[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1615 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1615

 To develop and recruit new, high-value jobs to the United States, to 
 encourage the repatriation of jobs that have been off-shored to other 
                   countries, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 30, 2013

  Mr. Warner introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
   referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To develop and recruit new, high-value jobs to the United States, to 
 encourage the repatriation of jobs that have been off-shored to other 
                   countries, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``America Recruits 
Act of 2013''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Inbound investment program to recruit jobs to the United 
                            States.
Sec. 4. United States Economic Competitiveness Commission.
Sec. 5. Improvements to Federal efforts to support job creation in 
                            manufacturing and services sectors.
Sec. 6. Utilization of industry-approved certification assessments and 
                            standards to improve education and training 
                            program performance.
Sec. 7. Feasibility assessment for manufacturing capacity improvement 
                            partnership.
Sec. 8. Surveys of United States corporations with manufacturing 
                            facilities or customer service centers 
                            located in foreign countries.
Sec. 9. National Academy of Sciences recommendations for improving 
                            advanced manufacturing.
Sec. 10. Assessment of distortive economic policies.
Sec. 11. Limitation on Government printing costs.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    (a) In General.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) Between 1971 and 2011, the United States share of 
        manufacturing output as a percentage of the world total has 
        dropped by almost 10 percent, with 50 percent of this decline 
        occurring during the last decade.
            (2) Manufacturing has been a source of good jobs and has 
        historically provided wages and benefits nine percent above the 
        average for American workers.
            (3) The number of manufacturing sites in the United States 
        fell from 397,552 in 2001 to 344,352 by June 2010, leaving more 
        than 50,000 factories far below capacity or vacant.
            (4) In 2010, the trade deficit of the United States in 
        manufactured products with advanced technology was over 
        $81,000,000,000.
            (5) The percentage of Americans working in manufacturing 
        fell from 12.5 percent in 1998 to 8.9 percent in 2008, and is 
        expected to decline to 7.4 percent by 2018.
            (6) United States service industries, including information 
        technology, financial services, professional and business 
        services, transportation and logistics, utilities, and others 
        employ more than 90,000,000 Americans and have enjoyed 
        significant growth over the last decade.
            (7) The unemployment rate in the United States has been 
        greater than 8 percent since January 2009.
            (8) Exports currently support more than \1/3\ of United 
        States manufacturing jobs and more than $500,000,000,000 in 
        services exports. The earnings of Americans who work for firms 
        that export are more than 15 percent higher than those of 
        similar workers at firms that do not export.
            (9) Ninety-five percent of the world's consumers of goods 
        and services live outside the United States.
            (10) To create the next generation of high-value jobs and 
        to be competitive in the global marketplace, we need to expand 
        the capacity of the manufacturing and traded services sectors 
        to support exports.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that Congress 
should--
            (1) take action to help companies create new manufacturing 
        and services jobs in the United States, including an inbound 
        investment program which would provide matching funds to States 
        that seek to recruit companies to locate in their State;
            (2) encourage expedited consideration of export financing 
        for companies that are already working with the Federal 
        Government to increase their export capacity;
            (3) ensure industry-approved certification assessments and 
        standards are established for providers of education and 
        workforce training programs in manufacturing and information 
        technology;
            (4) establish policies that enable lawmakers to better 
        understand the challenges facing American manufacturing, 
        including--
                    (A) metrics that measure the success of onshoring 
                and manufacturing-related programs;
                    (B) baseline and annual targets for high-value job 
                creation and job repatriation; and
                    (C) improvements to existing surveys of companies 
                with overseas facilities;
            (5) establish an independent United States Economic 
        Competitiveness Commission to provide ongoing assessments of 
        the competitiveness of the United States in key sectors;
            (6) further exercise its oversight role by asking the 
        National Academy of Sciences to assess the effectiveness of 
        Federal research and development funding and programs that 
        support advanced manufacturing; and
            (7) call upon the independent United States International 
        Trade Commission and the Government Accountability Office to 
        contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of distortive 
        or discriminatory economic policies in global markets in order 
        to better support and assist United States companies.

SEC. 3. INBOUND INVESTMENT PROGRAM TO RECRUIT JOBS TO THE UNITED 
              STATES.

