[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1427 Reported in Senate (RS)]

<DOC>





                                                       Calendar No. 584
116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 1427

                          [Report No. 116-291]

  To amend the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act to 
improve the Network for Manufacturing Innovation Program, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 13, 2019

 Mr. Coons (for himself, Mr. Gardner, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Tillis, Ms. 
   Hassan, Mr. Peters, Mr. Moran, Mr. Rubio, Ms. Klobuchar, and Ms. 
   Collins) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
   referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

                           November 16, 2020

               Reported by Mr. Wicker, with an amendment
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act to 
improve the Network for Manufacturing Innovation Program, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    This Act may be cited as the ``Global Leadership in 
Advanced Manufacturing Act of 2019''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENTS TO NETWORK FOR MANUFACTURING INNOVATION 
              PROGRAM.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Centers for Manufacturing Innovation.--Subsection (c) 
of section 34 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act 
(15 U.S.C. 278s) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in subparagraphs (B) and (C)(i) of paragraph 
        (1), by striking ``and tool'' both places it appears and 
        inserting ``tool development for microelectronics, food 
        manufacturing, superconductors, advanced battery technologies, 
        robotics, advanced sensors, quantum information science, supply 
        chain water optimization, and aeronautics and advanced 
        materials'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in paragraph (2)(D), by striking ``and 
        minority'' and inserting ``, minority, and veteran''; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking ``, but 
        such'' and all that follows through ``under subsection 
        (d)''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Financial Assistance To Establish and Support Centers 
for Manufacturing Innovation.--Subsection (d) of such section is 
amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in paragraph (4)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) in subparagraph (C)--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) in clause (i), by striking ``; 
                        and'' and inserting a semicolon;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) in clause (ii)--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    (I) by inserting ``, 
                                including appropriate measures for 
                                assessing the effectiveness of the 
                                activities funded with regards to the 
                                center's success in advancing the 
                                current state of the applicable 
                                advanced manufacturing technology area 
                                such as technology readiness level and 
                                manufacturing readiness level,'' after 
                                ``measures''; and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    (II) by striking the 
                                period at the end; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iii) by adding at the end the 
                        following:</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) establish standards for 
                        the performance of centers for manufacturing 
                        innovation that are based on the measures 
                        developed under clause (ii); and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iv) for each center for 
                        manufacturing innovation supported by the 
                        award, if any, once every 5 years, conduct an 
                        assessment of the center to confirm whether the 
                        performance of the center is meeting the 
                        standards for performance established under 
                        clause (iii).'';</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) in subparagraph (D), by inserting ``, 
                including the Department of Agriculture, the Department 
                of Defense, the Department of Education, the Department 
                of Energy, the Department of Labor, the Food and Drug 
                Administration, the National Aeronautics and Space 
                Administration, the National Institutes of Health, and 
                the National Science Foundation'' after 
                ``manufacturing''; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) in subparagraph (E)--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) in clause (ii), by striking 
                        ``without the need for long-term Federal 
                        funding'';</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) in clause (iii), by striking 
                        ``significantly'';</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iii) in clause (v), by inserting 
                        ``and to improve the domestic supply chain'' 
                        after ``technologies''; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iv) in clause (ix), by inserting 
                        ``industrial, research, entrepreneurship, and 
                        other'' after ``leverage the'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in paragraph (5)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) by striking subparagraph (A) and 
                inserting the following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--No award of financial 
                assistance may be made under paragraph (1) to support a 
                center for manufacturing innovation that the Secretary 
                finds under paragraph (4)(C) does not meet the 
                standards for performance established under paragraph 
                (4)(C)(iii).'';</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) in subparagraph (B)--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) in the first sentence, by 
                        striking ``large capital facilities or 
                        equipment purchases'' and inserting ``large 
                        capital facilities, equipment purchases, 
                        workforce development, or general operations''; 
                        and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) by striking the second 
                        sentence; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) by striking subparagraph (C); 
                and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) Use of financial assistance.--Financial 
