Title 50 — War and National Defense
Chapter 5 — Arsenals, Armories, Arms, and War Material Generally
§ 98. Short title
Statutory text
This subchapter may be cited as the “Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act”.
Legislative history
Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.
Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Revision Act of 1979
Pub. L. 96–41 § 2(a) · 93 Stat. 319
Enacted · 50 U.S.C. § 98
(June 7, 1939, ch. 190, § 1, as added Pub. L. 96–41, § 2(a), July 30, 1979, 93 Stat. 319.)
Source evidence
Code source credit
(June 7, 1939, ch. 190, § 1, as added Pub. L. 96–41, § 2(a), July 30, 1979, 93 Stat. 319.)Enacted provision · exact public law section
(a) The Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act is amended by striking out the first section and sections 2 through 9 of such Act (50 U.S.C. 98–98h) and inserting in lieu thereof the following: “Section 1. “short title This Act may be cited as the ‘Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act’. 50 USC 98. “Sec. 2. “findings and purpose (a) The Congress finds that the natural resources of the 50 USC 98a. United States in certain strategic and critical materials are deficient or insufficiently developed to supply the military, industrial, and essential civilian needs of the United States for national defense. “(b) It is the purpose of this Act to provide for the acquisition and retention of stocks of certain strategic and critical materials and to encourage the conservation and development of sources of such materials within the United States and thereby to decrease and to preclude, when possible, a dangerous and costly dependence by the United States upon foreign sources for supplies of such materials in times of national emergency. “Sec. 3. “materials to be acquired: presidential authority and guidelines (a) The President shall determine from time to time (1) 50 USC 98b. which materials are strategic and critical materials for the purposes of this Act, and (2) the quality and quantity of each such material to be acquired for the purposes of this Act and the form in which each such material shall be acquired and stored. Such materials when National Defense Stockpile. acquired, together with the other materials described in section 4 of this Act, shall constitute and be collectively known as the National Defense Stockpile (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the ‘stockpile’). “(b) The President shall make the determinations required to be made under subsection (a) on the basis of the following principles: “(1) The purpose of the stockpile is to serve the interest of national defense only and is not to be used for economic or budgetary purposes. “(2) The quantities of the materials stockpiled should be sufficient to sustain the United States for a period of not less than three years in the event of a national emergency. “(c) The quantity of any material to be stockpiled under this Act, as determined under subsection (a), may not be revised unless the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives are notified in writing of the proposed revision and the reasons for such revision at least thirty days before the effective date of such revision. “Sec. 4. “materials constituting the national defense stockpile (a) The stockpile consists of the following materials: “(1) Materials acquired under this Act and contained in the national stockpile on the day before the date of the enactment of the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Revision Act of 1979. Ante, p. 319. “(2) Materials acquired under this Act on or after the date of the enactment of the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Revision Act of 1979. “(3) Materials in the supplemental stockpile established by section 104(b) of the Agricultural Trade Development and 7 USC 1704. Assistance Act of 1954 (as in effect from September 21, 1959, through December 31, 1966) on the day before the date of the enactment of the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Revision Act of 1979. “(4) Materials acquired by the United States under the provisions of section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. App. 2093) and transferred to the stockpile by the President pursuant to subsection (f) of such section. “(5) Materials transferred to the United States under section 663 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2423) that have been determined to be strategic and critical materials for the purposes of this Act and that are allocated by the President under subsection (b) of such section for stockpiling in the stockpile. “(6) Materials acquired by the Commodity Credit Corporation and transferred to the stockpile under section 4(h) of the Post, p. 325. Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act (15 U.S.C. 714b(h)). “(7) Materials acquired by the Commodity Credit Corporation under paragraph (2) of section 103(a) of the Act entitled ‘An Act to provide for greater stability in agriculture; to augment the marketing and disposal of agricultural products; and for other purposes’, approved August 28, 1954 (7 U.S.C. 1743(a)), and transferred to the stockpile under the third sentence of such section. “(8) Materials transferred to the stockpile by the President under paragraph (4) of section 103(a) of such Act of Au-gust 28, 1954. “(9) Materials transferred to the stockpile under subsection (b). “(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any material that (1) is under the control of any department or agency of the United States, (2) is determined by the head of such department or agency to be excess to its needs and responsibilities, and (3) is required for the stockpile shall be transferred to the stockpile. Any such transfer shall be made without reimbursement to such department or agency, but all costs required to effect such transfer shall be paid or reimbursed from funds appropriated to carry out this Act. “Sec. 5. “authority for stockpile operations (a) Except for acquisitions made under the authority of 50 USC 98d. paragraph (3) or (4) of section 6(a), no funds may be obligated or appropriated for acquisition of any material under this Act unless funds for such acquisition have been authorized by law. Funds appropriated for such acquisition (and for transportation related to such acquisition) shall remain available for a period of five fiscal