    (a) Program Required.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall establish a 
program to award grants to States that are recruiting high-value jobs. 
Grants awarded under this section may be used to issue forgivable loans 
to eligible entities that are deciding whether to locate eligible 
facilities in foreign countries or in the United States to assist such 
entities in locating such facilities in rural or distressed areas.
    (b) Federal Grants to States.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out the program 
        through the award of grants to States to provide loans 
        described in subsection (c).
            (2) Application.--
                    (A) In general.--A State seeking a grant under the 
                program shall submit an application to the Secretary in 
                such manner and containing such information as the 
                Secretary may require. Once the program is operational, 
                any State may apply for a grant on an ongoing basis, 
                until funds are exhausted. The Secretary may also 
                establish a process for pre-clearing applications from 
                States. The Secretary shall notify all States of this 
                grant opportunity once the program is operational. All 
                information about the program and the State application 
                process must be online and must be in a format that is 
                easily understood and is widely accessible.
                    (B) Elements.--Each application submitted by a 
                State under subparagraph (A) shall include--
                            (i) a description of the eligible entity 
                        the State proposes to assist in locating an 
                        eligible facility in a rural or distressed area 
                        of the State;
                            (ii) a description of such facility, 
                        including the number of high-value jobs 
                        relating to such facility;
                            (iii) a description of such rural or 
                        distressed area;
                            (iv) a description of the resources of the 
                        State that the State has committed to assisting 
                        such corporation in locating such facility, 
                        including tax incentives provided, bonding 
                        authority exercised, and land granted; and
                            (v) such other elements as the Secretary 
                        considers appropriate.
                    (C) Notice.--As soon as practicable after 
                establishing the program under subsection (a), the 
                Secretary shall notify all States of the grants 
                available under the program and the process for 
                applying for such grants.
                    (D) Online submission of applications.--The 
                Secretary shall establish a mechanism for the 
                electronic submission of applications under 
                subparagraph (A). Such mechanism shall utilize an 
                Internet website and all information on such website 
                shall be in a format that is easily understood and 
                widely accessible.
                    (E) Confidentiality.--The Secretary may not make 
                public any information submitted by a State to the 
                Secretary under this paragraph regarding the efforts of 
                such State to assist an eligible entity in locating an 
                eligible facility in such State without the express 
                consent of the State.
            (3) Selection.--The Secretary shall award grants under the 
        program on a competitive basis to States that--
                    (A) the Secretary determines are most likely to 
                succeed with a grant under the program in assisting an 
                eligible entity in locating an eligible facility in a 
                rural or distressed area;
                    (B) if successful in assisting an eligible entity 
                as described in subparagraph (A), will create the 
                greatest number of high-value jobs in rural or 
                distressed areas;
                    (C) have committed significant resources, to the 
                extent of their ability as determined by the Secretary, 
                to assisting eligible entities in locating eligible 
                facilities in a rural or distressed areas; or
                    (D) meet such other criteria as the Secretary 
                considers appropriate, including criteria relating to 
                marketing plans, benefits to ongoing regional or State 
                strategies for economic development, and job growth.
            (4) Limitation on competition between states.--The 
        Secretary may not award a grant to a State under the program to 
        assist an eligible entity in locating an eligible facility in 
        such State if another State is seeking to assist such eligible 
        entity in locating such eligible facility in such other State.
            (5) Availability of grant amounts.--For each grant awarded 
        to a State under the program, the Secretary shall make 
        available to such State the amount of such grant not later than 
        30 days after the date on which the Secretary awarded the 
        grant. The total amount of grants awarded under this program 
        may not exceed $100,000,000.
    (c) Loans From States to Corporations.--
            (1) In general.--Amounts received by a State under the 
        program shall be used to provide assistance to an eligible 
        entity to locate an eligible facility in a rural or distressed 
        area of the State.
            (2) Loans.--A State receiving a grant under the program 
        shall provide assistance under paragraph (1) in the form of a 
        single loan to a single eligible entity as described in 
        paragraph (1) to cover the costs incurred by the eligible 
        entity in locating the eligible facility as described in such 
        paragraph.
            (3) Loan terms and conditions.--Each loan provided under 
        paragraph (2) shall have a term of 5 years and shall bear 
        interest at rates equal to the Federal long-term rate under 
        section 1274(d)(1)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
            (4) Amount.--The amount of a loan issued to an eligible 
        entity under the program for the location of an eligible 
        facility shall be an amount equal to not more than $5,000 per 
        full-time equivalent employee to be employed at such facility.
            (5) Repayment.--Repayment of a loan issued by a State to an 
        eligible entity under the program shall be repaid in accordance 
        with such schedule as the State shall establish in accordance 
        with such rules as the Secretary shall prescribe for purposes 
        of the program. Such rules shall provide for the following:
                    (A) Forgiveness of all or a portion of the loan, 
                the amount of such forgiveness depending upon the 
                following:
                            (i) The performance of the borrower.
                            (ii) The number or quality of the jobs at 
                        the facility located under the program.
                    (B) Repayment of principal or interest, if any, at 
                the end of the term of the loan.
    (d) Existing Office.--To the degree practicable, the Secretary 
shall carry out the program through an office of the Department of 
Commerce that existed on the day before the date of the enactment of 
this Act.
    (e) Assessment and Recommendations.--
            (1) Ongoing assessment.--The Secretary shall conduct an 
        ongoing assessment of the program.
            (2) Recommendations.--The Secretary may submit to Congress 
        recommendations for such legislative action as the Secretary 
        considers appropriate to improve the program, including with 
        respect to any findings of the Secretary derived by comparing 
        the program established under subsection (a) with the programs 
        and policies of governments of other countries used to recruit 
        high-value jobs.
    (f) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Distressed.--The term ``distressed'', with respect to 
        an area, means an area in the United States that, on the date 
        on which the program is established under subsection (a)--
                    (A) is included in the most recent classification 
                of labor surplus areas by the Secretary of Labor; and
                    (B) has an unemployment rate equal to or great than 
                110 percent of the unemployment rate of the United 
                States.
            (2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means an 
        entity that employs not fewer than 50 full-time equivalent 
        employees in high-value jobs.
            (3) Eligible facility.--The term ``eligible facility'' 
        means a facility at which--
                    (A) an eligible entity employs not fewer than 50 
                full-time equivalent employees in high-value jobs;
                    (B) with respect to a rural or distressed area, the 
                mean of the wages provided by the eligible entity to 
                individuals employed at such facility is greater than 
                the mean wage for the county in which the rural or 
                distressed area is located; and
                    (C) the facility derives at least the majority of 
                its revenues from--
                            (i) goods production; or
                            (ii) providing product design, engineering, 
                        marketing, or information technology services.
            (4) High-value job defined.--The term ``high-value job'' 
        means a job that--
                    (A) exists within an eligible facility; and
                    (B) has a North American Industrial Classification 
                that corresponds with manufacturing, software 
                publishers, computer systems design, or related codes, 
                and is higher than the mean hourly wage in the country.
            (5) Rural.--The term ``rural'', with respect to an area, 
        means any area in the United States which, as confirmed by the 
        latest decennial census, is not located within--
                    (A) a city, town, or incorporated area that has a 
                population of greater than 20,000 inhabitants; or
                    (B) an urbanized area contiguous and adjacent to a 
                city or town that has a population of greater than 
                50,000 inhabitants.