        assistance awarded under paragraph (1) may be used--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) for the purposes described in such 
                paragraph; or</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) to carry out Program-wide activities 
                directed by the Secretary, such as activities targeting 
                workforce development.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Funding.--Subsection (e)(2) of such section is 
amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as 
        follows:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) NIST industrial technical services 
                account.--To the extent provided for in advance by 
                appropriations Acts, the Secretary may use amounts 
                appropriated to the Institute for Industrial Technical 
                Services account to carry out this section as 
                follows:</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) For each of the fiscal years 
                        2015 through 2019, an amount not to exceed 
                        $5,000,000.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) For each of fiscal years 
                        2020 through 2030, such amounts as may be 
                        necessary to carry out this section.''; 
                        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``through 
        2024'' and inserting ``through 2019''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) National Program Office.--Subsection (f) of such 
section is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in paragraph (2)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) in subparagraph (B)--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) by inserting ``coordinate with 
                        and, as appropriate,'' before ``enter''; 
                        and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) by inserting ``including the 
                        Department of Agriculture, the Department of 
                        Defense, the Department of Education, the 
                        Department of Energy, the Department of Labor, 
                        the Food and Drug Administration, the National 
                        Aeronautics and Space Administration, the 
                        National Institutes of Health, and the National 
                        Science Foundation,'' after 
                        ``manufacturing,'';</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``; 
                and'' and inserting a semicolon;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as 
                subparagraph (J); and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) by inserting after subparagraph (E) 
                the following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(F) to carry out pilot programs in 
                collaboration with the centers for manufacturing 
                innovation such as a laboratory-embedded 
                entrepreneurship program;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(G) to provide support services and 
                funding as necessary to promote workforce development 
                activities;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(H) to coordinate with centers for 
                manufacturing innovation to develop best practices for 
                the membership agreements and coordination of similar 
                project solicitations;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(I) to collaborate with the Department 
                of Labor, the Department of Education, industry, career 
                and technical education schools, local community 
                colleges, universities, and labor organizations to 
                provide input for the development of national 
                certifications for advanced manufacturing workforce 
                skills in the technology areas of the centers for 
                manufacturing innovation; and'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``State and 
        local governments,'' after ``community colleges,''; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) in paragraph (5)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) by striking ``The Secretary'' and 
                inserting the following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary''; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) by adding at the end the 
                following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Liaisons.--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) In general.--The Secretary 
                        may provide financial assistance to a 
                        manufacturing extension center established as 
                        part of the Hollings Manufacturing Extension 
                        Partnership to detail a liaison of the center 
                        to a center for manufacturing innovation to 
                        facilitate the support by the Partnership of at 
                        least the following:</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) Cybersecurity 
                                awareness and support services for 
                                small- and medium-sized 
                                manufacturers.</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) Assistance with 
                                workforce development.</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(III) Technology 
                                transfer for small and medium-sized 
                                manufacturers.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) Selection of liaisons.--
                        Selection of a liaison under this subparagraph 
                        shall be made in coordination with the 
                        applicable center for manufacturing 
                        innovation.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (e) Reporting and Auditing.--Subsection (g) of such 
section is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``December 
        31, 2024'' and inserting ``December 31, 2030''; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in paragraph (3)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) in subparagraph (A)--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) by striking ``2 years'' and 
                        inserting ``3 years''; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) by striking ``2-year'' and 
                        inserting ``3-year''; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
                ``December 31, 2024'' and inserting ``December 31, 
                2030''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (f) Expansion.--Subject to the availability of 
appropriations, the Secretary of Commerce shall increase the number of 
centers for manufacturing innovation that participate in the Network 
for Manufacturing Innovation Program.</DELETED>

