[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 51 (Wednesday, March 25, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S3789]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. SNOWE (for herself, Mr. Kohl, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Brown, and 
        Mr. Lieberman):
  S. 695. A bill to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to reduce the 
matching requirement for participants in the Hollings Manufacturing 
Partnership Program; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation.
  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today in support of critical 
legislation that I am introducing, along with Senators Kohl, Stabenow, 
Brown, and Lieberman, to reduce the cost share amount that the 
Manufacturing Extension Partnership, or MEP, faces in obtaining its 
annual funding. The MEP is a nationwide public-private network of 
counseling and assistance centers that provide our nation's nearly 
350,000 small and medium manufacturers with services and access to 
resources that enhance growth, improve productivity, and expand 
capacity. The MEP's contribution to sustaining America's manufacturing 
sector is indisputable. In fiscal year 2008 alone, MEP clients created 
or retained 57,079 jobs; provided cost savings in excess of $1.44 
billion; and generated over $10.5 billion in sales.
  At present, individual MEP centers must raise a full two-thirds of 
their funding after their fourth year of operation, placing a heavy 
burden on these centers. The National Institute of Standards and 
Technology, NIST, at the Department of Commerce, in turn, provides \1/
3\ of the centers' funding. MEP centers can meet their portion of the 
cost share requirement through funds from universities, State and local 
governments, and other institutions.
  In today's tumultuous economy, these centers are experiencing 
increased difficulties finding adequate funding from both private and 
public sources. As economic concerns weigh down on all of us, States, 
organizations, and groups that traditionally assist MEP centers in 
meeting this cost share are reluctant to expend the money--or do not 
have the resources to do so.
  Our bill is simple and straightforward. It would reduce the statutory 
cost share that MEP centers face to 50 percent for all years of the 
centers' operation. Frankly, the Nation's MEP centers are subject to an 
unnecessarily restrictive cost share requirement. It is inequitable, as 
the MEP is the only initiative out of the 80 programs funded by the 
Department of Commerce that is subject to a statutory cost share of 
greater than 50 percent. There is no reason for this to persist, 
particularly not during this trying economy when so many manufacturers 
are trying to remain afloat.
  The MEP is an essential resource for small and medium manufacturers 
nationwide. With centers in all 50 States, as well as Puerto Rico, its 
reach is unmatched and its experience in counseling manufacturers is 
unrivaled. It is my hope that my colleagues will support this 
legislation as a direct way to bolster an industry that is 
indispensable to our Nation's economy health.
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