[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1457 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1457

  To direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a Made In America 
              Block Grant Program, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             August 1, 2011

    Mrs. Gillibrand (for herself, Ms. Stabenow, and Mr. Whitehouse) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
           Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a Made In America 
              Block Grant 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. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Made In America Block Grant Program 
Act of 2011''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF MADE IN AMERICA BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall establish a Made 
In America Block Grant Program (in this Act referred to as the 
``program''), under which the Secretary may make grants to support the 
manufacturing industry in the United States.
    (b) Hollings Manufacturing Partnership Program.--To the degree 
practicable, the Secretary shall carry out the program through the 
Hollings Manufacturing Partnership Program.

SEC. 3. GRANTS.

    (a) Grant Uses.--A grant made by the Secretary of Commerce under 
the program shall be used by the recipient of the grant to assist, 
through grants made to third parties, any of the following activities:
            (1) Retooling or retrofitting a small- or medium-sized 
        manufacturer, including with respect to equipment, facilities, 
        infrastructure, or capital.
            (2) Diversifying the business plan of a small- or medium-
        sized manufacturer to advance the production of clean energy 
        technology products or components, energy efficient products or 
        components, high-technology products or components, or other 
        advanced products (as defined by the Secretary).
            (3) Improving the energy or process efficiency of a 
        manufacturing facility of a small- or medium-sized 
        manufacturer.
            (4) Retraining the employees of a small- or medium-sized 
        manufacturer to--
                    (A) provide skills necessary to operate new or 
                advanced manufacturing equipment; or
                    (B) sustain or improve the processes of that 
                manufacturer.
            (5) Training new employees of a small- or medium-sized 
        manufacturer, including through on-the-job training.
            (6) Providing capital and technical expertise to a small- 
        or medium-sized manufacturer to expand the export opportunities 
        of that manufacturer.
            (7) Establishing a revolving loan fund to provide loans to 
        small- or medium-sized manufacturers to finance the costs of 
        activities described in paragraphs (1) through (6).
            (8) Such other projects as the Secretary considers 
        appropriate to support the manufacturing industry of the United 
        States.
    (b) Eligible Entities.--
            (1) In general.--The following entities are eligible to 
        receive a grant under the program:
                    (A) A State meeting the requirements of paragraph 
                (2).
                    (B) A covered unit of local government meeting the 
                requirements of paragraph (2).
                    (C) An Indian tribe meeting the requirements of 
                paragraph (2).
                    (D) A State, unit of local government, Indian 
                tribe, or consortium of such entities without regard to 
                whether the requirements of paragraph (2) are met.
            (2) Unemployment.--An entity meets the requirements of this 
        paragraph if--
                    (A) the entity experienced a seasonally adjusted 
                unemployment rate of at least 10 percent for any 6 
                consecutive months during the period beginning on 
                January 1, 2007, and ending on December 31, 2010 (as 
                determined by the Secretary of Commerce in consultation 
                with the Secretary of Labor); or
                    (B) the entity experienced a cumulative decline in 
                employment in the manufacturing sector greater than or 
                equal to 15 percent during the period beginning on 
                January 1, 2007, and ending on December 31, 2010 (as 
                determined by the Secretary of Commerce in consultation 
                with the Secretary of Labor).
    (c) Allocation of Grant Funds.--In making grants each fiscal year, 
the Secretary may--
            (1) use not more than 48 percent of the amounts made 
        available for grants under the program that fiscal year to make 
        grants to entities described in subsection (b)(1)(A);
            (2) use not more than 48 percent of the amounts made 
        available for grants under the program that fiscal year to make 
        grants to entities described in subsection (b)(1)(B);
            (3) use not more than 2 percent of the amounts made 
        available for grants under the program that fiscal year to make 
        grants to entities described in subsection (b)(1)(C); and
            (4) use not more than 2 percent of the amounts made 
        available for grants under the program that fiscal year to make 
        grants to entities described in subsection (b)(1)(D).
    (d) Priority for Certain Entities.--In providing grants to entities 
described in subsection (b)(1)(D), the Secretary shall give priority to 
an entity that experienced a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate that 
was at least 97 percent of the national seasonally adjusted 
unemployment rate for any 3 consecutive months during the most recently 
completed fiscal year.
    (e) Prohibition on Grants to Certain Covered Units of Local 
Government.--A covered unit of local government may not receive a grant 
under the program if located within a State that has received a grant 
under the program.
    (f) Use of Funds in United States.--A manufacturer who receives an 
amount from an eligible entity under the program to carry out an 
activity may only use such funds to carry out such activity in the 
United States.

SEC. 4. REQUIREMENTS FOR GRANT RECIPIENTS.

