Manufacturing revitalization exchange program

(a)

Establishment

There is established an international exchange program to be known as the American Manufacturing Revitalization Exchange Program (referred to in this section as the Program), which shall be administered by the Assistant Secretary, in accordance with subsection (c), to increase manufacturing knowledge, training, experience, expertise, and workforce in the United States. (b)

Purposes

The purposes of the Program are the following: (1)To advance the domestic and foreign policy priorities of the United States by promoting an international workforce exchange in manufacturing sectors, including— (A)robotics; (B)semiconductors; (C)aeronautics, including space operations; (D)additive manufacturing; (E)ship building, including shipping manufacturing; (F)energy, including mining; (G)automotive; and (H)any other sector the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Commerce, identifies as strategically important or critical and would benefit from the Program. (2)To send United States citizens from a trade or manufacturing background to manufacturing institutions, sectors, or companies in allied nations, and, in particular, in allied nations who have entered into trade agreements with the United States, to receive training in manufacturing skills. (3)To build relations and to connect manufacturers in the United States with technical institutions and manufacturing entities in allied nations to share best practices for machine operations, assembly, management, and other skills and expertise related to manufacturing or supply chain security. (4)To assist in developing a robust and skilled manufacturing workforce in the United States that can support and fill the gaps within the United States manufacturing sectors. (5)To assist in expanding and modernizing the manufacturing labor force in the United States through increased workforce training and apprenticeship opportunities. (6)To reduce reliance on the foreign manufacturing industry for skilled labor, components, parts, processes, technology, and products related to national security and the manufacturing sectors and to enhance the competitiveness of the United States within the global manufacturing marketplace. (7)To facilitate innovation with respect to casting, molding, forming, machining, assembling, additive manufacturing, and other processes pertaining to manufacturing. (8)Not to subsidize corporations by funding the workforce training of persons who are affiliated or have minority interest in a United States company that has subsidiaries in an allied country where the program will take place. (c)

Administration of Program

(1)

Prior consultation

The Assistant Secretary, shall administer the Program after consultation with manufacturing industry leaders, Manufacturing USA, the Secretary of Commerce, the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training, labor organizations, allied governments, and United States diplomatic and consular posts located in allied nations. (2)

Limit on number of participants

The Assistant Secretary shall select not more than 10 participants for the Program per year. (3)

Participant selection

The Assistant Secretary shall— (A)select Program participants in accordance with the eligibility criteria under subsection (d) and in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce and the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training, Manufacturing USA, and other manufacturing groups; and (B)ensure Program participants come from a wide range of backgrounds and manufacturing regions in the United States. (4)

Participant placement

(A)

In general

The Assistant Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Commerce, and United States diplomatic and consular posts located in allied nations, shall place Program participants in a manufacturing sector, institution, or company approved by the Assistant Secretary in an allied nation. (B)

Outreach

To the extent practicable, the Assistant Secretary, in coordination with United States diplomatic and consular posts, Manufacturing USA, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Commerce, and other relevant Government agencies, shall conduct outreach to relevant manufacturing, workers, and workforce training organizations, as well as relevant manufacturing companies, higher education institutions, and to allied governments the Assistant Secretary determines are likely to produce a range of qualified applicants to be sent abroad. (d)

Participant eligibility criteria

(1)

Mandatory requirements

Each Program participant shall— (A)have— (i)worked as an apprentice in a Program-related manufacturing vocation, job, or field, as determined by the Assistant Secretary; (ii)completed a Program-related trade curriculum apprenticeship, or an equivalent apprenticeship, as determined by the Assistant Secretary in consultation with the Secretary of Labor; or (iii)enrolled in at least a two-year or four-year higher education institution, trade manufacturing institution, or vocational school and completed necessary pre-requisite courses and training as determined by the Assistant Secretary; (B)be a United States citizen; and (C)demonstrate proficiency in language skills or provide a plan to obtain the language skills necessary to participate in the Program with respect to the allied nation the participant will be placed in. (2)

Additional considerations

In selecting Program participants, the Assistant Secretary may consider a variety of factors, including whether participants— (A)have experience as a manager or supervisor in a field related to manufacturing; (B)have experience as an instructor or trainer in a vocation or apprentice program; (C)hold a degree in a field related to manufacturing; (D)are in a position at a training program overseen by a labor organization; (E)have experience as an administrator in a higher education institution related to manufacturing; or (F)hold a faculty position in a higher education institution related to manufacturing. (e)

Structure of program

(1)