SEC. 4. UNITED STATES ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS COMMISSION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established a commission to be known 
as the ``United States Economic Competitiveness Commission'' (referred 
to in this section as the ``Commission'').
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) Composition.--The Commission shall be composed of 12 
        members appointed as follows:
                    (A) Three members appointed by the majority leader 
                of the Senate.
                    (B) Three members appointed by the minority leader 
                of the Senate.
                    (C) Three members appointed by the Speaker of the 
                House of Representatives.
                    (D) Three members appointed by the minority leader 
                of the House of Representatives.
            (2) Deadline for appointment.--Each member of the 
        Commission shall be appointed not later than 180 days after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act.
            (3) Terms.--Each member of the Commission shall be 
        appointed for a term of 2 years and may serve not more than 3 
        terms.
            (4) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the Commission shall not 
        affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner in 
        which the original appointment was made.
            (5) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at least once each 
        month at the call of the chairperson or a majority of its 
        members. The Commission shall hold at least 1 meeting in 
        corporation in each of 6 months per year.
            (6) Quorum.--Eight members of the Commission shall 
        constitute a quorum, except that if a majority of members in 
        the quorum have been appointed by a leader of the same 
        political party, the quorum shall include not fewer than 3 
        members appointed by a leader of the other political party.
            (7) Chairperson and vice chairperson.--The Commission shall 
        elect a chairperson and vice chairperson from among its 
        members. The term of office of the chairperson and vice 
        chairperson shall be 2 years.
    (c) Duties.--
            (1) Ongoing assessment of united states competitiveness.--
                    (A) Assessment required.--The Commission shall 
                conduct an ongoing independent assessment of the 
                competitiveness of the United States in the global 
                economy in order to offer recommendations to the 
                Government for the improvement of United States 
                competitiveness over time.
                    (B) Elements.--In carrying out the assessment 
                required by subparagraph (A), the Commission shall, on 
                an ongoing basis--
                            (i) assess the competitiveness of the 
                        United States in all sectors of the global 
                        economy, including sectors relating to 
                        manufacturing, aerospace, communications, 
                        information technology, energy, life sciences, 
                        biotechnology, and such other sectors as the 
                        Commission considers appropriate;
                            (ii) identify, including through use of the 
                        Technology Database Mapping Program developed 
                        under paragraph (2)--
                                    (I) markets (including anticipated 
                                markets) for new and developing 
                                technologies in each sector of the 
                                global economy; and
                                    (II) new and developing process 
                                technologies, including manufacturing 
                                process technologies that can be used 
                                by United States corporations to gain a 
                                competitive advantage in such sectors 
                                of the global economy; and
                            (iii) identify measures to take advantage 
                        of the markets and technologies identified 
                        under subclauses (I) and (II) of clause (ii), 
                        respectively, to give the United States a 
                        competitive advantage in such sectors of the 
                        global economy, including, as appropriate, 
                        measures to encourage and facilitate the 
                        development, acquisition, and use of 
                        technologies described in such subclauses.
            (2) Technology database mapping program.--The Commission 
        shall develop a detailed, accurate, and comprehensive computer 
        program database, to be known as the ``Technology Database 
        Mapping Program'', to identify and keep track of new and 
        developing technologies described in subclauses (I) and (II) of 
        paragraph (1)(B)(ii).
            (3) Repository.--The Commission shall serve as an 
        independent repository for information about technological 
        developments in global markets.
            (4) Reports.--
                    (A) Periodic reports.--The Commission shall submit 
                to Congress, at such periodic frequency as the 
                Commission considers appropriate, a report on the 
                competitiveness of the United States in the global 
                economy.
                    (B) Elements.--Each report submitted pursuant to 
                subparagraph (A) shall include the following:
                            (i) The findings of the Commission with 
                        respect to the most recent assessment carried 
                        out pursuant to clause (i) of paragraph (1)(B).
                            (ii) A description of the markets and 
                        technologies identified pursuant to clause (ii) 
                        of such paragraph.
                            (iii) A description of the measures 
                        identified pursuant to clause (iii) of such 
                        paragraph and any factors affecting the 
                        implementation of such measures, including 
                        factors relating to the following:
                                    (I) Proposed trade agreements and 
                                the enforcement of existing trade 
                                agreements.
                                    (II) Taxation.
                                    (III) Government procurement and 
                                Government regulations.
                                    (IV) The United States patent 
                                system.
                                    (V) Intellectual property laws and 
                                the enforcement of such laws.