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Global Leadership in Advanced 
Manufacturing Act of 2019''.

SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENTS TO NETWORK FOR MANUFACTURING INNOVATION PROGRAM.

    (a) Alternate Program Name.--Subsection (a) of section 34 of the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278s) is 
amended by inserting ``or as `Manufacturing USA''' after ``as the 
`Network for Manufacturing Innovation Program'''.
    (b) Centers for Manufacturing Innovation.--Subsection (c) of such 
section is amended--
            (1) in subparagraphs (B) and (C)(i) of paragraph (1), by 
        striking ``and tool development for microelectronics'' both 
        places it appears and inserting ``tool development for 
        microelectronics, food manufacturing, superconductors, advanced 
        battery technologies, robotics, advanced sensors, quantum 
        information science, supply chain water optimization, 
        aeronautics and advanced materials, and graphene and graphene 
        commercialization'';
            (2) in paragraph (2)(D), by striking ``and minority'' and 
        inserting ``, minority, and veteran''; and
            (3) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking ``, but such'' and all 
        that follows through ``under subsection (d)''.
    (c) Financial Assistance To Establish and Support Centers for 
Manufacturing Innovation.--Subsection (d) of such section is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1) is amended to read as follows:
            ``(1) In general.--In carrying out the Program, the 
        Secretary shall award financial assistance to the following:
                    ``(A) To a person or group of persons to assist the 
                person or group of persons in planning, establishing, 
                or supporting a center for manufacturing innovation.
                    ``(B) To a center for manufacturing innovation, 
                including a center that was not established using 
                Federal funds, to support workforce development, cross-
                center projects, and other efforts which support the 
                purposes of the Program.'';
            (2) in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), by striking ``under 
        paragraph (1)'' each place it appears and inserting ``under 
        paragraph (1)(A)'';
            (3) in paragraph (4)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (C)--
                            (i) in clause (i), by striking ``; and'' 
                        and inserting a semicolon;
                            (ii) in clause (ii)--
                                    (I) by inserting ``, including 
                                appropriate measures for assessing the 
                                effectiveness of the activities funded 
                                with regards to the center's success in 
                                advancing the current state of the 
                                applicable advanced manufacturing 
                                technology area such as technology 
                                readiness level and manufacturing 
                                readiness level,'' after ``measures''; 
                                and
                                    (II) by striking the period at the 
                                end and inserting a semicolon; and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(iii) establish standards for the 
                        performance of centers for manufacturing 
                        innovation that are based on the measures 
                        developed under clause (ii); and
                            ``(iv) for each center for manufacturing 
                        innovation supported by the award, 5 years 
                        after the initial award and every 5 years 
                        thereafter until Federal funding is 
                        discontinued, conduct an assessment of the 
                        center to confirm whether the performance of 
                        the center is meeting the standards for 
                        performance established under clause (iii).'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (D), by inserting ``, 
                including, as appropriate, the Department of 
                Agriculture, the Department of Defense, the Department 
                of Education, the Department of Energy, the Department 
                of Labor, the Food and Drug Administration, the 
                National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the 
                National Institutes of Health, and the National Science 
                Foundation'' after ``manufacturing''; and
                    (C) in subparagraph (E)--
                            (i) in clause (ii), by striking ``without 
                        the need for long-term Federal funding'';
                            (ii) in clause (iii), by striking 
                        ``significantly'';
                            (iii) in clause (v), by inserting ``and to 
                        improve the domestic supply chain'' after 
                        ``technologies''; and
                            (iv) in clause (ix), by inserting 
                        ``industrial, research, entrepreneurship, and 
                        other'' after ``leverage the'';
            (4) in paragraph (5)--
                    (A) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the 
                following:
                    ``(A) Performance deficiency.--
                            ``(i) Notice of deficiency.--If the 
                        Secretary finds that a center for manufacturing 
                        innovation does not meet the standards for 
                        performance established under clause (iii) of 
                        paragraph (4)(C) during an assessment pursuant 
                        to clause (iv) of such paragraph, the Secretary 
                        shall notify the center of any deficiencies in 
                        the performance of the center and provide the 
                        center one year to remedy such deficiencies.
                            ``(ii) Failure to remedy.--If a center for 
                        manufacturing innovation fails to remedy a 
                        deficiency identified under clause (i) or to 
                        show significant improvement in performance one 
                        year after notification of a performance 
                        deficiency identified under clause (i), the 
