[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 30, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S3084]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
STRENGTHENING SUPPORT FOR AMERICAN MANUFACTURING ACT
Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the
Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 290, S.
2116.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 2116) to require the Secretary of Commerce to
produce a report that provides recommendations to improve the
effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of Department of
Commerce programs related to supply chain resilience and
manufacturing and industrial innovation, and for other
purposes.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill,
which had been reported from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation with an amendment to strike all after the enacting
clause and insert in lieu thereof the following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Strengthening Support for
American Manufacturing Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives.
(2) Covered offices and bureaus.--The term ``covered
offices and bureaus'' means offices and bureaus of the
Department of Commerce identified under section 3(a)(1).
(3) Critical supply chain.--The term ``critical supply
chain'' means an end-to-end system that converts raw
materials into finished products in critical sectors,
including in--
(A) the defense industrial base;
(B) the public health and biological preparedness
industrial base;
(C) the information and communications technology
industrial base;
(D) the energy sector industrial base;
(E) the transportation industrial base; and
(F) agricultural supply chains.
(4) Critical supply chain resilience.--The term ``critical
supply chain resilience'' means mitigating gaps and
vulnerabilities in critical supply chains, including by--
(A) reducing risk of malicious sabotage or external or
internal manipulation; and
(B) improving the ability to withstand supply chain
interruptions such as logistical challenges and workforce,
materials, equipment, or product shortages.
(5) Manufacturing and industrial innovation.--The term
``manufacturing and industrial innovation'' means--
(A) providing assistance, resources, or services to
manufacturers or manufacturing workers in the United States;
(B) offering expertise, improvements, research, and
development or other assistance in technological innovations
or advanced manufacturing in partnership with or for use by
manufacturers in the United States; or
(C) developing policy that substantially impacts the
manufacturing sector in the United States.
(6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Commerce.
SEC. 3. STUDY RELATING TO MANUFACTURING PROGRAMS OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE.
(a) Assessment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall produce a report
that--
(1) identifies offices and bureaus of the Department of
Commerce with responsibilities related to--
(A) critical supply chain resilience; and
(B) manufacturing and industrial innovation;
(2) identifies the duties, responsibilities, programs, and
expertise relevant to critical supply chain resilience and
manufacturing and industrial innovation of each covered
office and bureau;
(3) identifies and assesses the purpose, statutory
authority, effectiveness, efficiency, and limitations of each
covered office and bureau;
(4) identifies gaps between offices with duplicative duties
responsibilities, programs, and expertise within the
Department of Commerce that are implementing activities
related to critical supply chain resilience and manufacturing
and industrial innovation; and
(5) provides recommendations to improve the effectiveness,
efficiency, and impact of each covered office and bureau,
including recommendations to--
(A) optimize operations within or across covered offices
and bureaus;
(B) improve coordination across covered offices and
bureaus; and
(C) improve coordination with Federal agencies implementing
similar activities related to critical supply chain
resilience and manufacturing and industrial innovation.
(b) National Academy of Public Administration.--The
Secretary shall contract with the National Academy of Public
Administration in producing the report under subsection (a).
(c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date on
which the Secretary produces the report under subsection (a),
the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of
Congress--
(1) the report produced under subsection (a);
(2) recommendations for potential legislative action
addressing recommendations in the report produced under
subsection (a); and
(3) a response from the Secretary to the recommendations
included in the report produced under subsection (a).
Mr. WHITEHOUSE. I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported
substitute amendment be agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be
considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to
reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
The committee-reported amendment, in the nature of a substitute, was
agreed to.
The bill (S. 2116), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading, was read the third time, and passed.
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