                                    (VI) Education, including 
                                vocational training.
                                    (VII) Research and development 
                                programs.
                                    (VIII) Infrastructure development, 
                                with emphasis on improvements necessary 
                                to attract new jobs.
                            (iv) Recommendations for national 
                        priorities for advanced research projects for 
                        industries of the future.
                    (C) Ad hoc reports.--The Commission shall submit to 
                Congress such other reports as are requested by members 
                of Congress or congressional committees.
    (d) Powers of Commission.--
            (1) Hearings and evidence.--The Commission may hold such 
        hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such 
        testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission 
        considers advisable to carry out this section. The Commission 
        may administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing 
        before it.
            (2) Powers of members and agents.--Any member or agent of 
        the Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take any 
        action which the Commission is authorized to take under this 
        section.
            (3)  Information from federal agencies.--The Commission may 
        secure directly from any Federal department or agency such 
        information as the Commission considers necessary to enable it 
        to carry out this section. Upon request of the chairperson of 
        the Commission, the head of such department or agency shall, to 
        the extent authorized by law, furnish such information to the 
        Commission.
            (4) Postal services.--The Commission may use the United 
        States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions 
        as other departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
            (5) Gifts, bequests, and devises.--The Commission may 
        accept, use, and dispose of gifts, bequests, or devises of 
        services or property, both real and personal, for the purpose 
        of aiding or facilitating the work of the Commission. Gifts, 
        bequests, or devises of money and proceeds from sales of other 
        property received as gifts, bequests, or devises shall be 
        deposited in the Treasury of the United States and shall be 
        available for disbursement upon order of the chairperson of the 
        Commission.
            (6) Administrative support services.--Upon the request of 
        the Commission, the Administrator of the General Services 
        Administration shall provide to the Commission, on a 
        reimbursable basis, the administrative support services 
        necessary for the Commission to carry out its responsibilities 
        under this section.
            (7) Contract authority.--To the extent or in the amounts 
        provided in advance in appropriation Acts, the Commission may 
        contract with and compensate government and private agencies or 
        corporations to enable the Commission to discharge its duties 
        under this section.
    (e) Commission Personnel Matters.--
            (1) Service without pay.--The members of the Commission 
        shall serve without pay.
            (2) Travel expenses.--Each member shall receive travel 
        expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in 
        accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter I of 
        chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.
            (3) Staff.--
                    (A) Director.--
                            (i) In general.--Subject to subparagraph 
                        (C) and to the extent provided in advance in 
                        appropriation Acts, the Commission shall 
                        appoint and fix the compensation of a director.
                            (ii) Duties.--The director of the 
                        Commission shall be responsible for the 
                        administration and coordination of the duties 
                        of the Commission and shall perform such other 
                        duties as the Commission may direct.
                    (B) Staff.--In accordance with rules agreed upon by 
                the Commission, subject to subparagraph (C), and to the 
                extent provided in advance in appropriation Acts, the 
                director may appoint and fix the compensation of such 
                additional personnel as may be necessary to enable the 
                Commission to carry out its duties.
                    (C) Applicability of certain civil service laws.--
                The director and staff of the Commission may be 
                appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5, 
                United States Code, governing appointments in the 
                competitive service and may be compensated without 
                regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter 
                III of chapter 53 of such title relating to 
                classification and General Schedule pay rates, except 
                that--
                            (i) compensation fixed under subparagraph 
                        (A)(i) may not exceed $150,000 per year; and
                            (ii) compensation fixed under subparagraph 
                        (B) may not exceed a rate equal to the daily 
                        equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay for 
                        level V of the Executive Schedule.
            (4) Experts and consultants.--In accordance with rules 
        agreed upon by the Commission and to the extent provided in 
        advance in appropriation Acts, the director may procure the 
        services of experts and consultants under section 3109(b) of 
        title 5, United States Code, but at rates for individuals not 
        to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay 
        for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of 
        such title.
            (5) Detail of government employees.--Upon request of the 
        Commission, the head of any Federal department or agency may 
        detail, without reimbursement from the Commission, any of the 
        personnel of that department or agency to the Commission to 
        assist it in carrying out its duties under this section. Such 
        detailee shall retain the rights, status, and privileges of 
        their regular employment without interruption.
    (f) Termination.--The authority for the Commission provided in this 
section shall terminate and the Commission shall be dissolved on 
September 30, 2017.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $1,000,000 for each of the 
fiscal years 2014 through 2018.