                        Secretary shall notify the center that the 
                        center is ineligible for further financial 
                        assistance awarded under paragraph (1) .'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), in the first sentence, by 
                striking ``large capital facilities or equipment 
                purchases'' and inserting ``satellite centers, large 
                capital facilities, equipment purchases, workforce 
                development, or general operations''; and
                    (C) by striking subparagraph (C); and
            (5) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) Use of financial assistance.--Financial assistance 
        awarded under paragraph (1)(B) may be used to carry out 
        Program-wide activities directed by the Secretary, such as 
        activities targeting workforce development.''.
    (d) Funding.--Subsection (e)(2) of such section is amended--
            (1) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows:
                    ``(A) NIST industrial technical services account.--
                To the extent provided for in advance by appropriations 
                Acts, the Secretary may use amounts appropriated to the 
                Institute for Industrial Technical Services account to 
                carry out this section as follows:
                            ``(i) For each of the fiscal years 2015 
                        through 2019, an amount not to exceed 
                        $5,000,000.
                            ``(ii) For each of fiscal years 2020 
                        through 2030, such amounts as may be necessary 
                        to carry out this section.''; and
            (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``through 2024'' and 
        inserting ``through 2019''.
    (e) National Program Office.--Subsection (f) of such section is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (B)--
                            (i) by inserting ``coordinate with and, as 
                        appropriate,'' before ``enter''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``including the 
                        Department of Agriculture, the Department of 
                        Defense, the Department of Education, the 
                        Department of Energy, the Department of Labor, 
                        the Food and Drug Administration, the National 
                        Aeronautics and Space Administration, the 
                        National Institutes of Health, and the National 
                        Science Foundation,'' after ``manufacturing,'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``; and'' and 
                inserting a semicolon;
                    (C) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as 
                subparagraph (J); and
                    (D) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the 
                following:
                    ``(F) to carry out pilot programs in collaboration 
                with the centers for manufacturing innovation such as a 
                laboratory-embedded entrepreneurship program;
                    ``(G) to provide support services and funding as 
                necessary to promote workforce development activities;
                    ``(H) to coordinate with centers for manufacturing 
                innovation to develop best practices for the membership 
                agreements and coordination of similar project 
                solicitations;
                    ``(I) to collaborate with the Department of Labor, 
                the Department of Education, industry, career and 
                technical education schools, local community colleges, 
                universities, and labor organizations to provide input 
                for the development of national certifications for 
                advanced manufacturing workforce skills in the 
                technology areas of the centers for manufacturing 
                innovation; and'';
            (2) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``State, Tribal, and 
        local governments,'' after ``community colleges,''; and
            (3) in paragraph (5)--
                    (A) by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting the 
                following:
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(B) Liaisons.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Secretary may 
                        provide financial assistance to a manufacturing 
                        extension center established as part of the 
                        Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership to 
                        support the purposes of the Program by 
                        providing services in one or more of the 
                        following areas:
                                    ``(I) Cybersecurity awareness and 
                                support services for small- and medium-
                                sized manufacturers.
                                    ``(II) Assistance with workforce 
                                development.
                                    ``(III) Technology transfer for 
                                small and medium-sized manufacturers.
                                    ``(IV) Such other areas as the 
                                Secretary determines appropriate to 
                                support the purposes of the Program.
                            ``(ii) Support.--Support under clause (i) 
                        may include the designation of a liaison.''.
    (f) Reporting and Auditing.--Subsection (g) of such section is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraphs (1) and (2), by striking ``under 
        subsection (d)(1)'' and inserting ``under subsection 
        (d)(1)(A)'';
            (2) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``December 31, 2024'' 
        and inserting ``December 31, 2030''; and
            (3) in paragraph (3)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A)--
                            (i) by striking ``2 years'' and inserting 
                        ``3 years''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``2-year'' and inserting 
                        ``3-year''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``December 31, 
                2024'' and inserting ``December 31, 2030''.
    (g) Expansion.--Subject to the availability of appropriations, the 
Secretary of Commerce shall increase the number of centers for 
manufacturing innovation that participate in the Network for 
Manufacturing Innovation Program.

