[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 124 (Tuesday, July 23, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H7168-H7172]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AMERICAN MANUFACTURING LEADERSHIP ACT
Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 2397) to amend the National Institute of Standards
and Technology Act to make changes to the implementation of the network
for manufacturing innovation, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2397
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 ``American Manufacturing
Leadership Act''.
SEC. 2. CHANGES IN IMPLEMENTATION OF MANUFACTURING USA.
Section 34 of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278s) is amended--
(1) in the section heading by striking ``network for
manufacturing innovation'' and inserting ``manufacturing usa
network'';
(2) by striking ``centers for manufacturing innovation''
each place it appears in subsections (a)(3)(B), (b)(1), (d),
(g), and (i) and inserting ``Manufacturing USA institutes'';
(3) by striking ``center for manufacturing innovation''
each place it appears in subsections (d)(1), (d)(4)(E), (g),
and (h)(1) and inserting ``Manufacturing USA institute'';
(4) by striking ``center'' each place it appears in
subsection (d)(2), (d)(4)(E), and (d)(5) and inserting
``Manufacturing USA institute'';
(5) in subsection (a)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Network for
Manufacturing Innovation Program'' and inserting
``Manufacturing USA Program'';
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking `` `Network for
Manufacturing Innovation Program' '' and inserting ``
`Manufacturing USA Program' '';
(C) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (G), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(ii) in subparagraph (H), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(I) to contribute to the development of regional
manufacturing innovation clusters across the Nation.''; and
(D) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking ``Network for
Manufacturing Innovation'' and inserting ``Manufacturing USA
Network'';
(6) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Network for
Manufacturing Innovation'' and inserting ``Manufacturing USA
Network''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking `` `Network for
Manufacturing Innovation' '' and inserting `` `Manufacturing
USA Network' '';
(7) in subsection (c)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Centers for
Manufacturing Innovation'' and inserting ``Manufacturing USA
Institutes'';
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking
`` `center for manufacturing innovation' is a center'' and
inserting `` `Manufacturing USA institute' is an institute'';
(ii) by striking ``Secretary'' each place it appears in
subparagraph (C) and (D) and inserting ``agency head'';
(C) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking
``center for manufacturing innovation'' and inserting
``Manufacturing USA institute'';
[[Page H7169]]
(ii) by striking subparagraph (E);
(iii) by redesignating subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), and (D)
as clauses (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv), respectively, and
moving the margins of such clauses (as so redesignated) two
ems to the right;
(iv) in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so
redesignated), by striking ``Activities of a Manufacturing
USA institute may include'' and inserting the following:
``(A) Required activities.--Activities of a Manufacturing
USA institute shall include'';
(v) in clause (i), as so redesignated, by striking ``cost,
time, and risk'' and inserting ``cost, time, or risk'';
(vi) in clause (ii), as so redesignated, by inserting
before the period at the end the following: ``addressing
workforce needs through training and education programs at
all appropriate education levels, including programs on
applied engineering'';
(vii) in clause (iii), as so redesignated, by inserting
before the period at the end the following: ``, as
appropriate'';
(viii) in clause (iv), as so redesignated, by striking
``women and minority owned'' and inserting ``women, minority,
and veteran owned''
(ix) by inserting after clause (iv) (as so redesignated)
the following:
``(v) Development of roadmaps or leveraging of existing
roadmaps with respect to technology areas being pursued by
that Manufacturing USA institute that take into account the
research and development undertaken at other Manufacturing
USA institutes and Federal agencies with respect to such
areas.''; and
(x) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Permissible activities.--Activities of a
Manufacturing USA institute may include such other activities
as the agency head, in consultation with Federal departments
and agencies whose missions contribute to, or are affected
by, advanced manufacturing, considers consistent with the
purposes described in subsection (a)(2).''; and
(D) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``centers for
manufacturing innovation'' and inserting ``Manufacturing USA
institutes'';
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``center for
manufacturing innovation'' and inserting ``Manufacturing USA
institute''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) Application.--Effective beginning on the date of the
enactment of the American Manufacturing Leadership Act, an
institute shall be subject to subsections (a)(2), (c), and
(d) in the same manner and to the same extent as such
provisions apply to a Manufacturing USA institute established
pursuant to this section if such institute--
``(i)(I) is, as of such date of enactment, considered a
Manufacturing USA institute under subparagraph (A) or
recognized as a Manufacturing USA institute under
subparagraph (B); and
``(II) as of such date of enactment, receives Federal
financial assistance under subsection (d) or otherwise
consistent with the purposes of this section; or
``(ii) is under pending agency review for such recognition
as of such date of enactment.'';
(8) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``Secretary'' and inserting ``agency
head''; and
(ii) by inserting ``for a period of not less than 5 and not
more than 7 years'' after ``financial assistance'';
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``Secretary'' each place
it appears and inserting ``agency head'';
