I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4393 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 16, 2009 Mr. Peters (for himself, Mr. Ehlers, Mr. Dingell, Ms. DeLauro, Mr. Ryan of Ohio, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania, Mr. Holden, Mr. Costello, Ms. Kaptur, Mr. Wilson of Ohio, Mr. Stupak, Ms. Fudge, Ms. Markey of Colorado, Ms. Corrine Brown of Florida, Mr. Hare, Ms. Sutton, Mr. Schauer, Mr. Kildee, Mr. Carney, Mr. Camp, Mr. Inslee, Mr. Luetkemeyer, Mr. Dent, Mr. Miller of North Carolina, Mr. Fortenberry, Mrs. Miller of Michigan, Mr. Gingrey of Georgia, Mr. Rogers of Michigan, Mr. Courtney, Mr. Lipinski, Mr. Reyes, Mr. Welch, Mr. Filner, Mr. Tonko, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Carnahan, Mr. LaTourette, Ms. Kilpatrick of Michigan, Mr. Tim Murphy of Pennsylvania, Mr. Platts, and Mr. Minnick) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science and Technology A BILL To authorize the Secretary of Commerce to reduce the matching requirement for participants in the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program.

1.

Findings

Congress finds the following: (1)Manufacturing Extension Partnership services are available in all 50 States and at 392 locations. (2)The Manufacturing Extension Partnership delivers critical services to small and midsized manufacturers, providing access to public and private resources that enhance growth, improve productivity, and expand capacity. (3)The Manufacturing Extension Partnership helps manufacturers position themselves as strong long-term competitors in domestic and international markets. (4)Of the 7 million jobs lost in the recession as of February 2009, over 2 million were from the manufacturing sector, and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership reported creating or retaining over 57,000 manufacturing jobs in the most recent surveyed year. (5)The Manufacturing Extension Partnership has delivered $1.44 billion in cost savings annually and $10.5 billion in increased or retained sales in a single year. (6)Every dollar contributed by the Federal Government to the Manufacturing Extension Partnership is matched 2-to-1 by State and local governments and participating manufacturers. (7)The recession has strained many State budgets, and 23 State Manufacturing Extension Partnership Centers reported a decrease or elimination of State funding in 2009. (8)When a State decreases or eliminates funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, the cost-share burden is shifted to small manufacturers who are unlikely to be able to afford increased contributions during an economic downturn, and the availability of Manufacturing Extension Partnership services is jeopardized. (9)A reduction in the matching requirement for participants in the Manufacturing Extension Partnership will greatly alleviate the burden on State budgets and small manufacturers and preserve the Manufacturing Extension Partnership’s ability to provide critical services to small manufacturers and create much-needed jobs in the manufacturing sector.

2.

Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program

Section 25(c) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k(c)) is amended— (1)in paragraph (1), by inserting , unless otherwise determined under paragraph (3)(C) before the period at the end; (2)in paragraph (3)— (A)in subparagraph (B)— (i)by striking not less than 50 percent of the costs incurred for the first 3 years and an increasing share for each of the last 3 years and inserting the applicant’s share of the costs incurred (in this subsection referred to as cost share); and (ii)by striking For purposes of the preceding sentence, the and inserting The; (B)by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively; (C)by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new subparagraph: (C)The Secretary shall by rule establish appropriate criteria to be considered in determining a Center’s cost share. A Center’s cost share shall in no case exceed 50 percent of the costs incurred by such Center. The Secretary shall review each Center’s cost share annually and at such other times as the Secretary considers appropriate. An adjustment to a Center’s cost share in a year shall not affect the amount of Federal funds such Center receives in such year. ; and (D)in subparagraph (D), as redesignated by subparagraph (B)— (i)by striking 50 percent and inserting cost share; and (ii)by striking Center’s contribution and inserting Center’s cost share; and (3)in paragraph (5)— (A)in the 6th sentence, by striking at declining levels; and (B)in the last sentence— (i)by striking Funding and inserting Unless otherwise determined under paragraph (3)(C), funding; and (ii)by striking one third and inserting 50 percent.