[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2397 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2397

To amend the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act to make 
    changes to the implementation of the network for manufacturing 
                  innovation, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 30, 2019

  Ms. Stevens (for herself, Mr. Balderson, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Reed, Ms. 
 Johnson of Texas, and Mr. Gonzalez of Ohio) introduced the following 
   bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and 
                               Technology

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act to make 
    changes to the implementation of the network for manufacturing 
                  innovation, 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 ``American Manufacturing Leadership 
Act''.

SEC. 2. CHANGES IN IMPLEMENTATION OF NETWORK FOR MANUFACTURING 
              INNOVATION.

    Section 34 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
Act (15 U.S.C. 278s) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Network for 
                Manufacturing Innovation Program'' and inserting 
                ``Manufacturing USA Program''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (G), by striking 
                        ``and'' at the end;
                            (ii) in subparagraph (H), by striking the 
                        period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(I) to contribute to the development of regional 
                manufacturing innovation clusters across the Nation;'';
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Secretary'' 
                each place it appears in subparagraph (C) and (D) and 
                inserting ``agency head'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) by striking subparagraph (E);
                            (ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (A), 
                        (B), (C), and (D) as clauses (i), (ii), (iii), 
                        and (iv), respectively, and moving the margins 
                        of such clauses (as so redesignated) two ems to 
                        the right;
                            (iii) in the matter preceding clause (i) 
                        (as so redesignated), by striking ``Activities 
                        of a center for manufacturing innovation may 
                        include'' and inserting ``(A) required 
                        activities.--Activities of a center for 
                        manufacturing innovation shall include'';
                            (iv) in clause (ii), as so redesignated, by 
                        inserting before the period at the end the 
                        following: ``addressing workforce needs through 
                        training and education programs at all 
                        appropriate education levels'';
                            (v) in clause (iii), as so redesignated, by 
                        inserting before the period at the end the 
                        following: ``, as appropriate'';
                            (vi) by inserting after clause (iv) (as so 
                        redesignated) the following:
                            ``(v) Development of roadmaps with respect 
                        to certain technology areas that take into 
                        account the research and development undertaken 
                        at other centers for manufacturing innovation 
                        and Federal agencies with respect to such areas 
                        to avoid duplication of effort and to ensure 
                        that research and development undertaken at 
                        such other centers and Federal agencies may be 
                        used for future, later-stage work at the 
                        centers for manufacturing innovation.''; and
                            (vii) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(B) Permissible activities.--Activities of a 
                center for manufacturing innovation may include such 
                other activities as the agency head, in consultation 
                with Federal departments and agencies whose missions 
                contribute to, or are affected by, advanced 
                manufacturing, considers consistent with the purposes 
                described in subsection (a)(2).''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (3), by adding at the end the 
                following:
                    ``(C) Application.--Effective beginning on the date 
                of the enactment of the American Manufacturing 
                Leadership Act, a manufacturing center shall be subject 
                to subsections (a)(2), (c), and (d) in the same manner 
                and to the same extent as such provisions apply to a 
                center for manufacturing innovation established 
                pursuant to this section if such center--
                            ``(i)(I) is, as of such date of enactment, 
                        considered a center for manufacturing 
                        innovation under subparagraph (A) or recognized 
                        as a center for manufacturing innovation under 
                        subparagraph (B); and
                            ``(II) as of such date of enactment, 
                        receives Federal financial assistance under 
                        subsection (d) or otherwise consistent with the 
                        purposes of this section; or
                            ``(ii) is under pending agency review for 
                        such recognition as of such date of 
                        enactment.'';
            (3) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``Secretary'' and inserting 
                        ``agency head''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``for a period of not 
                        less than 5 and not more than 7 years'' after 
                        ``financial assistance'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``Secretary'' 
                each place it appears and inserting ``agency head'';
                    (C) in paragraph (4)--
                            (i) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as 
                        follows:
                    ``(A) Competitive, merit review.--In awarding 
                financial assistance under paragraph (1), the agency 