years, if so provided in appropriation Acts. “(b) Except for disposals made under the authority of paragraph (4) or (5) of section 6(a) or under section 7(a), no disposal may be made from the stockpile unless such disposal, including the quantity of the material to be disposed of, has been specifically authorized by law. “(c) There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be Appropriation authorization. necessary to provide for the transportation, processing, refining, storage, security, maintenance, rotation, and disposal of materials contained in or acquired for the stockpile. Funds appropriated for such purposes shall remain available to carry out the purposes for which appropriated for a period of two fiscal years, if so provided in appropriation Acts. “Sec. 6. “stockpile management (a) The President shall— “(1) acquire the materials determined under section 3(a) to be strategic and critical materials; “(2) provide for the proper storage, security, and maintenance of materials in the stockpile; “(3) provide for the refining or processing of any material in the stockpile when necessary to convert such material into the form most suitable for storage and subsequent disposition; “(4) provide for the rotation of any material in the stockpile when necessary to prevent deterioration of such material by replacement of such material with an equivalent quantity of substantially the same material; “(5) subject to the notification required by subsection (d)(2), provide for the timely disposal of materials in the stockpile that (A) are excess to stockpile requirements, and (B) may cause a loss to the Government if allowed to deteriorate; and “(6) dispose of materials in the stockpile the disposal of which is specifically authorized by law. “(b) Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d), acquisition of strategic and critical materials under this Act shall be made in accordance with established Federal procurement practices, and, except as provided in subsections (c) and (d) and in section 7(a), disposal of materials from the stockpile shall be made by formal advertising or competitive negotiation procedures. To the maximum extent feasible— “(1) competitive procedures shall be used in the acquisition and disposal of such materials; “(2) efforts shall be made in the acquisition and disposal of such materials to avoid undue disruption of the usual markets of producers, processors, and consumers of such materials and to protect the United States against avoidable loss; and “(3) disposal of such materials shall be made for domestic consumption. “(c) (1) The President shall encourage the use of barter in the Barter. acquisition of strategic and critical materials for, and the disposal of materials from, the stockpile when acquisition or disposal by barter is authorized by law and is practical and in the best interest of the United States. “(2) Materials in the stockpile, the disposition of which is authorized by law, shall be available for transfer at fair market value as payment for expenses (including transportation and other incidental expenses) of acquisition of materials, or of refining, processing, or rotating materials, under this Act. “(3) To the extent otherwise authorized by law, property owned by the United States may be bartered for materials needed for the stockpile. “(d) (1) The President may waive the applicability of any provision of the first sentence of subsection (b) to any acquisition of material for, or disposal of material from, the stockpile. Whenever the President waives any such provision with respect to any such acquisition or disposal, or whenever the President determines that the application of paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of such subsection to a particular acquisition or disposal is not feasible, the President shall notify the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives in writing of the proposed acquisition or disposal at least thirty days before any obligation of the United States is incurred in connection with such acquisition or disposal and shall include in such notification the reasons for not complying with any provision of such subsection. “(2) Materials in the stockpile may be disposed of under subsection (a)(5) only if the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives are notified in writing of the proposed disposal at least thirty days before any obligation of the United States is incurred in connection with such disposal. “(e) The President may acquire leasehold interests in property, for periods not in excess of twenty years, for storage, security, and maintenance of materials in the stockpile. “Sec. 7. “special disposal authority of the president (a) Materials in the stockpile may be released for use, sale, or other disposition— “(1) on the order of the President, at any time the President determines the release of such materials is required for purposes of the national defense; and “(2) in time of war declared by the Congress or during a national emergency, on the order of any officer or employee of the United States designated by the President to have authority to issue disposal orders under this subsection, if such officer or employee determines that the release of such materials is required for purposes of the national defense. “(b) Any order issued under subsection (a) shall be promptly reported by the President, or by the officer or employee issuing such order, in writing, to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives. “Sec. 8. “materials development and research (a) (1) The President shall make scientific, technologic, and economic investigations concerning the development, mining, preparation, treatment, and utilization of ores and other mineral sub-stances that (A) are found in the United States, or in its territories or possessions, (B) are essential to the national defense, industrial, and essential civilian needs of the United States, and (C) are found in known domestic sources in inadequate quantities or grades. “(2) Such investigations shall be carried out in order to— Purpose. “(A) determine and develop new domestic sources of supply of such ores and mineral substances; “(B) devise new methods for the treatment and utilization of lower grade reserves of such ores and mineral substances; and “(C) develop substitutes for such essential ores and mineral products. “(3) Investigations