text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Critical Minerals and Materials 
  Promotion Act of 2011''.
  
  SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF CRITICAL MINERALS AND MATERIALS.
  
      In this Act:
              (1) In general.--The term ``critical minerals and 
          materials'' means naturally occurring, nonliving, nonfuel 
          substances with a definite chemical composition--
                      (A) that perform an essential function for which no 
                  satisfactory substitutes exist; and
                      (B) the supply of which has a high probability of 
                  becoming restricted, leading to physical unavailability 
                  or excessive costs for the applicable minerals and 
                  materials in key applications.
              (2) Exclusions.--The term ``critical minerals and 
          materials'' does not include ice, water, or snow.
  
  SEC. 3. PROGRAM TO DETERMINE PRESENCE OF AND FUTURE NEEDS FOR CRITICAL 
                MINERALS AND MATERIALS.
  
      (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the 
  United States Geological Survey, shall establish a research and 
  development program--
              (1) to provide data and scientific analyses for research 
          on, and assessments of the potential for, undiscovered and 
          discovered resources of critical minerals and materials in the 
          United States and other countries; and
              (2) to analyze and assess current and future critical 
          minerals and materials supply chains--
                      (A) with advice from the Energy Information 
                  Administration on future energy technology market 
                  penetration; and
                      (B) using the Mineral Commodity Summaries produced 
                  by the United States Geological Survey.
      (b) Global Supply Chain.--The Secretary shall, if appropriate, 
  cooperate with international partners to ensure that the program 
  established under subsection (a) provides analyses of the global supply 
  chain of critical minerals and materials.
  
  SEC. 4. PROGRAM TO STRENGTHEN THE DOMESTIC CRITICAL MINERALS AND 
                MATERIALS SUPPLY CHAIN FOR CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES.
  
      The Secretary of Energy shall conduct a program of research, 
  development, and demonstration to strengthen the domestic critical 
  minerals and materials supply chain for clean energy technologies and 
  to ensure the long-term, secure, and sustainable supply of critical 
  minerals and materials sufficient to strengthen the national security 
  of the United States and meet the clean energy production needs of the 
  United States, including--
              (1) critical minerals and materials production, processing, 
          and refining;
              (2) minimization of critical minerals and materials in 
          energy technologies;
              (3) recycling of critical minerals and materials; and
              (4) substitutes for critical minerals and materials in 
          energy technologies.
  
  SEC. 5. STRENGTHENING EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN MINERAL AND MATERIAL 
                SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FOR CRITICAL MINERALS AND 
                MATERIALS PRODUCTION.
  
      (a) In General.--The Secretary of Energy shall promote the 
  development of the critical minerals and materials industry workforce 
  in the United States.
      (b) Support.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
  support--
              (1) critical minerals and materials education by providing 
          undergraduate and graduate scholarships and fellowships at 
          institutions of higher education, including technical and 
          community colleges;
              (2) partnerships between industry and institutions of 
          higher education, including technical and community colleges, 
          to provide onsite job training; and
              (3) development of courses and curricula on critical 
          minerals and materials.
  
  SEC. 6. SUPPLY OF CRITICAL MINERALS AND MATERIALS.
  
      (a) Policy.--It is the policy of the United States to promote an 
  adequate and stable supply of critical minerals and materials necessary 
  to maintain national security, economic well-being, and industrial 
  production with appropriate attention to a long-term balance between 
  resource production, energy use, a healthy environment, natural 
  resources conservation, and social needs.
      (b) Implementation.--To implement the policy described in 
  subsection (a), the President, acting through the Executive Office of 
  the President, shall--
              (1) coordinate the actions of applicable Federal agencies;
              (2) identify critical minerals and materials needs and 
          establish early warning systems for critical minerals and 
          materials supply problems;
              (3) establish a mechanism for the coordination and 
          evaluation of Federal critical minerals and materials programs, 
          including programs involving research and development, in a 
          manner that complements related efforts carried out by the 
          private sector and other domestic and international agencies 
          and organizations;
              (4) promote and encourage private enterprise in the 
          development of economically sound and stable domestic critical 
          minerals and materials supply chains;
              (5) promote and encourage the recycling of critical 
          minerals and materials, taking into account the logistics, 
          economic viability, environmental sustainability, and research 
          and development needs for completing the recycling process;
              (6) assess the need for and make recommendations concerning 
          the availability and adequacy of the supply of technically 
          trained personnel necessary for critical minerals and materials 
          research, development, extraction, and industrial practice, 
          with a particular focus on the problem of attracting and 
          maintaining high-quality professionals for maintaining an 
          adequate supply of critical minerals and materials; and
              (7) report to Congress on activities and findings under 
          this subsection.
  
  SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
  
      There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act such 
  sums as are necessary.
target: Critical Minerals and Materials Promotion Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the United States Geological Survey (USGS), to establish a research and development program to: (1) provide data and scientific analyses for research on, and assessments of the potential for, undiscovered and discovered resources of critical minerals and materials in the United States and other countries; (2) analyze and assess current and future critical minerals and materials supply chains; and (3) cooperate with international partners to ensure that the research and assessment programs provide analyses of the global supply chain of critical minerals and materials.
  
  Directs the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to conduct a research, development, and demonstration program to strengthen the domestic critical minerals and materials supply chain for clean energy technologies, and to ensure the long-term, secure, and sustainable supply of critical minerals and materials sufficient to strengthen the national security and meet the clean energy production needs of the United States.
  
  Directs the Secretary of Energy to promote the development of the critical minerals and materials industry workforce in the United States by supporting: (1) critical minerals and materials education by providing undergraduate and graduate scholarships and fellowships at institutions of higher education, including technical and community colleges; (2) partnerships between industry and institutions of higher education, including technical and community colleges, to provide onsite job training; and (3) development of courses and curricula on critical minerals and materials.
  
  Expresses the policy of the United States to promote an adequate and stable supply of critical minerals and materials necessary to maintain national security, economic well-being, and industrial production with appropriate attention to a long-term balance between resource production, energy use, a healthy environment, natural resources conservation, and social needs. Directs the President take specified steps to implement such policy.
feat_title: A bill to promote the domestic production of critical minerals and materials, and for other purposes.