SEC. 3. REGIONAL INNOVATION PROGRAM.

    Section 27 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3722) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 27. REGIONAL INNOVATION PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Eligible recipient defined.--The term `eligible 
        recipient' means--
                    ``(A) a State;
                    ``(B) an Indian tribe;
                    ``(C) a city or other political subdivision of a 
                State;
                    ``(D) an entity that is a nonprofit organization, 
                an institution of higher education, a public-private 
                partnership, a science or research park, a Federal 
                laboratory, a venture development organization, or an 
                economic development organization or similar entity 
                that is focused primarily on improving science, 
                technology, innovation, or entrepreneurship; or
                    ``(E) a consortium of any of the entities described 
                in subparagraphs (A) through (D).
            ``(2) Regional innovation initiative.--The term `regional 
        innovation initiative' means a geographically-bounded public or 
        nonprofit activity or program to address issues in the local 
        innovation systems in order to--
                    ``(A) increase the success of innovation-driven 
                industry;
                    ``(B) strengthen the competitiveness of industry 
                through new product innovation and new technology 
                adoption;
                    ``(C) improve the pace of market readiness and 
                overall commercialization of innovative research;
                    ``(D) enhance the overall innovation capacity and 
                long-term resilience of the region; and
                    ``(E) leverage the region's unique competitive 
                strengths to stimulate innovation and to create jobs.
            ``(3) State.--The term `State' means one of the several 
        States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the 
        Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, 
        Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
        Islands, or any other territory or possession of the United 
        States.
            ``(4) Venture development organization.--The term `venture 
        development organization' means a State or nonprofit 
        organization that contributes to regional or sector-based 
        economic prosperity by providing services for the purposes of--
                    ``(A) accelerating the commercialization of 
                research;
                    ``(B) strengthening the competitive position of 
                industry through the development, commercial adoption, 
                or deployment of technology; and
                    ``(C) providing financial grants, loans, or direct 
                financial investment to commercialize technology.
    ``(b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a regional 
innovation program to encourage and support the development of regional 
innovation strategies designed to increase innovation-driven economic 
opportunity within their respective regions.
    ``(c) Regional Innovation Grants.--
            ``(1) Authorization of grants.--As part of the program 
        established pursuant to subsection (b), the Secretary may award 
        grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible recipients for 
        activities designed to develop and support a regional 
        innovation initiative.
            ``(2) Permissible activities.--A grant awarded under this 
        subsection shall be used for multiple activities determined 
        appropriate by the Secretary, including--
                    ``(A) improving the connectedness and strategic 
                orientation of the region through planning, technical 
                assistance, and communication among participants of a 
                regional innovation initiative;
                    ``(B) attracting additional participants to a 
                regional innovation initiative;
                    ``(C) increasing the availability and investment of 
                private and philanthropic financing that supports 
                innovation-based business ventures;
                    ``(D) completing the research, development and 
                introduction of new products, processes, and services 
                into the commercial market;
                    ``(E) increasing the number of full-time equivalent 
                employment opportunities within innovation-based 
                business ventures in the geographic region; and
                    ``(F) achieving quantifiable, positive benefits to, 
                or measurable enhancements for, the economic 
                performance of the geographic region.
            ``(3) Restricted activities.--Grants awarded under this 
        subsection may not be used to pay for--
                    ``(A) costs related to the recruitment, inducement, 
                or associated financial or tangible incentives that 
                might be offered to relocate an existing business from 
                a geographic area to another geographic area; or
                    ``(B) costs associated with offsetting revenues 
                forgone by one or more taxing authorities through tax 
                incentives, tax increment financing, special 
                improvement districts, tax abatements for private 
                development within designated zones or geographic 
                areas, or other reduction in revenues resulting from 
                tax credits affecting the geographic region of the 
                eligible recipients.
            ``(4) Applications.--
                    ``(A) In general.--An eligible recipient shall 
                submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in 
                such manner, and containing such information and 
                assurances as the Secretary may require.
                    ``(B) Components.--Each application submitted under 
                subparagraph (A) shall--
                            ``(i) describe the regional innovation 
                        initiative;
                            ``(ii) indicate whether the regional 
                        innovation initiative is supported by the 
                        private sector, State and local governments, 
                        and other relevant stakeholders;
                            ``(iii) identify what activities the 
                        regional innovation initiative will undertake;
                            ``(iv) describe the expected outcomes of 
                        the regional innovation initiative and how the 
                        eligible recipient will measure progress toward 
                        those outcomes;
                            ``(v) indicate whether the participants in 
                        the regional innovation initiative have access 
                        to, or contribute to, a well-trained workforce 
                        and other innovation assets that are critical 
                        to the successful outcomes specified in the 
                        application;
                            ``(vi) indicate whether the participants in 
                        the regional innovation initiative are capable 
                        of attracting additional funds from non-Federal 
                        sources; and
                            ``(vii) if appropriate for the activities 
                        proposed in the application, analyze the 
                        likelihood that the participants in the 
                        regional innovation initiative will be able to 
                        sustain activities after grant funds received 
                        under this subsection have been expended.