(C) by striking paragraph (3);
(D) in paragraph (4)--
(i) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows:
``(A) Competitive, merit review.--In awarding financial
assistance under paragraph (1), the agency head shall--
``(i) use a competitive, merit review process that includes
peer review by a diverse group of individuals with relevant
expertise from both the private and public sectors; and
``(ii) ensure that the technology focus of a Manufacturing
USA institute does not substantially duplicate the technology
focus of any other Manufacturing USA institute.'';
(ii) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking ``Secretary'' and
inserting ``agency head'';
(iii) by amending subparagraph (C) to read as follows:
``(C) Performance measurement, transparency, and
accountability.--For each award of financial assistance under
paragraph (1), the agency head shall develop and implement
metrics-based performance standards to assess the
effectiveness of activities funded in making progress toward
the purposes of the Program, including the effectiveness of
Manufacturing USA institutes in advancing technology
readiness levels or manufacturing readiness levels.'';
(iv) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``the Secretary
shall'' and all that follows through ``collaborate'' and
inserting the following: ``the agency head, in coordination
with the National Program Office, as appropriate, shall
collaborate''; and
(v) in subparagraph (E)--
(I) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking
``Secretary'' and inserting ``agency head''; and
(II) in clause (x), by striking ``center for
manufacturing'' and inserting ``Manufacturing USA
institute''; and
(E) in paragraph (5)--
(i) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows:
``(A) Term of award.--
``(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), an award made to
a Manufacturing USA institute may be renewed for an
additional period not to exceed the duration of the original
funding award, subject to a rigorous merit review. In
awarding additional funds, the agency head shall consider the
extent to which the institute has made progress in achieving
the purposes described in subsection (a) and carrying out the
activities specified in subsection (c)(2).
``(ii) Existing institutes.--Notwithstanding clause (i), an
institute already in existence or undergoing a renewal
process on the date of enactment of the American
Manufacturing Leadership Act--
``(I) may continue to receive support for the duration of
the original funding award beginning on the date of
establishment of that institute; and
``(II) shall be eligible for renewal of that funding
pursuant to clause (i).'';
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``Secretary'' each
place it appears and inserting ``agency head''; and
(iii) by striking subparagraph (C);
(9) by amending subsection (e) to read as follows:
``(e) Grant Program for Public Service Activities for
Manufacturing USA Institutes Without Federal Funding.--The
Secretary may award grants on a competitive basis to
Manufacturing USA institutes that are no longer recognized as
such under subsection (c)(3)(C) to carry out workforce
development, outreach to small- and medium-sized
manufacturers, and other activities that--
``(1) are determined by the Secretary to be in the national
interest; and
``(2) are unlikely to receive private sector financial
support.'';
(10) in subsection (f)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Network for
Manufacturing Innovation Program'' and inserting
``Manufacturing USA Program'';
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(ii) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period at the end
and inserting a semicolon; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(G) to work with non-sponsoring Federal agencies to
explore and develop options for sponsoring Manufacturing USA
institutes at such agencies;
``(H) to work with sponsoring Federal agencies to develop
and implement network-wide performance goals with measurable
targets and timelines;
``(I) to help develop pilot programs that may be
implemented by the Manufacturing USA institutes to address
specific purposes of the Program, including to accelerate
technology transfer to the private sector; and
``(J) to identify and disseminate best practices for
workforce education and training across Manufacturing USA
institutes and further enhance collaboration among
Manufacturing USA institutes in developing and implementing
such practices.''; and
(C) by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows:
``(5) Hollings manufacturing extension partnership.--The
Secretary shall ensure that the National Program Office
incorporates the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership
into Program planning to ensure--
``(A) significant outreach to, participation of, and
engagement of small- and medium-sized manufacturers in
Manufacturing USA institutes across the entirety of the
manufacturing supply chain; and
``(B) that the results of the Program, including
technologies developed by the Program, reach small- and
medium-sized manufacturers and that such entities have access
to technical assistance, as appropriate, in deploying those
technologies.'';
(11) in subsection (g)--
(A) in paragraph (1)(A)--
(i) by striking ``The Secretary'' and all that follows
through ``report to the Secretary'' and inserting the
following: ``Each agency head shall require each recipient of
financial assistance from that agency under subsection (d)(1)
and any other institutes considered to be Manufacturing USA
institutes pursuant to subsection (c)(3) to annually submit
to the appropriate agency head a report''; and
(ii) by adding at the end the following: ``Each agency head
shall submit such reports to the Secretary.''; and
(B) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
``(3) Assessments by gao.--
``(A) Assessments.--Not less frequently than once every 3
years, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress an
assessment of the operation of the Program during the most
recent 3-year period, including an assessment of the progress
made towards achieving the goals specified in the national
strategic plan for advanced manufacturing required under
section 102(b)(7) of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act
of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 6622(b)(7)).