SEC. 5. IMPROVEMENTS TO FEDERAL EFFORTS TO SUPPORT JOB CREATION IN 
              MANUFACTURING AND SERVICES SECTORS.

    (a) Baseline and Annual Targets.--Each year, the Secretary of 
Commerce shall establish a baseline and target levels for--
            (1) high-value job creation and high-value job growth in 
        United States manufacturing and information technology; and
            (2) repatriating high-value jobs to the United States.
    (b) Recommendations To Encourage Repatriation of High-Value Jobs.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall, in 
        consultation with relevant Federal agencies, develop 
        recommendations for such executive or legislative action as the 
        Secretary considers appropriate--
                    (A) to expand the scope of high-value jobs 
                performed by companies in the United States in order to 
                create new jobs in the United States, including 
                efforts--
                            (i) to serve the United States domestic 
                        market;
                            (ii) to increases exports from the United 
                        States to overseas; and
                            (iii) to identify and support developments 
                        in emerging sectors;
                    (B) to expand the scope of engineering work 
                performed by companies in the United States in order to 
                create new jobs in the United States, including efforts 
                described in subparagraph (A);
                    (C) to assess--
                            (i) the effectiveness of current laws on 
                        companies based in the United States in terms 
                        of the effect on marginal decisions on where to 
                        locate capacity expansions; and
                            (ii) if United States domestic or global 
                        growth occurs, how can legislation facilitate 
                        United States-based companies expanding their 
                        United States-based manufacturing, not solely 
                        their foreign-based manufacturing operations; 
                        and
                    (D) to encourage United States corporations with 
                production or services located in a foreign country to 
                repatriate such production or services to the United 
                States, including foreign earnings, for the purpose of 
                increasing investment and job creation in the United 
                States.
            (2) Elements.--The recommendations required by paragraph 
        (1) shall include the following:
                    (A) An assessment of the effectiveness of current 
                law in encouraging the repatriation of foreign earnings 
                to the United States and in investing foreign earnings 
                in the United States, including an estimate of the loss 
                of revenue to the United States from any existing 
                policies.
                    (B) An assessment of the feasibility and 
                advisability of additional legislative action to 
                encourage the repatriation of manufacturing production 
                or services to the United States.
                    (C) An estimate of the potential impacts of the 
                legislative action described in subparagraph (B).
                    (D) Development of recommendations regarding 
                legislative action described in subparagraph (B).
            (3) Report.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the 
                date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
                Commerce shall submit to Congress the recommendations 
                required by paragraph (1).
                    (B) Publication.--Upon submission of the report 
                pursuant to subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall make 
                such report available to the public.
    (c) Establishment of Repatriation Task Forces.--
            (1) Establishment.--The Secretary of Commerce may establish 
        such task forces as the Secretary considers necessary to meet 
        the baseline and target levels established under subsection (a) 
        and, to the extent possible, implement the recommendations 
        issued under subsection (b).
            (2) Cooperation.--To the degree practicable, each task 
        force established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall cooperate 
        with--
                    (A) the President's Council on Innovation and 
                Competitiveness in the development of the agenda 
                required by section 1006(d)(1) of the America COMPETES 
                Act (15 U.S.C. 3718(d)(1)); and
                    (B) other relevant efforts to improve United States 
                competitiveness.
            (3) Membership.--Each task force established pursuant to 
        paragraph (1) shall be composed of members appointed by the 
        Secretary as follows:
                    (A) At least 1 representative of each of the 
                following:
                            (i) The Office of the Secretary of 
                        Commerce.
                            (ii) The Economic Development 
                        Administration.
                            (iii) The International Trade 
                        Administration.
                            (iv) The United States Patent and Trademark 
                        Office.
                            (v) The National Institute of Standards and 
                        Technology.
                            (vi) The Bureau of Industry and Security.
                    (B) Not fewer than 3 representatives of the private 
                sector, including different industries representing the 
                manufacturing sector, as the Secretary considers 
                appropriate.
            (4) Duties.--Each task force established pursuant to 
        paragraph (1) shall--
                    (A) identify United States corporations with 
                production or services located in a foreign country 
                that are interested in repatriating goods or services 
                production to the United States;
                    (B) identify the unique needs of each corporation 
                described in subparagraph (A) that are necessary to 
                facilitate repatriation;
                    (C) advise and assist corporations described in 
                subparagraph (A) and State and local governments to 
                promote and facilitate repatriation opportunities;
                    (D) act as an impartial advocate for all State and 
                local governments choosing to compete for facilities or 
                jobs being repatriated;
                    (E) to the maximum extent practicable, work with 
                Federal agencies to provide the technical assistance 
                necessary to corporations described in subparagraph (A) 
                and State and local governments to facilitate the 
                repatriation of facilities or jobs to the United 
                States;
                    (F) educate corporations described in subparagraph 
                (A) and State and local governments on--
                            (i) each task force established pursuant to 
                        paragraph (1); and
                            (ii) all Federal assistance available to 
                        facilitate repatriation of facilities and jobs 
                        relating to the manufacturing and information 
                        technology sectors;
                    (G) identify Federal policies and regulations 
                that--
                            (i) encourage the offshoring of United 
                        States manufacturing and information technology 
                        jobs or facilities; or
                            (ii) that discourage repatriation of such 
                        jobs or facilities; and
                    (H) work closely with the President and relevant 
                agencies to change the policies and regulations 
                identified pursuant to subparagraph (G) to discourage 
                offshoring of United States manufacturing and traded 
                services and to encourage the repatriation of 
                manufacturing and services.
    (d) Nonduplication of Efforts.--In carrying out the requirements of 
this section, the Secretary shall, to the degree practicable, 
coordinate with any existing efforts to improve the competitiveness of 
the United States in the global economy and to strengthen the 
manufacturing and information technology-related sectors of the United 
States.
    (e) High-Value Job Defined.--In this section, the term ``high-value 
job'' has the meaning given the term in section 3(f).