                    ``(C) Feedback.--The Secretary shall provide 
                feedback to program applicants that are not awarded 
                grants to help them improve future applications.
                    ``(D) Special considerations.--The Secretary shall 
                give special consideration to--
                            ``(i) applications proposing to include 
                        workforce or training related activities in 
                        their regional innovation initiative from 
                        eligible recipients who agree to collaborate 
                        with local workforce investment area boards; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) applications from regions that 
                        contain communities negatively impacted by 
                        trade.
            ``(5) Cost share.--The Secretary may not provide more than 
        50 percent of the total cost of any activity funded under this 
        subsection.
            ``(6) Outreach to rural communities.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct 
                outreach to public and private sector entities in rural 
                communities to encourage those entities to participate 
                in regional innovation initiatives under this 
                subsection.
                    ``(B) Justification.--As part of the program 
                established pursuant to subsection (b), not less 
                frequently than once each year for the duration of the 
                program as authorized, the Secretary, acting through 
                the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic 
                Development, shall submit to Congress an annual report 
                that explains the balance in the allocation of grants 
                to eligible recipients under this subsection between 
                rural and urban areas.
            ``(7) Funding.--The Secretary may accept funds from other 
        Federal agencies to support grants and activities under this 
        subsection.
    ``(d) Regional Innovation Research and Information Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--As part of the program established 
        pursuant to subsection (b), the Secretary shall establish a 
        regional innovation research and information program--
                    ``(A) to gather, analyze, and disseminate 
                information on best practices for regional innovation 
                initiatives, including information relating to how 
                innovation, productivity, and economic development can 
                be maximized through such strategies;
                    ``(B) to provide technical assistance, including 
                through the development of technical assistance guides, 
                for the development and implementation of regional 
                innovation initiatives;
                    ``(C) to support the development of relevant 
                metrics and measurement standards to evaluate regional 
                innovation initiatives, including the extent to which 
                such strategies stimulate innovation, productivity, and 
                economic development; and
                    ``(D) to collect and make available data on 
                regional innovation initiatives in the United States, 
                including data on--
                            ``(i) the size, specialization, and 
                        competitiveness of regional innovation 
                        initiatives;
                            ``(ii) the regional domestic product 
                        contribution, total jobs and earnings by key 
                        occupations, establishment size, nature of 
                        specialization, patents, Federal research and 
                        development spending, and other relevant 
                        information for regional innovation 
                        initiatives; and
                            ``(iii) supply chain product and service 
                        flows within and between regional innovation 
                        initiatives.
            ``(2) Research grants.--The Secretary may award research 
        grants on a competitive basis to support and further the goals 
        of the program established under this section.
            ``(3) Dissemination of information.--Data and analysis 
        compiled by the Secretary under the program established in this 
        subsection shall be made available to other Federal agencies, 
        State and local governments, and nonprofit and for-profit 
        entities.
            ``(4) Regional innovation grant program.--The Secretary 
        shall incorporate data and analysis relating to any grant 
        awarded under subsection (c) into the program established under 
        this subsection.
    ``(e) Interagency Coordination.--
            ``(1) In general.--To the maximum extent practicable, the 
        Secretary shall ensure that the activities carried out under 
        this section are coordinated with, and do not duplicate the 
        efforts of, other programs at the Department of Commerce or at 
        other Federal agencies.
            ``(2) Collaboration.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall explore and 
                pursue collaboration with other Federal agencies, 
                including through multi-agency funding opportunities, 
                on regional innovation strategies.
                    ``(B) Small businesses.--The Secretary shall ensure 
                that such collaboration with Federal agencies 
                prioritizes the needs and challenges of small 
                businesses.
    ``(f) Evaluation.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 5 years after Congress 
        first appropriates funds to carry out this section, the 
        Secretary shall competitively award a contract with an 
        independent entity to conduct an evaluation of programs 
        established under this section.
            ``(2) Requirements.--The evaluation conducted under 
        paragraph (1) shall include--
                    ``(A) an assessment of whether the program is 
                achieving its goals;
                    ``(B) the program's efficacy in providing awards to 
                geographically diverse entities;
                    ``(C) any recommendations for how the program may 
                be improved; and
                    ``(D) a recommendation as to whether the program 
                should be continued or terminated.
    ``(g) Reporting Requirement.--Not later than 5 years after the 
first grant is awarded under subsection (c), and every 5 years 
thereafter until 5 years after the last grant recipient completes the 
regional innovation initiative for which such grant was awarded, the 
Secretary shall submit a report to Congress that describes the outcome 
of each regional innovation initiative that was completed during the 
previous 5 years.
    ``(h) Funding.--From amounts appropriated by Congress for economic 
development assistance authorized under section 27 of the Stevenson-
Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3722), the 
Secretary may use up to $50,000,000 in each of the fiscal years 2020 
through 2024 to carry out this section.''.
                                                       Calendar No. 584

116th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                S. 1427

                          [Report No. 116-291]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

  To amend the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act to 
improve the Network for Manufacturing Innovation Program, and for other 
                               purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                           November 16, 2020

                       Reported with an amendment