under paragraph (1) may be carried out on Investigations on public or private lands. public lands and, with the consent of the owner, on privately owned lands for the purpose of exploring and determining the extent and quality of deposits of such minerals, the most suitable methods of mining and beneficiating such minerals, and the cost at which the minerals or metals may be produced. “(b) The President shall make scientific, technologic, and economic Domestic sources of supplies of agricultural material or commodities, development. investigations of the feasibility of developing domestic sources of supplies of any agricultural material or for using agricultural commodities for the manufacture of any material determined pursuant to section 3(a) of this Act to be a strategic and critical material or substitutes therefor. “Sec. 9. “national defense stockpile transaction fund (a) There is established in the Treasury of the United Fund establishment. 50 USC 95h. States a separate fund to be known as the National Defense Stockpile Transaction Fund (hereinafter in this section referred to as the ‘fund’). “(b) (1) All moneys received from the sale of materials in the stockpile under paragraphs (5) and (6) of section 6(a) shall be covered into the fund. Such moneys shall remain in the fund until appropriated or until the end of the third fiscal year following the fiscal year in which they are received. Any such moneys remaining in the fund after the end of such third fiscal year that have not been appropriated shall be transferred to miscellaneous receipts of the Treasury. Any of such moneys that are appropriated shall be disbursed from the fund in the order in which they were covered into the fund. “(2) Moneys covered into the fund under paragraph (1) shall be available, when appropriated therefor, only for the acquisition of strategic and critical materials under section 6(a)(1) of this Act (and for transportation related to such acquisition). “(3) If so provided in appropriation Acts, moneys in the fund, when appropriated, shall remain available for a period of five fiscal years. “(c) All moneys received from the sale of materials being rotated under the provisions of section 6(a)(4) or disposed of under section 7(a) shall be covered into the fund and shall be available only for the acquisition of replacement materials. “Sec. 10. “advisory committees (a) The President may appoint advisory committees Presidential appointment. 60 USC 98h–1. composed of individuals with expertise relating to materials in the stockpile or with expertise in stockpile management to advise the President with respect to the acquisition, transportation, processing, refining, storage, security, maintenance, rotation, and disposal of such materials under this Act. “(b) Each member of an advisory committee established under Travel expenses. subsection (a) while serving on the business of the advisory committee away from such member’s home or regular place of business shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 of title 5, United States Code, for persons intermittently employed in the Government service. “Sec. 11. “reports to congress The President shall submit to the Congress every six months a written report detailing operations under this Act. Each such report shall include— “(1) information with respect to foreign and domestic purchases of materials during the preceding six-month period; “(2) information with respect to the acquisition and disposal of materials under this Act by barter, as provided for in section 6(c) of this Act, during such period; “(3) a statement and explanation of the financial status of the National Defense Stockpile Transaction Fund and the anticipated appropriations to be made from the fund during the next fiscal year; and “(4) such other pertinent information on the administration of this Act as will enable the Congress to evaluate the effectiveness of the program provided for under this Act and to determine the need for additional legislation. “Sec. 12. “definitions For the purposes of this Act: “(1) The term ‘strategic and critical materials’ means materials that (A) would be needed to supply the military, industrial, and essential civilian needs of the United States during a national emergency;, and (B) are not found or produced in the United States in sufficient quantities to meet such need. “(2) The term ‘national emergency’ means a general declaration of emergency with respect to the national defense made by the President or by the Congress.”.
1 of 1 references resolved to an enrolled provision
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 98, acts June 7, 1939, ch. 190, § 1, 53 Stat. 811; July 23, 1946, ch. 590, 60 Stat. 596, related to declaration of Congressional policy in enacting this subchapter, prior to repeal by section 2(a) of Pub. L. 96–41.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Short Title of 1987 Amendment
Pub. L. 100–180, div. C, title II, § 3201, , 101 Stat. 1245, provided that: “This title [enacting section 98h–5 of this title, amending sections 98a, 98b, 98d, 98e–1, 98h, 98h–2, and 98h–4 of this title, enacting provisions set out as a note under section 98e–1 of this title, and repealing provisions set out as a note under this section] may be cited as the ‘National Defense Stockpile Amendments of 1987’.”
Short Title of 1979 Amendment
Pub. L. 96–41, § 1, , 93 Stat. 319, provided: “That this Act [enacting this section and sections 98a to 98h–3 of this title, redesignating former section 98h–1 of this title as 98h–4 of this title, amending section 4533 of this title, sections 1743 and 1745 of Title 7, Agriculture, section 741b of Title 15, Commerce and Trade, and section 485 of former Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works, enacting a provision set out as a note under this section, and repealing a provision set out as a note under this section] may be cited as the ‘Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Revision Act of 1979’.”
Short Title
Act June 7, 1939, ch. 190, § 11, formerly § 10, as added by act July 23, 1946, ch. 590, 60 Stat. 596; renumbered § 11, Pub. L. 92–156, title V, § 503(1), , 85 Stat. 427, provided that this Act, which enacted this subchapter, be cited as the “Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act”, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 96–41, § 2(b)(2), , 93 Stat. 324.