SEC. 6. UTILIZATION OF INDUSTRY-APPROVED CERTIFICATION ASSESSMENTS AND 
              STANDARDS TO IMPROVE EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM 
              PERFORMANCE.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Commerce, in cooperation with the 
Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Education, and the heads of other 
relevant Federal agencies and industry partners, shall take such 
actions as may be necessary to ensure that industry-approved 
certification assessments and standards are established and available 
to providers of education and training programs in manufacturing and 
information technology not later than 2 years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act in order to improve the performance of training 
programs and to ensure that individuals who complete such training have 
the skills necessary to enter high-skill, high-demand occupations in 
manufacturing and information technology.
    (b) Activities.--To ensure that education and training providers 
have access to industry-approved certification assessments and 
standards pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary of Commerce shall--
            (1) create an initial list of high-skill, high-demand 
        manufacturing and information technology occupations where 
        academically accredited degrees are not required for job 
        entrance;
            (2) catalogue existing current, industry-approved training 
        and education program standards that have accompanying 
        objective certification assessments, which may be the products 
        of Federal agencies, State agencies, local workforce investment 
        boards, community and technical colleges, apprenticeships, 
        industry associations, or localized industry formations within 
        or across States or education organizations, or any other 
        institution the Secretary considers appropriate;
            (3) identify industry-approved training and education 
        program standards that do not have a certification assessment 
        to measure the competency of those completing training, and 
        where such assessments do not exist, work with relevant Federal 
        agencies, State agencies, education and training organizations, 
        and representatives of affected industries and industry-
        approved skills standards accrediting bodies to create 
        objective certification assessments for industries that have 
        substantial current or future employment, as determined by the 
        Secretary;
            (4) identify training and education programs that do not 
        implement industry-approved standards and accompanying 
        certification assessments, and where neither standards nor 
        assessments exist, work with relevant Federal agencies, State 
        agencies, education and training organizations, and 
        representatives of the affected industries and industry-
        approved skills standards accrediting bodies to create 
        industry-recognized standards and objective certification 
        assessments for industries that have substantial current or 
        future employment, as determined by the Secretary;
            (5) include within the catalogue required by paragraph (2) 
        any training or education program standards or certification 
        assessments created under paragraph (3) or (4); and
            (6) not less frequently than once every 3 years, review the 
        catalogue required by paragraph (2) to ensure training and 
        education programs and accompanying certification assessments 
        are current and continue to have industry-approval, and in any 
        case in which training and education programs have lost 
        industry-approval, work with the effected industries, related 
        Federal agencies, and education and training organizations--
                    (A) to identify existing standards and assessments 
                that are appropriate; or
                    (B) to create them.
    (c) Performance Evaluations.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall evaluate the 
        assessments and standards described in subsection (a) by 
        assessing--
                    (A) how accurately the assessments described in 
                such subsection measure the competency of workers who 
                have completed education and training programs 
                described in such subsection; and
                    (B) the satisfaction of manufacturing and 
                information technology companies with the quality of 
                such assessments and standards.
            (2) Collection of data.--In evaluating assessments and 
        standards under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall work with 
        relevant agencies and industry organizations to collect the 
        following data:
                    (A) The number of students taking each occupational 
                assessment annually.
                    (B) The number of students demonstrating competency 
                on each assessment on the first, second, or third 
                attempt, annually.
                    (C) The number of assessed students employed in the 
                occupation for which they were trained.
            (3) Annual survey.--Not less frequently than once each 
        year, the Secretary shall carry out a survey, through an 
        existing annual industry survey if practicable, of a sample of 
        manufacturing and information technology firms to assess--
                    (A) satisfaction with the assessments and standards 
                described in subsection (a); and
                    (B) labor shortages by each high-skill, high-demand 
                occupation.
            (4) Publication of results.--Not less frequently than once 
        each year, the Secretary shall publish the results of the 
        evaluations carried out under paragraph (1) and the surveys 
        carried out under paragraph (3). In publishing such results, 
        the Secretary shall disaggregate data by State and where 
        possible by county, State and local workforce investment board, 
        and training or education provider.
    (d) Seal.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
establish a Department of Commerce Certification of Excellence that the 
Secretary shall make available to education and training providers that 
use the assessments and standards described in such subsection and who 
show strong evidence of success in placing students in the occupations 
for which they were trained. If the Secretary establishes a seal or 
indicator under this subsection, the Secretary shall establish a 
process for revocation of the seal if the quality of the assessment is 
not maintained.
    (e) Innovation Awards.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary 
may collaborate with relevant Federal agencies to issue awards to 
providers of training and education programs described in subsection 
(a) to encourage innovative and promising practices for the purpose of 
developing, improving, and implementing the most successful methods for 
addressing the education and training needs of participants in career 
and technical education programs, including through existing programs 
at such agencies.

