            (7) the United States lacks a coherent national policy to 
        assure the availability of minerals essential to manufacturing, 
        national economic well-being and security, agricultural 
        production, and global economic competitiveness; and
            (8) the Nation's ability to compete and innovate requires 
        proper planning and preparation today to meet tomorrow's 
        mineral needs.

SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL DECLARATION OF POLICY.

    (a) In General.--It is the continuing policy of the United States 
to promote an adequate and stable supply of minerals to maintain our 
Nation's economic well-being, security, and manufacturing, industrial, 
energy, agricultural, and technological capabilities.
    (b) Policy Goals.--Implementation of the policy set forth in 
subsection (a) requires that the Federal Government coordinate the 
Federal departments and agencies responsible for ensuring that supply, 
to--
            (1) facilitate the availability, development, and 
        production of domestic mineral resources to meet national 
        needs, including the demands of the Nation's manufacturing and 
        agricultural industries;
            (2) promote and encourage the development of economically 
        and environmentally sound, safe, and stable domestic mining, 
        minerals, metals, processing, and minerals recycling 
        industries;
            (3) establish an assessment capability for identifying the 
        mineral demands, supply, and needs of our Nation; and
            (4) minimize duplication, needless paperwork, and delays in 
        the administration of Federal and State laws and regulations, 
        and issuance of permits and authorizations necessary to 
        explore, develop, and produce minerals and construct and 
        operate mineral-related facilities.

SEC. 4. SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR REPORT ON ACCESS AND AUTHORIZATIONS 
              FOR MINERAL DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior, through the 
Bureau of Land Management and the United States Geological Survey, and 
in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture (through the Forest 
Service Mineral and Geology Management Division), the Secretary of 
Defense, the Secretary of Commerce, and the heads of other appropriate 
Federal agencies, shall prepare, submit to Congress, and make available 
to the public a report that includes--
            (1) an inventory of the nonfossil-fuel mineral potential of 
        lands under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management 
        and the Forest Service and an identification of all such lands 
        that have been withdrawn, segregated, or otherwise restricted 
        from mineral exploration and development;
            (2) an assessment of--
                    (A) the mineral requirements to meet current and 
                emerging national security, economic, industrial 
                manufacturing, technological, agricultural, and social 
                needs;
                    (B) the Nation's reliance on foreign sources to 
                meet those needs; and
                    (C) the implications of mineral supply shortages or 
                disruptions;
            (3) a detailed description of the time required to process 
        mineral applications, operating plans, leases, licenses, 
        permits, and other use authorizations for mineral-related 
        activities on lands under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of 
        Land Management and the Forest Service, and identification of 
        measures that would streamline the processing of such 
        applications, such as elimination of overlapping requirements 
        or set deadlines;
            (4) an itemized list of all use authorizations referred to 
        in paragraph (3) for which applications are pending before the 
        Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service, and the 
        length of time each of those applications has been pending;
            (5) an assessment of the impact of litigation on processing 
        or issuing mineral exploration and mine permits, identification 
        of the statutes the litigation was brought under, and the cost 
        to the agency or the Federal Government, including for payments 
        of attorney fees;
            (6) an update of the 2009 Economic Impact of the Department 
        of the Interior's Programs and Activities report to include 
        locatable minerals;
            (7) an assessment of the Federal workforce with educational 
        degrees and expertise in economic geology, geochemistry, 
        mining, industrial minerals, metallurgy, metallurgical 
        engineering, and mining engineering, including--
                    (A) retirement eligibility and agency plans for 
                retention, recruitment, and succession planning;
                    (B) comparison of the existing Federal salaries and 
                recruitment and retention bonuses with the salaries, 
                recruitment incentives, and retention packages normally 
                offered in the mineral industry; and
                    (C) examination of the differences between Federal 
                and private financial packages for early-, mid-, and 
                late-career workers; and
            (8) an inventory of rare earth element potential on the 
        Federal lands, and impediments or restrictions on the 
        exploration or development of those rare earth elements, and 
        recommendations to lift the impediments or restrictions while 
        maintaining environmental safeguards.
    (b) Progress Reports.--Not later than one year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, and each year thereafter for the following two 
years, the Secretary of the Interior shall submit to Congress and make 
available to the public a report that describes the progress made in 
reaching the policy goals described in section 3(b), including--
            (1) efforts to increase access to domestic supplies of 
        minerals, and facilitation of their production; and
            (2) implementation of recommendations contained in--
                    (A) the National Research Council reports--
                            (i) Minerals, Critical Minerals, and the 
                        U.S. Economy;
                            (ii) Managing Minerals for a Twenty-First 
                        Century Military; and
                            (iii) the current workforce study 
                        authorized in sections 385 and 1830 of the 
                        Energy Policy Act of 2005 (119 Stat. 744, 
                        1137);
                    (B) the Department of Energy Critical Minerals 
                Strategy I and II; and
                    (C) the Department of Defense assessment and plan 
                for critical rare earth elements in defense 
                applications required under section 843 of the National 
                Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2011.

