,,ii #aahth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #ddif ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #aa1 #bjbd,mr4 ,romney 7for himself and ,mrs4 ,shaheen7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,armed ,services ,a ,,bill ,to expand the authorities of the ,office of ,strategic ,capital of the ,department of ,defense4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,investing in ,our ,defense ,act of #bjbd4 #b4 ,authorization to make equity investments 7a7 ,in general ,section #adi of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating subsection 7e7 as subsection 7f72 and 7#b7 by inserting after subsection 7d7 the following new subsection 7e73 7e7 ,equity investments 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,office may1 as a minority investor1 support eligible investments with funds or use other mechanisms for the purpose of purchasing1 and may make and fund commitments to purchase1 invest in1 make pledges in respect of1 or otherwise acquire1 equity or quasi-equity securities or shares or financial interests of any entity1 upon such terms and conditions as the ,director may determine4 7#b7 ,limitations on equity investments 7,a7 ,per project limit ,the aggregate amount of support provided under this subsection with respect to any eligible investment shall not exceed #bj percent of the aggregate amount of all equity investment made to the project at the time that the ,office approves support for the eligible investment4 7,b7 ,total limit ,support provided under this subsection shall be limited to not more than #ce percent of the aggregate exposure of the ,office on the date on which the support is provided4 7#c7 ,sales and liquidation of support ,the ,office shall seek to sell and liquidate any support for an eligible investment provided under this subsection as soon as commercially feasible1 commensurate with other similar investors in the project and taking into consideration the national security interests of the ,united ,states4 7#d7 ,timetable ,the ,office shall create an eligible investment-specific timetable for support provided under paragraph 7#a74 7#e7 ,budgetary treatment of equity investments ,support provided under this subsection shall constitute a credit program under the ,federal ,credit ,reform ,act of #aiij 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #fba et seq471 and the budgetary cost of equity investments shall accordingly be calculated on a net-present basis4 4 7b7 ,conforming amendment ,subsection 7f77#a7 of such section1 as redesignated by subsection 7a71 is further amended by inserting 1 equity investment after loan guarantee4 #c4 ,authorization to invest in critical minerals 7a7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that the ,office of ,strategic ,capital should seek to invest in critical minerals in support of the policy described in section #adad of the ,national ,defense ,authorization ,act for ,fiscal ,year #bjbd 7,public ,law #aah-ca2 #acg ,stat4 #ebh2 #aj ,u4,s4,c4 #dhaa note74 7b7 ,investments in critical minerals ,section #adi7;f77#c7 of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 as amended by section #b1 is further amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph3 7,,ff7 ,critical minerals4 4 #d4 ,authorization to collect fees for providing capital investments ,section #adi of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 as amended by section #b1 is further amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating subsection 7f7 as subsection 7g72 and 7#b7 by inserting after subsection 7e7 the following new subsection 7f73 7f7 ,fee authority ,the ,director may charge and collect fees for providing capital assistance in amounts to be determined by the ,director4 ,such fees1 once collected1 may be used only for the purposes and to the extent provided in advance by appropriations ,acts4 4 #e4 ,hiring authorities ,section #adi of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 as amended by sections #b and #d1 is further amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating subsection 7g7 as subsection 7h72 and 7#b7 by inserting after subsection 7f7 the following new subsection 7g73 7g7 ,officers and employees 7#a7 ,in general ,except as otherwise provided in this section1 officers1 employees1 and agents of the ,office shall be selected and appointed by the ,director1 and shall be vested with such powers and duties as the ,director may determine4 7#b7 ,administratively determined employees 7,a7 ,appointment2 compensation2 removal ,of officers and employees employed by the ,office under paragraph 7#a71 not more than #ej may be appointed1 compensated1 or removed without regard to title #e4 7,b7 ,reinstatement ,under such regulations as the ,secretary of ,defense may prescribe1 officers and employees appointed to a position under subparagraph 7,a7 may be entitled1 upon removal from such position 7unless the removal was for cause71 to reinstatement to the position occupied at the time of appointment or to a position of comparable grade and salary4 7,c7 ,additional positions ,positions authorized by subparagraph 7,a7 shall be in addition to those otherwise authorized by law1 including positions authorized under section #eajh of title #e4 7,d7 ,rates of pay for officers and employees ,the ,director may set and adjust rates of basic pay for officers and employees appointed under subparagraph 7,a7 without regard to the provisions of chapter #ea or subchapter ,,iii of chapter #ec of title #e1 relating to classification of positions and ,general ,schedule pay rates1 respectively4 4