SEC. 7. FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENT FOR MANUFACTURING CAPACITY IMPROVEMENT 
              PARTNERSHIP.

    (a) Assessment and Evaluation.--Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, in 
consultation with the President of the Export-Import Bank of the United 
States, shall--
            (1) assess the feasibility and advisability of creating a 
        partnership to improve the manufacturing capacity of the United 
        States; and
            (2) evaluate options for integration of global business 
        development activities of United States companies into existing 
        Federal programs that facilitate participation by United States 
        businesses in the global marketplace.
    (b) Report.--The Secretary of Commerce shall submit a report to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate that 
contains the results of the assessment and evaluation carried out under 
subsection (a).

SEC. 8. SURVEYS OF UNITED STATES CORPORATIONS WITH MANUFACTURING 
              FACILITIES OR CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTERS LOCATED IN FOREIGN 
              COUNTRIES.

    (a) Improvements to Surveys Carried Out by Bureau of Economic 
Analysis.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, in 
        cooperation with other Federal agencies, shall improve existing 
        annual surveys and 5-year benchmark surveys conducted by the 
        Bureau of Economic Analysis to gather information about all 
        companies in the United States that own or operate 
        manufacturing or information technology facilities, including 
        customer service facilities outside of the United States, to 
        identify--
                    (A) the dollar value of products manufactured or 
                information technology provided at such facilities by 
                category and by type of product or service;
                    (B) the total employment at such facilities, 
                disaggregated by type of activity or occupation, 
                including the number of full-time employees, part-time 
                employees, contractors, and any other personnel not 
                included on payroll which contribute to such facility;
                    (C) information relevant to geolocate such 
                facilities within the supply chain; and
                    (D) such other information as the Secretary 
                considers may assist in the development of such 
                surveys.
            (2) Standardization.--
                    (A) In general.--In improving surveys as required 
                by paragraph (1), the Secretary shall establish a 
                policy to ensure that the findings of the Secretary 
                with respect to each such survey, across all types of 
                companies, use standardized data elements, models, and 
                outcome-based analysis in a manner that assists the 
                Federal Government in better tracking data gathered by 
                the surveys described in such paragraph.
                    (B) North american industry classification 
                system.--The policy established under subparagraph (A) 
                may include requirements for the use of the North 
                American Industry Classification System and related 
                product classification systems developed by the Bureau 
                of the Census.
            (3) Coordination.--The Secretary shall require the Director 
        of the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Director of the Bureau 
        of the Census, the Director of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 
        and such other heads of bureaus, offices, and agencies of the 
        Department of Commerce and other Federal agencies that are 
        responsible for collecting and analyzing data relevant to the 
        surveys described in paragraph (1) to share aggregate-level 
        data with each entity collecting data in support of the survey 
        or as part of the surveys described in paragraph (1).
            (4) Use of technology for more efficient data collection.--
        To the degree practicable, the Secretary shall use technology 
        to increase the efficiency of data collected for the surveys 
        described in paragraph (1).
    (b) Database.--The Secretary shall make available all of the 
aggregate-level data generated through the surveys described in 
subsection (a)(1) to--
            (1) the Data.gov Internet website, or any successor Federal 
        Internet website that centralizes Government-wide data and 
        statistics or seeks to improve the performance of the Federal 
        Government; and
            (2) the Internet website of the Department of Commerce.
    (c) Reports.--
            (1) Findings and analysis.--The Secretary shall submit to 
        Congress the findings and analysis of the Secretary with 
        respect to the surveys improved under subsection (a) along with 
        other reports the Secretary is otherwise required to submit to 
        Congress.
            (2) Recommendations.--As soon as practicable after the date 
        of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 
        Congress specific short-term and long-term recommendations 
        regarding--
                    (A) longitudinal trends in United States 
                manufacturing and the creation or repatriation of 
                manufacturing and information technology jobs to the 
                United States;
                    (B) legislative action to improve the 
                competitiveness of United States manufacturing and 
                information technology, including specific 
                recommendations which relate to ongoing efforts of the 
                Federal Government to improve the competitiveness of 
                United States manufacturing and information technology; 
                and
                    (C) such other criteria as the Secretary considers 
                appropriate, including coordination with ongoing 
                regional or State strategies for economic development 
                and job growth.
    (d) Confidentiality Protections.--Notwithstanding any other 
provision of this section, all data collected through the surveys 
improved under subsection (a) shall remain subject to the 
confidentiality protections established with respect to such surveys 
under the provisions of law authorizing or requiring such surveys.
    (e) Penalty.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a 
corporation that is invited to participate in a survey described in 
subsection (a)(1) but refuses to participate in such survey shall not 
be eligible to enter into any contract or to renew any contract with 
the United States, receive any grant from the Federal Government, or 
act as a subcontractor or subgrantee with respect to such a contract or 
grant.

SEC. 9. NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING 
              ADVANCED MANUFACTURING.

