On December 27, President Obama signed into law the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act. Although primarily responsible for the direction and authorization of military activities, the bill included provisions relating to the earth science community. Under the new bill the Defense Logistics Agency, a support agency that provides supplies and services to the U.S. military and manages the National Defense Stockpile, is directed to recycle and conserve minerals critical for defense purposes. The bill also permits the Pentagon to stockpile certain strategic materials, including ferroniobium, dysprosium, yttrium oxide, cadmium zinc tellurium substrate materials, lithium ion precursors, and other materials.

Sources: GovTrack, House Armed Services Committee, Senate Armed Services Committee