; (5) evaluate the utility and desirability of leveraging the process for acquiring shortfall materials for the National Defense Stockpile under the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act ( 50 U.S.C. 98 et seq. ) to expand supply chains and processing capacity for critical minerals in the United States and in countries that are allies or partners of the United States; (6) identify areas of potential engagement and partnership with the governments of countries that are allies or partners of the United States to jointly reduce dependence on critical minerals mined or processed in or by covered countries; (7) identify and recommend other policy changes that may be needed to achieve critical mineral supply chain independence from covered countries for the Department; (8) identify and recommend measures to streamline authorities and policies with respect to critical minerals and supply chains for critical minerals; and (9) prioritize the recommendations made in the strategy to achieve critical mineral supply chain independence from covered countries for the Department, taking into consideration economic costs and varying degrees of vulnerability posed to the national security of the United States by reliance on different types of critical minerals. (c) Form of strategy The strategy required by subsection (a) shall be submitted in classified form but shall include an unclassified summary. (d) Definitions In this section: (1) Appropriate committees of Congress The term appropriate committees of Congress means— (A) the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; and (B) the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives. (2) Covered country The term covered country means— (A) a covered nation, as defined in section 4872, title 10, United States Code