[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 99 (Thursday, June 13, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3539-S3541]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 542. Mr. COONS (for himself, Mr. Gardner, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr.
Tillis, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Peters, Mr. Moran, Mr. Rubio, and Ms.
Klobuchar) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the
bill S. 1790, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2020 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 X, insert the following:
SEC. ___. 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)--
[[Page S3540]]
(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. ___. 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
[[Page S3541]]
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), the Secretary, through the
Economic Development Administration, shall submit an annual
report to Congress 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.''.
______