[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 95 (Wednesday, June 23, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5320-S5321]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KOHL (for himself, Ms. Snowe, and Mr. Lieberman):
  S. 3523. A bill to reauthorize the Hollings Manufacturing Extension 
Partnership Program, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation to 
reauthorize the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program. I want to 
thank my cosponsors, Senators Snowe and Lieberman for their support of 
this legislation and for their long-time support of this program.
  For the last few years, there have been too many jobs lost, and the 
manufacturing sector has been particularly

[[Page S5321]]

hard-hit. My home State of Wisconsin has been particularly hard hit--in 
the last 10 years we have lost 168,000 manufacturing jobs, nearly a 30 
percent drop in the manufacturing workforce.
  Despite these struggles, our Nation remains the world's largest 
manufacturing economy, and still employs a sizable percentage of our 
workforce. We must continue to do better, and work harder for our 
manufacturers. To put it simply, a strong manufacturing sector means a 
strong economy. Retaining and creating manufacturing jobs grows our 
prosperity.
  That is why the MEP remains a good investment for our country. The 
MEP is the only public-private program dedicated to providing technical 
support and services to small and medium-sized manufacturers, helping 
them provide quality jobs for American workers. The MEP is a nationwide 
network of proven resources that enables manufacturers to compete 
globally, supports greater supply chain integration, and provides 
access to information, training, and technologies that improve 
efficiency, productivity, and profitability.
  MEP's results are undeniable. In fiscal year 2009 alone, based on 
services provided in 2008, MEP projects with small and medium-sized 
manufacturers created or retained 52,948 jobs nationwide, generated 
more than $9.1 billion in sales, and provided cost savings of more than 
$1.4 billion.
  In my home State of Wisconsin, the results are just as impressive. 
Wisconsin is home to two MEP Centers, and in the last year, Wisconsin 
companies that worked with the two centers were able to save or create 
more than 1,200 jobs, generate $118.6 million in sales, make $54 
million in new investments, and generate $19.3 million in cost savings.
  Our small- and medium-sized manufacturers face different challenges 
than larger companies, especially in this tough economy. The 
improvements that come to a business from working with an MEP Center 
can mean the difference between profitability and growth or shutting 
their doors. It is vital that we support our manufacturers, and so it 
is equally vital that we continue strong support for MEP.
  The bill I have introduced today reauthorizes the MEP program for 5 
years, through fiscal year 2015, and authorizes $825 million for the 
base program over those 5 years. This increase is in line with what 
President Obama called for in his budget and is a reasonable amount of 
growth at a time when we must scrutinize all Federal investments.
  The bill also includes Senator Snowe's legislation to change the 
cost-share percentage for MEP Centers to fully-access Federal funding. 
At a time of tight State budgets, and at a time when manufacturers have 
less funding to pay for MEP services, MEP Centers are finding it harder 
and harder to meet the current 2/3 cost-share requirement. The time 
they must take to meet this requirement takes away from their time with 
manufacturers. The bill changes the cost share to 50/50--in line with 
most other programs at the Commerce Department--and calls for a study 
to determine if this level is reasonable for the long-term.
  As I mentioned, state funding is one key component of a MEP Center's 
budget, and one area where funding has been constrained as of late. In 
response, this legislation authorizes a $5 million State incentive 
program. We should encourage State participation to grow this program, 
and make it a true partnership between the State, Federal Government 
and private sector.
  Finally, the bill creates a separate funding authorization for the 
Competitive Grant Program created in the 2007 America COMPETES Bill. 
This will ensure that funding for the base MEP program goes to the 
existing MEP centers and allows Congress and the Commerce Department to 
separately fund new, innovative services for our manufacturers.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 3523

       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 ``Hollings Manufacturing 
     Extension Partnership Program Reauthorization Act of 2010''.

     SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF HOLLINGS MANUFACTURING EXTENSION 
                   PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.

       (a) Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program 
     Cost-sharing.--Section 25(c) of the National Institute of 
     Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k(c)) is amended 
     by adding at the end the following:
       ``(7) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1), (3), and (5), for 
     each of the fiscal years 2011 through 2013, the Secretary may 
     not provide a Center with more than 50 percent of the costs 
     incurred by such Center and may not require that a Center's 
     cost share exceed 50 percent.
       ``(8) Not later than 2 years after the date of the 
     enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall submit a 
     report to Congress on the cost share requirements under the 
     Centers program, which shall--
       ``(A) analyze various cost share structures, including--
       ``(i) the cost share structure in place before the date of 
     the enactment of this paragraph;
       ``(ii) the cost share structure in place under paragraph 
     (7); and
       ``(iii) the effect of such cost share structures on 
     individual Centers and the overall program; and
       ``(B) include a recommendation for structuring the cost 
     share requirement after fiscal year 2013 to best provide for 
     the long-term sustainability of the program.''.
       (b) State Incentive Program.--Section 25 of such Act (15 
     U.S.C. 278k) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(g) State Incentive Program.--If a State provides 
     financial support to a Center in excess of 25 percent of the 
     capital and annual operating and maintenance funds required 
     to create and maintain such Center, the Secretary shall 
     provide such Center assistance that is--
       ``(1) in addition to assistance otherwise provided to such 
     Center under this section; and
       ``(2) in an amount determined according to a formula the 
     Secretary shall establish for purposes of this subsection.''.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--
       (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out subsections (a) through (e) of such section 25--
       (A) $145,000,000 for fiscal year 2011;
       (B) $155,000,000 for fiscal year 2012;
       (C) $165,000,000 for fiscal year 2013;
       (D) $175,000,000 for fiscal year 2014; and
       (E) $185,000,000 for fiscal year 2015.
       (2) Competitive grant program.--There is authorized to be 
     appropriated to carry out subsection (f) of such section 
     $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2011 through 2015.
       (3) State incentive program.--There is authorized to be 
     appropriated to carry out subsection (g) of such section, as 
     added by subsection (b) of this section, $5,000,000 for each 
     of the fiscal years 2011 through 2015.
       (d) Designation of Program.--
       (1) In general.--Such section 25 (15 U.S.C. 278k) is 
     further amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(h) Designation.--
       ``(1) Hollings manufacturing extension partnership 
     program.--The program under this section shall be known as 
     the `Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program'.
       ``(2) Hollings manufacturing extension centers.--The 
     Regional Centers for the Transfer of Manufacturing Technology 
     created and supported under subsection (a) shall be known as 
     the `Hollings Manufacturing Extension Centers' (in this Act 
     referred to as the `Centers').''.
       (2) Conforming amendment to consolidated appropriations 
     act, 2005.--Division B of title II of the Consolidated 
     Appropriations Act, 2005 (Public Law 108-447; 118 Stat. 2879; 
     15 U.S.C. 278k note) is amended under the heading 
     ``industrial technology services'' by striking ``2007: 
     Provided further, That'' and all that follows through 
     ``Extension Centers.'' and inserting ``2007.''.
       (3) Technical amendment.--Section 25(a) of the National 
     Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k(a)) 
     is amended in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking 
     ``Regional Centers for the Transfer of Manufacturing 
     Technology'' and inserting ``regional centers for the 
     transfer of manufacturing technology''.
                                 ______