[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3826 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3826

   To provide for the establishment of a Katrina Assistance Program 
through the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 20, 2005

  Mr. Melancon (for himself and Mr. Gordon) introduced the following 
          bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To provide for the establishment of a Katrina Assistance Program 
through the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that--
            (1) it is estimated that 2,500 small and medium-sized 
        manufacturers employing approximately 100,000 workers have been 
        significantly impacted by Hurricane Katrina in Alabama, 
        Louisiana, and Mississippi;
            (2) local Centers under the Manufacturing Extension 
        Partnership program, with their small budgets, are overwhelmed 
        by the magnitude of the rebuilding efforts required after 
        Hurricane Katrina; and
            (3) rebuilding local manufacturing capabilities will employ 
        people and is essential to begin rebuilding the economy of the 
        areas affected by Hurricane Katrina.

SEC. 2. PROGRAM ESTABLISHMENT.

     Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
shall establish within the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program 
established under sections 25 and 26 of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k and 278l) a Katrina 
Assistance Program, to provide assistance to impacted small and medium-
sized manufacturers in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina.

SEC. 3. PURPOSES.

    The Katrina Assistance Program shall--
            (1) establish triage teams, consisting of personnel from 
        within the national network of Manufacturing Extension 
        Partnership Centers established under section 25 of the 
        National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 
        278k) and local experts, the purpose of which shall be to 
        assess the needs of impacted manufacturers;
            (2) develop virtual assistance centers, consisting of 
        databases incorporating the results and recommendations of the 
        triage team assessments;
            (3) assess the potential disruption on national 
        manufacturing supply chains as a result of Hurricane Katrina, 
        and develop recommendations of how to minimize such disruption; 
        and
            (4) assist small and medium-sized manufacturers in the 
        areas affected by Hurricane Katrina with--
                    (A) finding alternative sources for raw materials 
                or supplies;
                    (B) finding alternate locations to resume 
                operations;
                    (C) designing facilities and selecting equipment;
                    (D) making financial decisions with respect to 
                capital investments and rate of return calculations;
                    (E) conducting rebuilding studies; and
                    (F) any other needs of the impacted small and 
                medium-sized manufacturing community.

SEC. 4. NO MATCHING FUND REQUIREMENT.

    Assistance under the Program established under this Act shall be 
exempt from matching requirements for the Manufacturing Extension 
Partnership program under the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology Act.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of 
Commerce $60,000,000 for the Katrina Assistance Program established 
under this Act.

SEC. 6. BUILT ENVIRONMENT INVESTIGATION FOR HURRICANE KATRINA.

    (a) In General.--Under the authority provided by the National 
Construction Safety Team Act, the Director of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology shall carry out an engineering performance 
study of the effects of Hurricane Katrina in the areas of Louisiana, 
Alabama, and Mississippi covered by the President's major disaster 
declarations of August 29, 2005. The study shall be based on an 
examination of physical structures damaged due to excessive wind, storm 
surge, and flooding, including--
            (1) key physical infrastructures such as ports, utilities, 
        lifelines associated with infrastructure facilities, and 
        transportation systems; and
            (2) engineered and nonengineered buildings.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the study shall be to--
            (1) develop new knowledge concerning practices related to 
        building standards and codes; and
            (2) review the adequacy of current building codes and 
        standards for excessive wind, storm surge, and flooding.
    (c) Meetings and Conferences.--Consistent with the authority 
provided by the National Construction Safety Team Act, the Director of 
the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall convene public 
meetings and conferences to inform the public, government authorities, 
and relevant professional associations regarding findings and 
recommendations of the study.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Director of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology $3,000,000 for carrying out this section.
                                 <all>