[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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