                head shall--
                            ``(i) use a competitive, merit review 
                        process that includes peer review by a diverse 
                        group of individuals with relevant expertise 
                        from both the private and public sectors; and
                            ``(ii) ensure that the technology focus of 
                        a center for manufacturing innovation does not 
                        substantially duplicate the technology focus of 
                        any other center for manufacturing 
                        innovation.'';
                            (ii) in subparagraphs (B)(i), by striking 
                        ``Secretary'' each place it appears and 
                        inserting ``agency head'';
                            (iii) by amending subparagraph (C) to read 
                        as follows:
                    ``(C) Performance measurement, transparency, and 
                accountability.--For each award of financial assistance 
                under paragraph (1), the agency head shall develop and 
                implement metrics-based performance standards to assess 
                the effectiveness of activities funded in making 
                progress toward the purposes of the Program.'';
                            (iv) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``the 
                        Secretary shall'' and all that follows through 
                        ``collaborate'' and inserting the following: 
                        ``agency head, in coordination with the 
                        National Program Office, as appropriate, shall 
                        collaborate''; and
                            (v) in subparagraph (E), by striking 
                        ``Secretary'' each place it appears and 
                        inserting ``agency head''; and
                    (D) in paragraph (5)--
                            (i) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as 
                        follows:
                    ``(A) Term of award.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), 
                        an award made to a center for manufacturing 
                        innovation may be renewed for an additional 
                        period not to exceed the duration of the 
                        original funding award, subject to a rigorous 
                        merit review. In awarding additional funds, the 
                        agency head shall consider the extent to which 
                        the center has made progress in achieving the 
                        purposes described in subsection (a) and 
                        carrying out the activities specified in 
                        subsection (c)(2).
                            ``(ii) Existing centers.--Notwithstanding 
                        clause (i), a center already in existence or 
                        undergoing a renewal process on the date of 
                        enactment of the ____ Act--
                                    ``(I) may continue to receive 
                                support for the duration of the 
                                original funding award beginning on the 
                                date of establishment of that center; 
                                and
                                    ``(II) shall be eligible for 
                                renewal of that funding pursuant to 
                                clause (i).''; and
                            (ii) in subparagraphs (B) and (C), by 
                        striking ``Secretary'' each place it appears 
                        and inserting ``agency head'';
            (4) by striking subsection (e);
            (5) by redesignating subsections (f), (g), (h), and (i) as 
        subsections (e), (f), (g), and (h), respectively;
            (6) in subsection (e) (as so redesignated)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (E), by striking 
                        ``and'' at the end;
                            (ii) in subparagraph (F), by striking the 
                        period at the end and inserting a semicolon; 
                        and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(H) to work with non-sponsoring Federal agencies 
                to explore and develop options for sponsoring centers 
                for manufacturing innovation at such agencies;
                    ``(I) to work with sponsoring Federal agencies to 
                develop and implement network-wide performance goals 
                with measurable targets and timelines;
                    ``(J) to help develop pilot programs that may be 
                implemented by the centers for manufacturing innovation 
                such to address specific purposes of the Program, 
                including to accelerate technology transfer to the 
                private sector; and
                    ``(K) to identify and disseminate best workforce 
                education and training practices across centers for 
                manufacturing innovation and further enhance 
                collaboration among centers for manufacturing 
                innovation in developing and implementing such 
                programs.''; and
                    (B) by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows:
            ``(5) Hollings manufacturing extension partnership.--The 
        Secretary shall ensure that the National Program Office 
        incorporates the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership 
        into Program planning to ensure--
                    ``(A) significant outreach to, participation of, 
                and engagement of small- and medium-sized manufacturers 
                in centers for manufacturing innovation across the 
                entirety of the manufacturing supply chain; and
                    ``(B) that the results of the Program, including 
                technologies developed by the Program, reach small- and 
                medium-sized manufacturers and that such entities have 
                access to technical assistance, as appropriate, in 
                deploying those technologies.'';
            (7) in subsection (f) (as so redesignated)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)(A)--
                            (i) by striking ``The Secretary'' and all 
                        that follows through ``report to the 