    (a) Application Process.--To receive a grant under the program, an 
entity eligible for a grant under section 3(b) shall submit to the 
Secretary of Commerce an application at such time, in such manner, and 
containing such information as the Secretary may require, but which 
shall include at least the plan of that entity to carry out, through 
grants made to third parties, an activity described in section 3(a).
    (b) Proposed Manufacturing Enhancement Strategy.--Not later than 6 
months after the date on which an entity eligible for a grant under 
section 3(b) receives notice that it has been awarded a grant under the 
program, the entity shall submit to the Secretary a proposed 
manufacturing enhancement strategy, which shall include--
            (1) a description of the plans of the entity to make grants 
        to third parties with grant funds;
            (2) a description of the goals with respect to such grants, 
        including--
                    (A) the number of jobs to be created or retained by 
                third-party grant recipients;
                    (B) the sales to be increased or retained by third-
                party grant recipients;
                    (C) the cost savings to be achieved by third-party 
                grant recipients due to energy efficiency savings;
                    (D) the workforce training investments to be made 
                by third-party grant recipients, including--
                            (i) the number of training hours to be 
                        provided; and
                            (ii) a description of the nationally 
                        portable, industry recognized credentials or, 
                        if not available, other credentials, related to 
                        the targeted industry cluster that the eligible 
                        entity proposes to support, develop, or use as 
                        a performance measure, in order to carry out 
                        the goals of the entity with respect to the 
                        proposed manufacturing enhancement strategy;
                    (E) the amount of capital to be provided to small- 
                or medium-sized manufacturers to expand the export 
                opportunities of manufacturers; and
                    (F) private investments from the third party 
                recipients or affiliated private investors leveraged by 
                grant funding;
            (3) a written assurance that the entity intends to 
        establish a Made In America Partnership Board--
                    (A) to assist the entity in making grants to third 
                parties; and
                    (B) which shall be comprised of, to the extent 
                practicable, representatives of--
                            (i) economic development agencies of State 
                        and local governments;
                            (ii) departments of labor;
                            (iii) workforce investment boards and 
                        agencies;
                            (iv) institutions of higher education, 
                        including community colleges run by a State;
                            (v) economic development organizations;
                            (vi) chambers of commerce;
                            (vii) nonprofit organizations;
                            (viii) philanthropic organizations;
                            (ix) industry associations; and
                            (x) such other organizations or entities as 
                        the entity considers appropriate;
            (4) a description of the plans of the entity to foster, 
        through the Made In America Partnership Board, collaboration 
        between State and local economic development organizations and 
        agencies, State and local workforce development organizations 
        and agencies, small- or medium-sized manufacturers, and 
        institutions of higher education (including community colleges 
        run by a State) to--
                    (A) improve resource allocation; and
                    (B) ensure comprehensive counseling, technical 
                assistance, workforce development, and export 
                assistance are provided to small- or medium-sized 
                manufacturers.
    (c) Approval of Proposed Manufacturing Enhancement Strategies.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall approve or disapprove 
        a proposed manufacturing enhancement strategy submitted under 
        subsection (b) not later than 90 days after the date on which 
        the Secretary receives such strategy.
            (2) Disbursement of grant funds prohibited without 
        approval.--The Secretary shall not disburse to an entity 
        awarded a grant under the program the grant funds relating to 
        that grant until the proposed manufacturing enhancement 
        strategy of that entity has been approved by the Secretary.
            (3) Opportunity for resubmission.--If the Secretary does 
        not approve a proposed manufacturing enhancement strategy 
        submitted under subsection (b), the Secretary shall provide to 
        the entity that submitted the strategy--
                    (A) the reasons for disapproval; and
                    (B) an opportunity to revise and resubmit the 
                strategy until such strategy is approved.
    (d) Local Governments.--In developing a proposed manufacturing 
enhancement strategy under subsection (b), a covered unit of local 
government shall share information relating to potential grant 
activities with the State that includes that government to ensure the 
maximization of resources made available to small- or medium-sized 
manufacturers.
    (e) Coordination With Hollings Manufacturing Extension Centers.--
Each grant recipient shall, to the extent appropriate, coordinate with 
a Hollings Manufacturing Extension Center as a preferred provider of 
services to implement the manufacturing enhancement strategy of the 
recipient.
    (f) Workforce Training Investments.--
            (1) In general.--A recipient of a grant under the program 
        may not use more than half of the amount of the grant for 
        workforce training investments.
            (2) Training and retraining of employees.--Each grant 
        recipient shall, with respect to training new employees and 
        retraining employees of small- or medium-sized manufacturers, 
        help postsecondary educational institutions, training 
        institutions, apprenticeship programs, and other training 
        programs align curricula, entrance requirements, and programs 
        to industry demand and nationally portable, industry-recognized 
        credentials (or, if not available for the targeted industry, 
        other credentials, as the Secretary considers appropriate), 
        particularly for higher skill, high-priority occupations 
        validated by the industry.
    (g) Administrative Expenses.--With respect to a grant, a grant 
recipient may use for the administrative expenses of the recipient an 
amount that is not more than the greater of--
            (1) 10 percent of the grant amount received; or
            (2) $75,000.
    (h) Annual Reports.--Not later than one year after the date on 
which grant funds are received by a grant recipient under the program, 
and annually thereafter, the grant recipient shall submit to the 
Secretary a report describing--
            (1) grants made by the grant recipient to third parties 
        with grant funds;
            (2) achievements with respect to the goals identified in 
        the proposed manufacturing enhancement strategy of the grant 
        recipient; and
            (3) for each third party recipient, the achievements of 
        such third party with respect to relevant goals specified in 
        the proposed manufacturing enhancement strategy of the grant 
        recipient.