``(B) Elements.--Each assessment submitted under
subparagraph (A) shall include, for the period covered by the
report--
``(i) a review of the management, coordination, and
industry utility of the Program;
``(ii) an assessment of the extent to which the Program has
furthered the purposes described in subsection (a)(2);
[[Page H7170]]
``(iii) such recommendations for legislative and
administrative action as the Comptroller General considers
appropriate to improve the Program; and
``(iv) an assessment as to whether any prior
recommendations for improvement made by the Comptroller
General have been implemented or adopted.'';
(12) in subsection (h)--
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``subsection (e)'' and
inserting ``subsection (k)''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(7) Collaborations with other federal agencies.--The
Secretary shall collaborate with Federal agencies whose
missions contribute to, or are affected by, advanced
manufacturing to identify and leverage existing resources at
such Federal agencies to assist Manufacturing USA institutes
in carrying out the purposes of the program specified in
subsection (a)(2). Such existing resources may include
programs--
``(A) at the Department of Labor relating to labor and
apprenticeships;
``(B) at the Economic Development Administration relating
to regional innovation, such as the Regional Innovation
Strategies program;
``(C) at the Department of Education relating to workforce
development, education, training, and retraining;
``(D) at the Department of Defense relating to procurement
and other authorities of the Department of Defense;
``(E) at the Food and Drug Administration relating to
biopharmaceutical manufacturing;
``(F) at the National Science Foundation, including the
Advanced Technological Education program;
``(G) at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
relating to procurement, workforce development, education,
training, and retraining; and
``(H) additional programs that the Secretary determines are
appropriate to support the activities of existing
Manufacturing USA institutes.''; and
(13) by adding at the end the following:
``(j) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Agency head.--The term `agency head' means the head
of any Executive agency (as defined in section 105 of title
5, United States Code), excluding the Department of Defense,
that is providing financial assistance for a Manufacturing
USA institute, including the Secretary of Commerce and the
Secretary of Energy.
``(2) Regional innovation cluster.--The term `regional
innovation cluster' has the meaning given such term in
section 27(f)(1) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology
Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3722(f)(1)).
``(k) Authorization of Appropriations.--
``(1) NIST.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the
Secretary to carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of
fiscal years 2020 through 2024.
``(2) Reservation.--Of the amount made available under
paragraph (1) the Secretary shall reserve not less than
$5,000,000 for the National Office of the Manufacturing USA
Program established under subsection (f).
``(3) Department of energy.--For Manufacturing USA
institutes operated by the Department of Energy, there are
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Energy--
``(A) $70,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020, 2021, and
2022; and
``(B) $84,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 and
2024.''.
SEC. 3. INCREASED EMPHASIS ON REGIONAL INNOVATION WITHIN AND
EXTENSION OF REGIONAL INNOVATION PROGRAM.
Section 27 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation
Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3722) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(2) by adding at the end the following
new subparagraph:
``(I) Developing relationships at the local level to build
supply chains and use existing capabilities of entities
operating on that level to bring economic growth to suburban
and rural areas.''; and
(2) in subsection (g)(2) by striking ``2019'' and inserting
``2024''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Texas (Ms. Johnson) and the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas.
General Leave
Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks
and to include extraneous material on H.R. 2397, the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise in support of H.R. 2397, the American Manufacturing Leadership
Act.
I thank Ms. Stevens for her leadership in introducing this bipartisan
bill and for her commitment to developing legislation that will help
strengthen America's manufacturing base.
I also thank my colleagues on the other side of the aisle who have
worked with us to develop and advance this important legislation.
