[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 158 (Thursday, September 29, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S5902]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 6374. Mr. WHITEHOUSE (for himself and Mr. Inhofe) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 5499 submitted by Mr. 
Reed (for himself and Mr. Inhofe) and intended to be proposed to the 
bill H.R. 7900, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2023 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. 2. MANUFACTURING SKILLS RETENTION PROGRAM.

       (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Retain 
     Innovation and Manufacturing Excellence Act of 2022'' or the 
     ``RIME Act of 2022''.
       (b) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Center.--The term ``Center'' has the meaning given the 
     term in section 25(a) of the National Institute of Standards 
     and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k(a)).
       (2) Eligible manufacturer.--The term ``eligible 
     manufacturer'' means a manufacturer that--
       (A) is a small business concern, as that term is defined 
     under section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632); 
     and
       (B) has an existing relationship with a Center.
       (3) Manufacturing extension partnership.--The term 
     ``Manufacturing Extension Partnership'' means the Hollings 
     Manufacturing Extension Partnership, as that term is defined 
     under section 25(a) of the National Institute of Standards 
     and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k(a)).
       (c) Establishment.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall 
     establish a program to award Manufacturing Extension 
     Partnership grants to help ensure an adequately trained 
     manufacturing workforce.
       (2) Grants.--Under the program established pursuant to 
     paragraph (1), the Secretary may award Manufacturing 
     Extension Partnership grants to eligible Centers for the 
     eligible Centers to provide assistance to eligible 
     manufacturers in workforce programs that assist in recruiting 
     talent and retaining employees to ensure continuity of 
     critical positions including retaining retiring employees for 
     up to 180 days for the purpose of transferring job-specific 
     skills and training to existing or new employees.
       (3) Duration of engagements.--The duration of each 
     engagement under the program established pursuant to 
     paragraph (1) shall be determined through negotiations 
     between eligible Centers and eligible manufacturers.
       (d) Eligible Centers.--For purposes of the program 
     established pursuant to subsection (c)(1), an eligible Center 
     is a Center that meets the following criteria:
       (1) The Center is able to document evidence of an aging 
     workforce within manufacturing entities that are seeking 
     assistance with retaining skills and knowledge of their 
     operations.
       (2) The Center establishes a transparent application 
     process for eligible manufacturers to receive assistance 
     described in subsection (c)(2) that may include one or more 
     of the following preferences:
       (A) A preference for eligible manufacturers that employ 
     veterans discharged or released under honorable conditions.
       (B) A preference for eligible manufacturers from industry 
     sectors that are most in need of assistance as determined by 
     the Center.
       (C) A preference for eligible manufacturers with a facility 
     in the State or region for an extended period of time before 
     the application is submitted (as determined by the Center).
       (D) A preference for eligible manufacturers that have an 
     existing relationship with the Center.
       (E) A preference for eligible manufacturers seeking to 
     increase employment from underserved or at-risk populations.
       (3) The Center is able to demonstrate the ability to 
     assess, advise, and train manufacturers on how to transfer 
     job-specific skills and training through the implementation 
     of a training structure and train-the-trainer program focused 
     on knowledge capture and transfer.
       (e) Consideration.--In awarding Manufacturing Extension 
     Partnership grants under the program established pursuant to 
     subsection (c)(1), the Secretary shall give consideration to 
     the use of funds by eligible Centers to assist eligible 
     manufacturers that are experiencing employee turnover with 
     the need to transfer required job-specific skills and 
     training to new employees.
       (f) Cost Sharing.--To be eligible for a Manufacturing 
     Extension Partnership grant under the program established 
     pursuant to subsection (c)(1), an eligible Center shall 
     demonstrate that 50 percent of the amount of the grant is 
     matched from non-Federal sources, which may include cash or 
     in-kind contributions from appropriate--
       (1) State and local agencies engaged in workforce 
     development or manufacturing;
       (2) universities or community colleges;
       (3) foundations engaged in workforce development; or
       (4) employers that would stand to directly benefit from the 
     grant received by the eligible Center.
       (g) Number and Size of Awards.--
       (1) Number.--Under the program established pursuant to 
     subsection (c)(1), the Secretary may award up to 51 
     Manufacturing Extension Partnership grants to eligible 
     Centers each fiscal year.
       (2) Size.--Each Manufacturing Extension Partnership grant 
     awarded to an eligible Center under the program established 
     pursuant to subsection (c)(1) shall be for not less than 
     $50,000 and not more than $500,000.
       (h) Regional Approach for Certain States.--Given the varied 
     structures of different Centers, in order to implement the 
     program required by subsection (c)(1) in certain 
     jurisdictions, the Secretary may, in consultation with any 
     relevant local Center, elect to implement a regional approach 
     to awarding certain grants to eligible Centers pursuant to 
     this section.
       (i) Administrative Expenses.--An eligible Center receiving 
     a Manufacturing Extension Partnership grant under the program 
     required by subsection (c)(1) may use up to 5 percent of the 
     amount of the grant for the administration of expenses 
     incurred by the Center under the program.
       (j) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to 
     amounts otherwise available for such purposes, there is 
     authorized to be appropriated to the National Institute of 
     Standards and Technology $20,000,000 each fiscal year to 
     carry out the program under this section.
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