[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 94 (Thursday, June 7, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S3363]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2516. Mr. PETERS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 2282 submitted by Mr. Inhofe (for himself and Mr. McCain) 
and intended to be proposed to the bill H.R. 5515, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2019 for military activities of the 
Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense 
activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel 
strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place in title VIII, insert the 
     following:

     SEC. ___. PLAN TO MAINTAIN STRATEGIC INFLUENCE AND 
                   PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE CENTERS THAT COMPRISE THE 
                   NETWORK FOR MANUFACTURING INNOVATION.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Centers for manufacturing innovation that comprise the 
     Network for Manufacturing Innovation, known as 
     ``Manufacturing USA'', allow manufacturing partners of the 
     Department of Defense to better achieve their missions by--
       (A) rapidly transitioning science and technology by 
     completing sponsored projects and advancing concepts through 
     prototype development;
       (B) lowering risk for technology insertion by applying new 
     manufacturing processes to reduce cycle times and utilizing 
     tools to support legacy systems;
       (C) scaling up advanced manufacturing by identifying 
     domestic sources for components and materials and advancing 
     new technologies from prototype to limited-scale production; 
     and
       (D) increasing knowledge in the advanced manufacturing 
     ecosystem by leading training programs and convening experts 
     from industry, academia, and government into one networked 
     community.
       (2) As such centers transition past the period of initial 
     funding and plan for continuation, they will reach decision 
     points that carry implications for whether Federal Government 
     goals remain a focus and are achieved.
       (3) Without influence from the Department, there is risk 
     that such centers may choose not to pursue United States-
     centric program goals, such as developing domestic workforce 
     or innovation capacity, or they may even start to advance the 
     interests of competitor counties who are able to offer 
     funding and influence.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the Secretary of Defense should develop a deliberate 
     approach to ensure an enduring focus of centers described in 
     paragraph (1) of subsection (a) on United States-centric 
     goals is maintained at each center after the initial funding 
     described in paragraph (2) of such subsection expire;
       (2) any plans of the Secretary for maintaining strategic 
     influence and partnership with the such centers should be 
     robust and accommodate the different operational models and 
     technology-specific needs of each center; and
       (3) any plans of the Secretary for continued partnership 
     with such centers should ensure the centers remain as part of 
     the Network for Manufacturing Innovation.
       (c) Plan Required.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 
     the congressional defense committees a plan to maintain 
     strategic influence and partnerships with the centers that 
     comprise the Network for Manufacturing Innovation established 
     under section 34 of the National Institute of Standards and 
     Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278s) as they transition out of 
     their initial agreements with the Secretary and remain as 
     part of such network.
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