SEC. 5. NATIONAL MINERAL ASSESSMENT.

    For the first National Mineral Assessment conducted after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the United States Geological Survey shall 
include mineral assessments for those mineral commodities important to 
the Nation's energy infrastructure, manufacturing and agricultural 
industries, and to the national defense. Priority should be given to 
minerals that are critical based on the impact of a potential supply 
restriction and the likelihood of a supply restriction.

SEC. 6. GLOBAL MINERAL ASSESSMENT.

    The United States Geological Survey is directed to expand the 
current Global Mineral Assessment to include mineral assessments for 
rare earth elements and other minerals that are critical based on the 
impact of a potential supply restriction and the likelihood of a supply 
restriction. Assessments conducted under this section shall include an 
analysis, developed with participation by the National Minerals 
Information Center and in consultation with appropriate agencies, of 
the rare earth elements or other critical minerals supply chain and 
associated processes and products, including mining, processing, 
recycling, separation, metal production, alloy production, and 
manufacturing of products sold to end users. In conducting the 
assessment, the United States Geological Survey should coordinate with 
the heads of foreign geologic surveys when possible.

SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act--
            (1) Inventory.--The term ``inventory'' means an accounting 
        of known mineral occurrences and mineral deposits, including 
        documentation of identified resources.
            (2) Mineral assessment.--The term ``mineral assessment'' 
        means an assessment of undiscovered mineral resources that 
        includes a qualitative assessment and a quantitative assessment 
        of such resources.
            (3) Qualitative assessment.--The term ``qualitative 
        assessment'' means a geologic-based delineation (mapping) of 
        areas permissive for the occurrence of undiscovered mineral 
        resources, based on all available geotechnical data including 
        geology, geophysics, geochemistry, remote sensing, and mineral 
        localities data.
            (4) Quantitative assessment.--The term ``quantitative 
        assessment'' means a probabilistic estimate of the quantity and 
        quality by tonnage and grade of undiscovered mineral resources 
        in areas delineated as permissive for occurrence in a 
        qualitative assessment.

SEC. 8. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER STATUTORY MINING POLICIES.

    Nothing in this Act shall be construed as affecting any provision 
of or requirement under the Mining and Minerals Policy Act of 1970 (30 
U.S.C. 21a).
            Amend the title so as to read: ``A bill to require the 
        Secretary of the Interior to conduct an assessment of the 
        capability of the Nation to meet our current and future demands 
        for the minerals critical to United States manufacturing and 
        agricultural competitiveness and economic and national security 
        in a time of expanding resource nationalism, and for other 
        purposes.''.
[EX A]:
National Strategic and Critical Minerals Policy Act of 2011 - (Sec. 3) Declares that it is the continuing policy of the United States to promote an adequate and stable supply of minerals to maintain the nation's economic well-being, security, and manufacturing, industrial, energy, agricultural, and technological capabilities.

(Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary of the Interior, through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Geological Survey (Survey), to report to Congress: (1) an inventory of the nonfossil-fuel mineral potential of lands under BLM and U.S. Forest Service jurisdiction; (2) an identification of all such lands that have been withdrawn, segregated, or otherwise restricted from mineral exploration and development; (3) a detailed description of the time required to process mineral applications, operating plans, leases, licenses, permits, and other use authorizations for mineral-related activities on lands; (4) an itemized list of all use authorizations for which applications are pending; (5) an assessment of the impact of litigation on the processing or issuing of permits; (6) an assessment of the federal workforce with educational degrees and expertise in economic geology, geochemistry, mining, industrial minerals, metallurgy, metallurgical engineering, and mining engineering; and (7) an inventory of rare earth element potential on federal lands, and impediments to or restrictions on the exploration or development of those rare earth elements, with recommendations to lift the impediments or restrictions while maintaining environmental safeguards.

Requires progress reports to Congress on: (1) efforts to increase access to domestic supplies of minerals, and facilitation of their production; (2) implementation of recommendations in National Research Council reports on "Minerals, Critical Minerals, and the U.S. Economy" and on "Managing Minerals for a Twenty-First Century Military"; (3) the Department of Energy Critical Minerals Strategy I and II; and (4) a specified Department of Defense assessment and plan for critical rare earth elements in defense applications.

(Sec. 5) Directs the Survey, for the first National Mineral Assessment conducted after enactment of this Act, to include mineral assessments for mineral commodities important to the nation's energy infrastructure, manufacturing and agricultural industries, and to the national defense. Urges priority be given to minerals that are critical based on the impact of a potential supply restriction and the likelihood of a supply restriction.

(Sec. 6) Directs the Survey to expand the current Global Mineral Assessment to include mineral assessments for rare earth elements and other minerals that are critical based on the impact of a potential supply restriction and the likelihood of a supply restriction.

Requires such assessments to include an analysis, developed with participation by the National Minerals Information Center, of the rare earth elements or other critical minerals supply chain and associated processes and products, including mining, processing, recycling, separation, metal production, alloy production, and manufacturing of products sold to end users.