    (a) Agreement.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall seek to enter 
into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to perform the 
services covered by this section.
    (b) Development of Recommendations.--
            (1) In general.--Under an agreement between the Secretary 
        and the National Academy of Sciences under this section, the 
        National Academy of Sciences shall develop recommendations for 
        improving the competitive capabilities of United States 
        industrial facilities.
            (2) Elements.--The study shall include the following:
                    (A) Consideration of the benefits of--
                            (i) the innovative application of advanced 
                        manufacturing technologies, processes, and 
                        methods for product design and production, 
                        including rapid development of prototypes, 
                        scalability of new products, and technology;
                            (ii) commercialization of research funded 
                        by university research programs; and
                            (iii) such other issues as the National 
                        Academy of Sciences considers relevant to 
                        improving the competitive capabilities of 
                        United States industrial facilities.
                    (B) An analysis of the issues in implementing 
                improvements to United States industrial facilities.
                    (C) Recommendations on how the issues described in 
                subparagraph (B) can be mitigated or promoted.
            (3) Considerations.--In developing recommendations pursuant 
        to paragraph (1), the National Academy of Sciences shall 
        consider the following:
                    (A) The ongoing efforts of the President to create 
                jobs in the United States by improving the ability of 
                United States manufacturing facilities to compete in 
                the global economy.
                    (B) The reorganization of Federal departments and 
                agencies.
                    (C) Measures undertaken by Congress to reduce the 
                deficit.
    (c) Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the development of the 
recommendations under this section, the Secretary of Commerce shall 
submit to Congress a report describing such recommendations.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce to carry out this section 
such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

SEC. 10. ASSESSMENT OF DISTORTIVE ECONOMIC POLICIES.

    (a) Biennial Report of United States International Trade 
Commission.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act and not less frequently than once 
        every 2 years thereafter, the United States International Trade 
        Commission shall submit a report to Congress and the President 
        that quantifies the effects of distortive or discriminatory 
        economic policies of foreign countries, inclusive of any 
        overarching policy or systematic approach, such as 
        discrimination against United States companies, trading 
        monopolies, restrictive government procurement policies or 
        practices, tax policies or preferences, foreign direct 
        investment policies or practices, standards or subsidies, 
        restrictive domestic financial policies, and intellectual 
        property theft in terms of their potential adverse effect on 
        the economic or commercial interests of United States 
        industries, producers, and employees as outlined in the 
        National Trade Estimate. The Commission shall assess the 
        effects of countries, practices, and industries in the National 
        Trade Estimate, and other existing trade reports if 
        appropriate, that are commercially significant and pose the 
        greatest potential opportunity or threat to the United States 
        over the next 10 years.
            (2) Elements.--Each report submitted under paragraph (1) 
        shall include the following:
                    (A) Qualitative indicators of specific policies and 
                practices that may be unfair, distortive, or anti-
                competitive carried out by specific foreign countries 
                and an assessment of the relative significance of such 
                policies and practices.
                    (B) An assessment of resources spent in foreign 
                countries that are being used to preclude exports of 
                United States goods and services, United States 
                interests, or to support the development of 
                technologies, manufacturing base, and businesses that 
                compete directly with United States businesses.
            (3) Facilitation.--To assist in the preparation of each 
        report required by paragraph (1), the Commission shall 
        facilitate the reporting by interested persons of distortive 
        economic policies and practices, where possible.
    (b) Report by Comptroller General of the United States.--Not later 
than 1 year after the initial International Trade Commission report 
which includes the requirements under this section, the Comptroller 
General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report that--
            (1) assesses the effectiveness of--
                    (A) the recommendations carried out or implemented 
                by trade agencies including actions taken to mitigate 
                distortive economic policies and practices of 
                countries, with emphasis on the most egregious 
                problems; and
                    (B) recommendations identified by such agencies 
                that were not carried out or were unsuccessful;
            (2) identifies gaps in trade or foreign economic policies 
        of the United States which should be addressed by the executive 
        branch or by legislation; and
            (3) identifies agencies or programs which have successfully 
        implemented policies to discourage distortive economic 
        activities, including--
                    (A) specific steps taken by each program to reduce 
                such policies and practices;
                    (B) recommendations on how these entities can 
                improve their awareness and monitoring of distortive 
                economic policies or practices and develop programs to 
                discourage their use; and
                    (C) other information which may help inform efforts 
                to develop programs to combat these policies and 
                practices.

SEC. 11. LIMITATION ON GOVERNMENT PRINTING COSTS.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall 
coordinate with the heads of Federal departments and independent 
agencies--
            (1) to determine which Government publications could be 
        available on Government Internet websites and no longer 
        printed;
            (2) to devise a strategy to reduce overall Government 
        printing costs over the 10-year period beginning on the first 
        day of the first fiscal year beginning after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, except that the Director shall ensure 
        that essential printed documents prepared for social security 
        recipients, Medicare beneficiaries, and other populations in 
        areas with limited Internet access or use continue to remain 
        available;
            (3) to establish Government-wide Federal guidelines on 
        employee printing;
            (4) to issue on the Office of Management and Budget's 
        public Internet website the results of a cost-benefit analysis 
        on implementing a digital signature system and on establishing 
        employee printing identification systems, such as the use of 
        individual employee cards or codes; and
            (5) to monitor the amount of printing done by Federal 
        employees, except that the Director of the Office of Management 
        and Budget shall ensure that Federal employee printing costs 
        unrelated to national defense, homeland security, border 
        security, national disasters, and other emergencies do not 
        exceed $860,000,000 annually.
                                 <all>