Back in 2014, I was proud to support the original Revitalize American
Manufacturing Innovation Act that established the Manufacturing USA
program. That bipartisan bill was sponsored by Tom Reed and Joe
Kennedy and was signed into law by President Obama.
Since its inception 5 years ago, the Manufacturing USA program has
grown to support 14 manufacturing institutes focused on a variety of
technology areas, ranging from 3D printing to groundbreaking energy-
saving manufacturing processes.
H.R. 2397 would ensure the continued success of the Manufacturing USA
program by reauthorizing the program for another 5 years and by
allowing agencies to renew funding for institutes after reviewing the
institutes' progress on clear performance goals.
This bill also strengthens the ability of the institutes to leverage
existing programs all across the Federal Government to improve their
role in regional innovation, education and training, defense technology
procurement, and other activities.
Today, manufacturing remains a vital component of our Nation's
economy and national security. H.R. 2397 will help to grow our
manufacturing industry and to bring along with it many good-paying jobs
for our workforce.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise today in support of H.R. 2397, the American Manufacturing
Leadership Act. This legislation reauthorizes and amends the bipartisan
Revitalize American Manufacturing Innovation Act of 2014.
Nationally, manufacturing supports nearly 13 million American jobs,
or roughly 9 percent of the workforce, and represents about 11 percent
of the American economy. Most of these firms are small manufacturers,
supporting local economies by providing well-paying jobs.
Technology will continue to change this sector dramatically. Today's
manufacturing floor looks far different from the assembly lines of the
past, and the skills needed by manufacturing workers will continue to
change.
Innovative processes, such as additive manufacturing, are
transforming the future of manufacturing. It is essential that these
technologies are transferred to and adopted by all U.S. manufacturers
so that we remain globally competitive and the number one destination
for companies looking to carry out advanced manufacturing.
With manufacturers in the United States performing 64 percent of all
private sector R&D in the Nation, it is important that we capitalize on
these investments and reauthorize the network of public-private
partnerships established in this act, which bolster manufacturing
innovation.
This bill includes important reforms to better coordinate centers for
manufacturing innovation funded by all relevant agencies and
incorporates recommendations made by the Government Accountability
Office to improve management. This bill also prioritizes manufacturing
workforce development and outreach to small and medium-sized
manufacturers.
I thank Representative Stevens and Representative Balderson for
introducing this legislation and for their work in ushering it through
the Science Committee on a bipartisan basis. I encourage my colleagues
to support this legislation.
I would note to my colleague that I have no other speakers so, as I
reserve my time, when the gentlewoman is prepared, I will close.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the
gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Stevens).
Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to have been joined by my
colleagues to introduce H.R. 2397, the American Manufacturing
Leadership Act. I thank Chairwoman Johnson,
[[Page H7171]]
Ranking Member Lucas, Representatives Balderson and Gonzalez, and the
sponsors of the original Revitalize American Manufacturing Innovation
Act, Representatives Kennedy and Reed, for their partnership in leading
this legislation and for being such great champions for advanced
manufacturing.
Today is a great day. It is a great legislative day and a great day
for American manufacturing, for innovation, for our workforce, and for
the effective utilization of our Federal Government to advance, grow,
and compete.
Today, the American Manufacturing Leadership Act reauthorizes the
Manufacturing USA program through bipartisan support and the willpower
of our Federal Government.
What began in Youngstown, Ohio, as a pilot initiative, the vision of
a lab that would usher in 3D printing applications, workforce training
programs, and the transfer of new technologies across the country and
into the supply chain, is now one of the 14 institutes encompassing
various research concentrations. Those include Lightweight Innovations
for Tomorrow Institute located in Detroit; REMADE Institute in
Rochester, New York; Digital Manufacturing Institute in Chicago; and
PowerAmerica in North Carolina for battery technology.
This work is in my blood, and it is part of why I came to Congress.
It is also imperative for our role in global competition and for the
investment in industrial policy and strategy vis-a-vis sound economic
policy.
We will ensure that Manufacturing USA can continue to contribute to
the growth of our domestic advanced manufacturing base and an advanced
manufacturing workforce to fill the high-skilled jobs of the future.
AMLA authorizes agencies to renew their institutes for an additional
period of funding following a fair review of the institutes' progress.
It also strengthens the important partnership between Manufacturing USA
and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, as well as other
relevant programs across the Federal Government.
Finally, the bill authorizes funding to allow the National Institute
of Standards and Technology, NIST, and the Department of Energy to
continue funding their current institutes and stand up at least one
additional institute in fiscal year 2020 and each year thereafter.
