[House Report 109-227]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



109th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                    109-227

======================================================================



 
   PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 250, MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY 
                      COMPETITIVENESS ACT OF 2005

                                _______
                                

 September 20, 2005.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be 
                                printed

                                _______
                                

   Mr. Gingrey, from the Committee on Rules, submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                       [To accompany H. Res. 451]

    The Committee on Rules, having had under consideration 
House Resolution 451, by a nonrecord vote, report the same to 
the House with the recommendation that the resolution be 
adopted.

                SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS OF THE RESOLUTION

    The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 250, the 
Manufacturing Technology Competitiveness Act of 2005, under a 
structured rule. The rule provides one hour of general debate 
equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking 
minority member of the Committee on Science. The rule waives 
all points of order against consideration of the bill.
    The rule provides that the amendment in the nature of a 
substitute recommended by the Committee on Science now printed 
in the bill shall be considered as an original bill for the 
purpose of amendment and shall be considered as read. The rule 
waives all points of order against the committee amendment in 
the nature of a substitute.
    The rule makes in order only those amendments printed in 
this report. The rule provides that the amendments printed in 
this report may be offered only in the order printed in this 
report, may be offered only by a Member designated in this 
report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the 
time specified in this report equally divided and controlled by 
the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to 
amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for a division 
of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole. 
The rule waives all points of order against the amendments 
printed in this report.
    Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit with or 
without instructions.

                         EXPLANATION OF WAIVERS

    The waiver of all points of order against consideration of 
the bill includes a waiver of section 401(a)(1) of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (prohibiting consideration of 
legislation, as reported, providing new contract authority or 
new borrowing authority that is not limited to amounts provided 
in appropriation acts).

                  SUMMARY OF AMENDMENTS MADE IN ORDER

    (Summaries derived from information provided by the 
amendment sponsor.)
    1. Boehlert: Manager's Amendment. Requires the 
Manufacturing Extension Partnership program to assist 
businesses affected by Hurricane Katrina, and requires the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology to study the 
effects of Katrina on buildings to determine whether to 
recommend any changes in building codes. (10 minutes)
    2. Gordon: Requires the Director of the National Institute 
of Standards and Technology (NIST) to provide to the House 
Science Committee and the Senate Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation a 3-year programmatic and 
operational plan for the MEP. Requires the plan to include 
comments of the MEP National Advisory Board and of the State 
partners. (10 minutes)
    3. Jackson-Lee: Makes funds under the section titled 
``Scientific and Technical Research and Services'' available to 
the maximum extent practicable, to diverse institutions, 
including Historically Black Colleges and Universities and 
other minority serving institutions for Technical Workforce 
Education and Development. (10 minutes)
    4. Larson: Re-orients the current Technology Administration 
(TA), the Undersecretary of Technology, and Office of 
Technology Policy (OTP) towards manufacturing and 
competitiveness issues. Renames and refocuses TA by 
establishing a Manufacturing Administration, an Undersecretary 
of Manufacturing, and an Office of Industry Analysis. Requires 
the Manufacturing Administration to conduct broad-based 
manufacturing and technology policy analysis; and to coordinate 
with States, local governments, and universities on 
manufacturing and technology activities. NIST and the National 
Technical Information Service would remain a part of the 
Manufacturing Administration. (10 minutes)
    5. Udall (CO): Increases the authorization levels of NSF's 
Advanced Technological Education Program to $70 million for 
FY06, $73.5 million for FY07, and $77 million for FY08. (10 
minutes)
                              ----------                              


                    TEXT OF AMENDMENTS MADE IN ORDER


 1. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Boehlert of New York, 
               or His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  At the end of the bill, add the following new sections:

SEC. 10. KATRINA ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

  (a) Program Establishment.-- Not later than 30 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology shall establish within 
the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program established 
under sections 25 and 26 of the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k and 278l) a Katrina 
Assistance Program, to provide assistance to impacted small and 
medium-sized manufacturers in the areas affected by Hurricane 
Katrina.
  (b) Purposes.--The Katrina Assistance Program shall--
          (1) establish triage teams, consisting of personnel 
        from within the national network of Manufacturing 
        Extension Partnership Centers established under section 
        25 of the National Institute of Standards and 
        Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k) and local experts, the 
        purpose of which shall be to assist impacted 
        manufacturers;
          (2) develop virtual assistance centers, consisting of 
        databases incorporating the results and recommendations 
        of the triage team assessments;
          (3) assess the potential disruption on national 
        manufacturing supply chains as a result of Hurricane 
        Katrina, and develop recommendations of how to minimize 
        such disruption; and
          (4) provide assistance to small and medium-sized 
        manufacturers in the areas affected by Hurricane 
        Katrina, consistent with the authorities of the 
        Manufacturing Extension Partnership program established 
        under section 25 and 26 of the National Institute of 
        Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k and 278l).
  (c) No Matching Fund Requirement.--Assistance under the 
Program established under this section shall be exempt from 
matching requirements for the Manufacturing Extension 
Partnership program under the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology Act.
  (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to 
be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce such sums as may 
be necessary for the Katrina Assistance Program established 
under this section.

SEC. 11. BUILT ENVIRONMENT INVESTIGATION FOR HURRICANE KATRINA.