New Budget Authority
Pub. L. 96–41, § 4, , 93 Stat. 320, provided that: “Any provision authorizing the enactment of new budget authority contained in the amendments made by this Act [see Short Title of 1979 Amendment note above] shall be effective on .”
Executive Documents
Executive Order No. 12155
Ex. Ord. No. 12155, , 44 F.R. 53071, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12417, , 48 F.R. 20035, which related to delegation of functions vested in President by Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act, as amended [50 U.S.C. 98 et seq.], to various Federal agencies and officials, was revoked by Pub. L. 100–180, div. C, title II, § 3203(b), , 101 Stat. 1247, effective 30 days after .
Ex. Ord. No. 12626. National Defense Stockpile Manager
Ex. Ord. No. 12626, , 53 F.R. 6114, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, including the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act (50 U.S.C. 98 et seq.), as amended, section 3203 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1988 (Public Law 100–180) [amending section 98e–1 of this title and enacting a provision set out as a note under section 98e–1 of this title], and section 301 of Title 3 of the United States Code, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. The Secretary of Defense is designated National Defense Stockpile Manager. The functions vested in the President by the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act [50 U.S.C. 98 et seq.], except the functions vested in the President by sections 7, 8, and 13 of the Act [50 U.S.C. 98f, 98g, 98h–4], are delegated to the Secretary of Defense. The functions vested in the President by section 8(a) of the Act [50 U.S.C. 98g(a)] are delegated to the Secretary of the Interior. The functions vested in the President by section 8(b) of the Act [50 U.S.C. 98g(b)] are delegated to the Secretary of Agriculture.
Sec. 2. The functions vested in the President by section 4(h) of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act, as amended (15 U.S.C. 714b(h)), are delegated to the Secretary of Defense.
Sec. 3. The functions vested in the President by section 204(f) of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended (40 U.S.C. 485(f)) [now 40 U.S.C. 574(d)], are delegated to the Secretary of Defense.
Sec. 4. In executing the functions delegated to him by this Order, the Secretary of Defense may delegate such functions as he may deem appropriate, subject to his direction. The Secretary shall consult with the heads of affected agencies in performing the functions delegated to him by this Order.
Ronald Reagan.
Ex. Ord. No. 14051. Designation To Exercise Authority Over the National Defense Stockpile
Ex. Ord. No. 14051, , 86 F.R. 60747, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act, as amended (50 U.S.C. 98 et seq.), section 1413 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (Public Law 112–239) [amending sections 98f and 98h–7 of this title], and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy and Purpose. The United States needs resilient, diverse, and secure supply chains to ensure our economic prosperity, national security, and national competitiveness. In Executive Order 14017 of (America’s Supply Chains) [86 F.R. 11849], I directed a comprehensive review of America’s supply chains to ensure that they are resilient in the face of a range of risks. One critical component of safeguarding supply chain resilience and industrial base health is ensuring that both the Federal Government and the private sector maintain adequate quantities of supplies, equipment, or raw materials on hand to create a buffer against potential shortages and import dependencies. Some of the Federal Government’s key tools to maintain adequate quantities of supplies to guard against such shortages and dependencies are the United States national stockpiles, including the National Defense Stockpile. By strengthening the National Defense Stockpile, the Federal Government will both ensure that it is keeping adequate quantities of goods on hand and provide a model for the private sector, while recognizing that private sector stockpiles and reserves can differ from government ones. This order confers authority related to the release of strategic and critical materials from the National Defense Stockpile to improve Federal Government efforts around stockpiling for national defense purposes.
Sec. 2. Designation. In accordance with section 98f of title 50, United States Code, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (Under Secretary) is designated to have authority to release strategic and critical materials from the National Defense Stockpile.
Sec. 3. Execution and Consultation. In executing the authority conferred by this order, the Under Secretary may release strategic and critical materials from the National Defense Stockpile for use, sale, or other disposition only when required for use, manufacture, or production for purposes of national defense. No release is authorized for economic or budgetary purposes. Prior to ordering the release of strategic and critical materials from the National Defense Stockpile, the Under Secretary shall consult with the heads of relevant executive departments and agencies.
Sec. 4. Authority. (a) All previously issued orders, regulations, rulings, certificates, directives, and other actions relating to any function affected by this order shall remain in effect except to the extent that they are inconsistent with this order or are subsequently amended or revoked under proper authority. Nothing in this order shall affect the validity or force of anything done under previous delegations or another assignment of authority under the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act.
(b) Nothing in this order shall affect the authorities assigned under Executive Order 13603 of (National Defense Resources Preparedness) [50 U.S.C. 4553 note].
Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
J.R. Biden, Jr.
Credits
(June 7, 1939, ch. 190, § 1, as added Pub. L. 96–41, § 2(a), , 93 Stat. 319.)