[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3084 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3084

     To increase the competitiveness of United States businesses, 
particularly small and medium-sized manufacturing firms, in interstate 
  and global commerce, foster job creation in the United States, and 
 assist United States businesses in developing or expanding commercial 
activities in interstate and global commerce by expanding the ambit of 
   the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership program and the 
 Technology Innovation Program to include projects that have potential 
 for commercial exploitation in nondomestic markets, providing for an 
 increase in related resources of the Department of Commerce, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 5, 2010

 Ms. Klobuchar (for herself, Mr. LeMieux, Mrs. Shaheen, and Mr. Wyden) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
           Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
     To increase the competitiveness of United States businesses, 
particularly small and medium-sized manufacturing firms, in interstate 
  and global commerce, foster job creation in the United States, and 
 assist United States businesses in developing or expanding commercial 
activities in interstate and global commerce by expanding the ambit of 
   the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership program and the 
 Technology Innovation Program to include projects that have potential 
 for commercial exploitation in nondomestic markets, providing for an 
 increase in related resources of the Department of Commerce, 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. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Export Promotion Act of 2010''.

SEC. 2. HOLLINGS MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIPS; TECHNOLOGY 
              INNOVATION PROGRAM.

    (a) Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program.--Section 
25(f) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 
U.S.C. 278k(f)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(7) Global marketplace projects.--In making awards under 
        this subsection, the Director, in consultation with the 
        Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory Board and the 
        Secretary of Commerce, shall encourage the submission of 
        applications for projects that have significant potential for 
        increasing the competitiveness of small and medium-sized United 
        States manufacturers in the global marketplace and may give a 
        preference to applications for such projects to the extent the 
        Director deems appropriate, taking into account the broader 
        purposes of this subsection.''.
    (b) Technology Innovation Program.--In awarding grants, cooperative 
agreements, or contracts under section 28 of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278n), in addition to the award 
criteria set forth in subsection (c) of that section, the Director of 
the Institute may take into consideration whether an application has 
significant potential for enhancing the competitiveness of small and 
medium-sized United States manufacturers in the global marketplace, 
including promoting interstate commerce in the United States and 
increasing participation by United States businesses in the global 
marketplace. The Director shall consult with the TIP Advisory Board and 
the Secretary of Commerce in implementing this subsection.

SEC. 3. COMMERCE DEPARTMENT GLOBAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION 
              ACTIVITIES.

    (a) In General.--During the 60-month period beginning on the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall increase the 
number of full time departmental employees whose primary 
responsibilities involve promoting or facilitating participation by 
United States businesses in the global marketplace and facilitating the 
entry into, or expansion of, such participation by United States 
businesses. In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall ensure 
that--
            (1) the cohort of such employees is increased to a strength 
        that is not less than the number of individuals employed by the 
        Department with such responsibilities in fiscal year 2004; and
            (2) a substantial portion of the increased cohort is 
        stationed outside the United States.
    (b) Enhanced Focus on U.S. Small and Medium-Sized Manufacturing 
Businesses.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary of Commerce 
shall take such action as may be necessary to ensure that the enhanced 
global marketplace promotional activities of the Department include 
promoting and facilitating participation in the global marketplace by 
small and medium-sized manufacturing businesses.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary for fiscal years 2011 through 2015, such 
sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

SEC. 4. IMPROVED ACCESS TO GLOBAL MARKETS FOR RURAL BUSINESSES.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of 
Commerce $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2015 for the 
Department of Commerce's program to improve access to the global 
marketplace for goods and services provided by rural businesses.
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