SEC. 5. STATE AND LOCAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

    The Secretary of Commerce shall establish an advisory committee to 
advise the Secretary with respect to implementing and evaluating the 
program, which shall be comprised of--
            (1) individuals representing State and local entities;
            (2) individuals representing small- or medium-sized 
        manufacturers; and
            (3) other individuals determined appropriate for inclusion 
        by the Secretary.

SEC. 6. REVIEW AND EVALUATION.

    (a) Grant Recipients.--The Secretary of Commerce may review and 
evaluate the performance of a grant recipient under the program as the 
Secretary determines appropriate.
    (b) Ineligibility for Future Grants.--The Secretary may determine a 
grant recipient to be ineligible to receive additional grants under the 
program if the Secretary determines that the grant recipient has failed 
to achieve compliance with--
            (1) any applicable guideline or regulation of the Secretary 
        relating to the program, including with respect to the misuse 
        or misappropriation of funds provided under the program; or
            (2) the proposed manufacturing enhancement strategy of the 
        grant recipient.

SEC. 7. GAO STUDY AND REPORT.

    (a) Study.--The Comptroller General shall conduct a study on the 
program, which shall include an analysis of--
            (1) grants made by the Secretary of Commerce under the 
        program;
            (2) grants made to third parties by the recipients of 
        grants made by the Secretary under the program;
            (3) outcomes relating to proposed manufacturing enhancement 
        strategies submitted to the Secretary;
            (4) administrative costs relating to the program;
            (5) activities of the Secretary, the recipients of grants 
        made by the Secretary, and third party grant recipients under 
        the program, including whether the activities of those entities 
        are accomplishing the purposes of this Act; and
            (6) other information determined appropriate by the 
        Comptroller General for assessing the performance and financial 
        accountability of the program.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date on which the 
Secretary makes the first grant under the program, and every 2 years 
thereafter, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report 
describing the results of the study conducted under subsection (a), 
which shall include any recommendations the Comptroller General 
determines are appropriate for modifying the program.
    (c) Access to Records.--
            (1) In general.--For purposes of conducting the study under 
        subsection (a), the Comptroller General, and any duly 
        authorized representative of the Comptroller General, shall be 
        permitted to access, examine, and copy any documents, records, 
        and other recorded information--
                    (A) within the possession or control of--
                            (i) the recipient of a grant made by the 
                        Secretary under the program; or
                            (ii) the recipient of a grant made by an 
                        entity described in clause (i) with grant 
                        funds; and
                    (B) determined by the Comptroller General, or the 
                duly authorized representative of the Comptroller 
                General, to be relevant to the study.
            (2) Proprietary information.--The Comptroller General may 
        not make proprietary information obtained under this section 
        available to the public without the consent of the party to 
        whom the information belongs.

SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Covered unit of local government.--The term ``covered 
        unit of local government'' means a unit of a government of--
                    (A) a municipality--
                            (i) with a population of at least 50,000 
                        individuals; or
                            (ii) with a population that is less than 
                        50,000 individuals, but that is one of the 10 
                        largest municipalities by population in the 
                        State including that municipality; or
                    (B) a county--
                            (i) with a population of at least 200,000 
                        individuals; or
                            (ii) with a population that is less than 
                        200,000 individuals, but that is one of the 10 
                        largest counties by population in the State 
                        including that county.
            (2) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' has the 
        meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
        Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).
            (3) Manufacturer.--The term ``manufacturer'' shall be 
        defined by the Secretary of Commerce in accordance with the 
        North American Industry Classification System.
            (4) Nationally portable.--The term ``nationally portable'', 
        with respect to a credential, means a credential that is sought 
        or accepted by businesses within the industry sector involved, 
        across multiple States, as a recognized, preferred, or required 
        credential for recruitment, screening, or hiring purposes.
            (5) Small- or medium-sized manufacturer.--The term ``small- 
        or medium-sized manufacturer'' means a manufacturer that is a 
        small business concern (as such term is defined in section 3 of 
        the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632)).
            (6) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the 50 States, 
        the District of Columbia, and any territory or possession of 
        the United States.

SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary of Commerce for making grants under the program such sums as 
may be necessary.
    (b) Administrative Expenses.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary for administrative expenses relating to 
the program such sums as may be necessary.
    (c) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that amounts 
made available to carry out the program should supplement and not 
supplant other funding provided by Federal departments and agencies to 
support the manufacturing industry.
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