Pilot program for domestic antimony and copper production for defense applications

(a) Establishment Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall establish a pilot program to support the recovery of antimony and copper as byproducts of mineral production in the United States. (b) Elements The pilot program required by subsection (a) shall include methods— (1) to evaluate multiple processes and techniques for recovery of antimony and copper as byproducts of mineral production; (2) to develop process design plans necessary for scaling recovery of antimony and copper to demonstration-level production; (3) to generate sample material for independent testing to verify suitability for defense applications; and (4) to produce qualified antimony material that meets specifications provided by the Defense Logistics Agency. (c) Contracting authority The Secretary may enter into contracts, cooperative agreements, or other transactions with appropriate entities to implement the pilot program required by subsection (a). (d) Termination The pilot program required by subsection (a) shall terminate not later than five years after the date of the enactment of this Act. (e) Report to Congress (1) In general Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the next four years, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the status and findings of the pilot program required by subsection (a). (2) Elements Each report required by paragraph (1) shall include— (A) a summary of the progress made under the pilot program required by subsection (a) with respect to recovery and processing of antimony and copper; (B) technical and economic assessments with respect to such recovery; and (C) recommendations for expanding domestic antimony and copper production and reducing dependency on foreign sources of antimony and copper.