The real strength of these institutes lies in the consortium model,
with the private partners contributing at least 50 percent of the
funding.
In 2017 alone, Manufacturing USA raised almost $180 million in
investments from the private sector from nearly 1,300 manufacturers,
universities, community colleges, government labs, and NGOs.
They are only able to do this because the Federal Government sets the
table and provides support in the planning, development, management,
and operation of each institute.
Manufacturing USA institutes provide critical U.S. global leadership
in advanced manufacturing.
{time} 1430
The institutes serve as a unique collaborative platform for industry
and academia to engage in best-in-class expertise to solve challenges
and usher in new innovations.
The program is making, I believe, incredible strides in workforce
development for the future and existing workforce. For example, in
2017, the LIFT institute in Detroit reached over 160,000 students
across the country through innovative web-based curricula, as well as
in-person training programs. And the Manufacturing Institute in
Chicago, the digital manufacturing lab, has used a taxonomic approach
to codifying job roles specific to the changing nature of advanced
manufacturing brought on by the Internet of Things.
The United States will never be able to compete by bringing back the
manufacturing of yesterday. We can celebrate our milestones--50 years
since we landed on the Moon--as we usher in the innovations to improve
the lives and outcomes of our manufacturing base for the next 50 years.
The American Manufacturing Leadership Act has already been endorsed
by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, the American
Society for Mechanical Engineers, the Bipartisan Policy Center, and the
American Association of Manufacturers.
To the small and midsized manufacturers, to the suppliers, to the
complex web of craftsmanship, to the future engineer, to the computer
programmer, to the student dreaming in Livonia, Michigan, about what
they are going to do, this one is for you.
I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman
from Massachusetts (Mr. Kennedy).
Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairwoman for her
extraordinary leadership on this issue for years, for the effort that
she led on getting this passed in Congress several years ago, and her
entire staff, the staff on both sides of the aisle when this bill was
initially passed.
I also want to thank Congresswoman Stevens for her incredible
enthusiasm and dedication to workers across Michigan, across her
district, but for never losing sight of what manufacturing means for
this country, what this country was built on, and the men and women who
make it all possible.
Mr. Speaker, a few years ago, when I introduced the Revitalize
American Manufacturing and Innovation Act, it was guided by one thing:
the people in my district. They were workers from Fall River to
Taunton, to Milford, to Newton, who built more than just products on
factory floors. They built entire companies; they built communities;
and they built families.
Those same workers have made this legislation, this national
manufacturing network, successful over the past 5 years because they
have brought their ideas, their determination, and their passion and
pushed our manufacturing industry forward. They have refused to leave
anyone behind.
Centers like the Advanced Functional Fabrics of America, based at
MIT, the research now is focused on defense and health but has
consequences in a broad variety of additional innovations, has over 100
members from various States across this country pioneering new
technologies that will make their way into American homes and make our
soldiers and troops safer along the way.
By collaborating with local academia, especially with community
colleges and vocational-technical schools, those workers are passing
their skills, their expertise and experiences to a new generation of
men and women who will follow in their footsteps.
As the roots of these institutes continue to expand deep into
communities, from Cambridge to Youngstown to Detroit and San Jose,
American workers will build new companies, stronger communities, and
secure families from the abundant resources that we produce together.
Above all else, the workers who lift our economy to great heights on
factory floors deserve an economy that works just as hard for them as
they do for our Nation. I urge all my colleagues to support this
reauthorization.
I congratulate Ms. Stevens for work well done, and I thank the
chairwoman again.
Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to
close.
I rise again in support of H.R. 2397, the American Manufacturing
Leadership Act. This bipartisan legislation takes important steps to
reform the Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act of
2014.
It requires greater coordination among the centers for manufacturing
innovation and incorporating GAO recommendations on the management of
these centers. Most importantly, this bill prioritizes manufacturing
workforce development and outreach to small- and medium-sized
manufacturers.
These public-private partnerships combine the technical knowledge
base supported by our excellent universities and research institutions
with innovation leadership supported by our private industries, both
large and small. These centers provide the U.S. with the opportunity to
lead the world in advanced manufacturing competitiveness.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I simply urge all Members on both
sides of the aisle to support the bill.
[[Page H7172]]
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Johnson) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 2397, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to amend
the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act to make changes
to the implementation of the Manufacturing USA Network, and for other
purposes.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________