                        Secretary'' and inserting the following: ``Each 
                        agency head shall require each recipient of 
                        financial assistance from that agency under 
                        subsection (d)(1) and any other manufacturing 
                        centers considered to be centers for 
                        manufacturing innovation pursuant to subsection 
                        (c)(3) to annually submit to the appropriate 
                        agency head a report''; and
                            (ii) by adding at the end the following: 
                        ``Each agency head shall submit such reports to 
                        the Secretary.''; and
                    (B) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
            ``(3) Assessments by gao.--
                    ``(A) Assessments.--Not less frequently than once 
                every 3 years, the Comptroller General shall submit to 
                Congress an assessment of the operation of the Program 
                during the most recent 3-year period, including an 
                assessment of the progress made towards achieving the 
                goals specified in the national strategic plan for 
                advanced manufacturing under section 102(b)(7) of the 
                America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 
                6622(b)(7)).
                    ``(B) Elements.--Each assessment submitted under 
                subparagraph (A) shall include, for the period covered 
                by the report--
                            ``(i) a review of the management, 
                        coordination, and industry utility of the 
                        Program;
                            ``(ii) an assessment of the extent to which 
                        the Program has furthered the purposes 
                        described in subsection (a)(2);
                            ``(iii) such recommendations for 
                        legislative and administrative action as the 
                        Comptroller General considers appropriate to 
                        improve the Program; and
                            ``(iv) an assessment as to whether any 
                        prior recommendations for improvement made by 
                        the Comptroller General have been implemented 
                        or adopted.'';
            (8) in subsection (g) (as so redesignated)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``subsection 
                (e)'' and inserting ``subsection (j)''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) Collaborations with other federal agencies.--The 
        Secretary shall collaborate with Federal agencies whose 
        missions contribute to, or are affected by, advanced 
        manufacturing to identify and leverage existing resources at 
        such Federal agencies to assist centers of manufacturing 
        innovation in carrying out the purposes of the program 
        specified in subsection (a)(2). Such existing resources may 
        include programs--
                    ``(A) at the Department of Labor relating to labor 
                and apprenticeships;
                    ``(B) at the Economic Development Administration 
                relating to regional innovation, such as the Regional 
                Innovation Strategies program;
                    ``(C) at the Department of Education relating to 
                workforce development, education, training, and 
                retraining;
                    ``(D) at the Department of Defense relating to 
                procurement and other authorities of the Department of 
                Defense;
                    ``(E) at the Food and Drug Administration relating 
                to biopharmaceutical manufacturing;
                    ``(F) at the National Science Foundation, including 
                the Advanced Technological Education program; and
                    ``(G) additional programs that the Secretary 
                determines are appropriate to support the activities of 
                existing centers for manufacturing innovation.''; and
            (9) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(i) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Agency head.--The term `agency head' means the head 
        of a Federal agency that is providing financial assistance for 
        a center of manufacturing innovation, including the Secretary 
        of Commerce and the Secretary of Energy.
            ``(2) Regional innovation cluster.--The term `regional 
        innovation cluster' has the meaning given such term in section 
        27(f)(1) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
        1980 (15 U.S.C. 3722(f)(1)).
    ``(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            ``(1) NIST.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
        Secretary to carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of 
        fiscal years 2020 through 2024.
            ``(2) Reservation.--Of the amount made available under 
        paragraph (1) the Secretary shall reserve not less than 
        $5,000,000 for the National Office of the Network for 
        Manufacturing Innovation Program established under subsection 
        (e).
            ``(3) Department of energy.--For centers of manufacturing 
        innovation operated by the Department of Energy, there are 
        authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Energy--
                    ``(A) $70,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 and 
                2021; and
                    ``(B) $84,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 and 
                2023.''.

SEC. 3. INCREASED EMPHASIS ON REGIONAL INNOVATION WITHIN AND EXTENSION 
              OF REGIONAL INNOVATION PROGRAM.

    Section 27 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3722) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(2) by adding at the end the following 
        new subparagraph:
                    ``(I) Developing relationships at the local level 
                to build supply chains and use existing capabilities of 
                entities operating on that level to bring economic 
                growth to suburban and rural areas.''; and
            (2) in subsection (d)(2) by striking ``2019'' and inserting 
        ``2024''.
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