  (a) In General.--The Director of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology shall carry out an engineering 
performance study of the effects of Hurricane Katrina in the 
areas of Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi covered by the 
President's major disaster declarations of August 29, 2005. The 
study shall be based on an examination of physical structures 
damaged due to excessive wind, storm surge, and flooding, 
including--
          (1) key physical infrastructures such as ports, 
        utilities, lifelines associated with infrastructure 
        facilities, and transportation systems; and
          (2) engineered and nonengineered buildings.
  (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the study shall be to--
          (1) develop new knowledge concerning practices 
        related to building standards and codes; and
          (2) review the adequacy of current building codes and 
        standards for excessive wind, storm surge, and 
        flooding.
  (c) Meetings and Conferences.--The Director of the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology may convene public 
meetings and conferences to inform the public, government 
authorities, and relevant professional associations regarding 
findings and recommendations of the study.
  (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to 
be appropriated to the Director of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology $3,000,000 for carrying out this 
section.
                              ----------                              


2. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Gordon of Tennessee, or 
                 His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  At the end of section 5, add the following new subsection:
  (d) Programmatic and Operational Plan.--Not later than 120 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of 
the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall 
transmit to the Committee on Science of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate a 3-year programmatic and 
operational plan for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership 
program under sections 25 and 26 of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k and 278l). The 
plan shall include comments on the plan from the Manufacturing 
Extension Partnership State partners and the Manufacturing 
Extension Partnership National Advisory Board.
                              ----------                              


 3. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Jackson-Lee of Texas, 
               or Her Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  Page 20, after line 14, insert the following:

Funds shall be made available under this subsection, to the 
maximum extent practicable, to diverse institutions, including 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other minority 
serving institutions.
                              ----------                              


4. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Larson of Connecticut, 
               or His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  At the end of the bill, add the following new section:

SEC. 10. MANUFACTURING AND TECHNOLOGY ADMINISTRATION.

  Section 5 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act 
of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3704) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 5. MANUFACTURING AND TECHNOLOGY ADMINISTRATION.

  ``(a) Establishment.--There is established in the Department 
of Commerce a Manufacturing and Technology Administration, 
which shall operate in accordance with the provisions, 
findings, and purposes of this Act. The Manufacturing and 
Technology Administration shall include--
          ``(1) the National Institute of Standards and 
        Technology;
          ``(2) the National Technical Information Service; and
          ``(3) a policy analysis office, which shall be known 
        as the Office of Manufacturing and Technology Policy.
  ``(b) Under Secretary and Assistant Secretaries.--The 
President shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of 
the Senate, to the extent provided for in appropriations Acts--
          ``(1) an Under Secretary of Commerce for 
        Manufacturing and Technology, who shall be compensated 
        at the rate provided for level III of the Executive 
        Schedule in section 5314 of title 5, United States 
        Code;
          ``(2) an Assistant Secretary of Manufacturing who 
        shall serve as a policy analyst for the Under 
        Secretary; and
          ``(3) an Assistant Secretary of Technology who shall 
        serve as a policy analyst for the Under Secretary.
  ``(c) Duties.--The Secretary, through the Under Secretary, as 
appropriate, shall--
          ``(1) manage the Manufacturing and Technology 
        Administration and supervise its agencies, programs, 
        and activities;
          ``(2) conduct manufacturing and technology policy 
        analyses to improve United States industrial 
        productivity, manufacturing capabilities, and 
        innovation, and cooperate with United States industry 
        to improve its productivity, manufacturing 
        capabilities, and ability to compete successfully in an 
        international marketplace;
          ``(3) identify manufacturing and technological needs, 
        problems, and opportunities within and across 
        industrial sectors, that, if addressed, could make 
        significant contributions to the economy of the United 
        States;
          ``(4) assess whether the capital, technical, and 
        other resources being allocated to domestic industrial 
        sectors which are likely to generate new technologies 
        are adequate to meet private and social demands for 
        goods and services and to promote productivity and 
        economic growth;
          ``(5) propose and support studies and policy 
        experiments, in cooperation with other Federal 
        agencies, to determine the effectiveness of measures 
        for improving United States manufacturing capabilities 
        and productivity;
          ``(6) provide that cooperative efforts to stimulate 
        industrial competitiveness and innovation be undertaken 
        between the Under Secretary and other officials in the 
        Department of Commerce responsible for such areas as 
        trade and economic assistance;
          ``(7) encourage and assist the creation of centers 
        and other joint initiatives by State or local 
        governments, regional organizations, private 
        businesses, institutions of higher education, nonprofit 
        organizations, or Federal laboratories to encourage 
        technology transfer, to encourage innovation, and to 
        promote an appropriate climate for investment in 
        technology-related industries;
          ``(8) propose and encourage cooperative research 
        involving appropriate Federal entities, State or local 
        governments, regional organizations, colleges or 
        universities, nonprofit organizations, or private 
        industry to promote the common use of resources, to 
        improve training programs and curricula, to stimulate 
        interest in manufacturing and technology careers, and 
        to encourage the effective dissemination of 
        manufacturing and technology skills within the wider 
        community;
          ``(9) serve as a focal point for discussions among 
        United States companies on topics of interest to 
        industry and labor, including discussions regarding 
        manufacturing, competitiveness, and emerging 
        technologies;
          ``(10) consider government measures with the 
        potential of advancing United States technological 
        innovation and exploiting innovations of foreign origin 
        and publish the results of studies and policy 
        experiments; and
          ``(11) assist in the implementation of the Metric 
        Conversion Act of 1975 (15 U.S.C. 205a et seq.).''.
                              ----------                              


 5. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Udall of Colorado, or 
                 His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  Page 20, line 3, strike ``$55,000,000'' and insert 
``$70,000,000''.
  Page 20, line 7, strike ``$57,750,000'' and insert 
``$73,500,000''.
  Page 20, line 11, strike ``$60,600,000'' and insert 
``$77,000,000''.

                                  
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