Work plan

To carry out the purposes described in subsection (b)— (A)with respect to Program participants, the Assistant Secretary shall, in coordination with United States diplomatic and consular posts in allied nations, Manufacturing USA, and other relevant Government agencies— (i)approve a work plan that identifies the target objectives for the participants, including specific duties and responsibilities relating to those objectives; (ii)approve the manufacturing sectors, companies, or institutions in allied nations in which the participants will conduct their workforce exchange; (iii)coordinate and be authorized to enter into agreements with the Secretary of Labor and other relevant Government agencies to provide credentials or recognition of on-the-job training for participants that align with manufacturing industry standards upon completion of the Program; (iv)ensure that the knowledge, skills, and processes acquired by the participant are documented, where practicable, through model-based work instructions, digital assembly documentation, other digital manufacturing knowledge capture platforms, or social media platforms, and disseminated in a public form to Manufacturing USA, manufacturing institutions, and employers upon the participant’s return; and (v) find ways for students enrolled in a higher education institution or a vocational or apprenticeship program to receive course credit after participation, to the best extent possible; and (B)the participants shall— (i)participate in pre-travel orientation and information sessions to learn about their host allied nation, the format of the Program, and the work and training expected; (ii)participate in advanced coursework, research projects, or practical training opportunities, offered by the host institution during completion of the Program; (iii)engage with industry partners and skilled experts to gain hands-on experience with respect to best practices in the manufacturing industry; (iv)participate in research projects or practical training opportunities offered by the host institution during completion of the Program; (v)participate in professional development activities, such as conferences, workshops, trainings, and seminars, to expand knowledge of best practices in manufacturing; (vi)train with a professional skilled tradesperson who has specialized expertise related to a manufacturing sector; (vii)record or track, to the best extent possible, their experiences and skills learned, to share with the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Manufacturing USA, manufacturing institutions, and other relevant government entities; (viii)serve as a cultural and workforce ambassador of the United States, fostering mutual understanding with the host country’s manufacturing community; (ix)participate in professional development activities, such as conferences, workshops, trainings, and seminars, to expand knowledge of global best practices in manufacturing; (x)build and strengthen networks with international peers, skilled tradespersons, and industry professionals to facilitate ongoing collaboration and knowledge exchange; (xi)receive, upon completion of the Program, industry recognized credentials, certificates, letters of completion, or equivalents, to mark the completion of training in the relevant skill or skills developed during the Program; and (xii)be recognized, upon completion of the Program, as alumni and, as such, be eligible to participate in applicable Department of State educational and cultural affairs alumni networks, activities, and professional development opportunities, subject to the availability of appropriations. (2)

Program period

Program periods shall be for a duration to be determined by the Assistant Secretary but may not be for a period longer than 12 months. A one-time renewal for a period not longer than 6 months may be granted by the Assistant Secretary in consultation with the relevant United States diplomatic and consular post and allied nation government. (f)

Exchange award

The Assistant Secretary shall provide each Program participant with a stipend that is equal to the amount needed for the participant’s reasonable costs during the Program period, which may include— (1)living expenses, including housing, basic food costs, and daily transportation; (2)essential training materials; (3)mandatory visa application, immigration fees, and other essential pre-departure requirements; (4)relocation expenses including airline and rail for Program required travel; (5) in-country travel allowance essential to travel to manufacturing sites and institutions and Program related travels; (6)health care for participant and dependents; (7)software licenses, digital training platforms, and digital tools necessary to participate in trainings and skills learning; and (8)other reasonable related costs approved by the Assistant Secretary. (g)

Reports

Not later than one year after the date of completion of the Program by the initial cohort of participants, and on an annual basis thereafter, the Assistant Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report providing information on the implementation of the Program, including— (1)with respect to Program participants— (A)background information, including— (i)qualifications; (ii)geographical origins; and (iii) any other relevant information the Assistant Secretary determines necessary; (B)the number of participants; (C)the institutes, sectors, and companies the participants were placed with; (D)the type of work training the participants engaged in; (E)the types of cultural events and activities the participants engaged in; (F)feedback on the Program and lessons learned; (G)the jobs, vocations, or trades sought after or obtained after completing the Program; and (H) feedback from the host institution, industry, or company about the contributions of the participants; (2)a description of manufacturing or work placements selected and their relation to the development of United States region-specific specialties under the Program; (3)a plan for factoring in the lessons learned and acquired skills-based knowledge into Program going forward; (4)the total amount of funds used in support of the Program and efforts taken to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of the funds used, including encouraging industry partnerships and support of the program; (5)any potential legislative recommendations to improve or enhance the Program to achieve the goals; (6)post-Program information that includes— (A)the job, vocation, or trade the former participant has sought after or obtained; and (B)a report from the host institution, industry, or company the participant found placement in, about the contributions of the participants; (7)a description of the digital tools, platforms, and methodologies used to capture and transfer manufacturing knowledge from host institutions to United States employers and training programs, and an assessment of their effectiveness; and (8)the total amount of funds used in support of the Program and efforts taken to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of the funds used, including encouraging industry partnerships and support of the program.