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116th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session } { 116-121
======================================================================
AMERICAN MANUFACTURING LEADERSHIP ACT
_______
June 19, 2019.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, from the Committee on Science,
Space, and Technology, submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 2397]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, to whom
was referred 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, having considered the same, report
favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill
as amended do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
I. Amendment.......................................................2
II. Purpose of the Bill.............................................5
III. Background and Need for the Legislation.........................5
IV. Committee Hearings..............................................6
V. Committee Consideration and Votes...............................6
VI. Summary of Major Provisions of the Bill........................11
VII. Section-by-Section Analysis (by Title and Section).............11
VIII. Committee Views................................................12
IX. Cost Estimate..................................................12
X. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate......................12
XI. Compliance With Public Law 104-4 (Unfunded Mandates)...........14
XII. Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations...............14
XIII. Statement on General Performance Goals and Objectives..........14
XIV. Federal Advisory Committee Statement...........................15
XV. Duplication of Federal Programs................................15
XVI. Earmark Identification.........................................15
XVII. Applicability to the Legislative Branch........................15
XVIII.Statement on Preemption of State, Local, or Tribal Law.........15
XIX. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported..........15
XX. Proceedings of Full Committee Markup...........................31
I. Amendment
The amendment is as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``American Manufacturing Leadership
Act''.
SEC. 2. CHANGES IN IMPLEMENTATION OF NETWORK FOR MANUFACTURING
INNOVATION.
Section 34 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act
(15 U.S.C. 278s) is amended----
(1) in subsection (a)----
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Network for
Manufacturing Innovation Program'' and inserting
``Manufacturing USA Program''; and
(B) 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.'';
(2) in subsection (c)----
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Secretary'' each
place it appears in subparagraph (C) and (D) and
inserting ``agency head'';
(B) in paragraph (2)----
(i) by striking subparagraph (E);
(ii) 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;
(iii) in the matter preceding clause (i) (as
so redesignated), by striking ``Activities of a
center for manufacturing innovation may
include'' and inserting the following:
``(A) Required activities.--Activities of a center
for manufacturing innovation shall include'';
(iv) 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'';
(v) in clause (iii), as so redesignated, by
inserting before the period at the end the
following: ``, as appropriate'';
(vi) by inserting after clause (iv) (as so
redesignated) the following:
``(v) Development of roadmaps with respect to
technology areas being pursued by that center
for manufacturing innovation that take into
account the research and development undertaken
at other centers for manufacturing innovation
and Federal agencies with respect to such
areas.''; and
(vii) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Permissible activities.--Activities of a center
for manufacturing innovation 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
(C) in paragraph (3), by adding at the end the
following:
``(C) Application.--Effective beginning on the date
of the enactment of the American Manufacturing
Leadership Act, a manufacturing center 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
center for manufacturing innovation established
pursuant to this section if such center----
``(i)(I) is, as of such date of enactment,
considered a center for manufacturing
innovation under subparagraph (A) or recognized
as a center for manufacturing innovation 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.'';
(3) 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) 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
center for manufacturing innovation does not
substantially duplicate the technology focus of
any other center for manufacturing
innovation.'';
(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.'';
(iv) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``the
Secretary shall'' and all that follows through
``collaborate'' and inserting the following:
``agency head, in coordination with the
National Program Office, as appropriate, shall
collaborate''; and
(v) in subparagraph (E), by striking
``Secretary'' and inserting ``agency head'';
and
(D) 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 center for manufacturing
innovation 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 center has made progress in achieving the
purposes described in subsection (a) and
carrying out the activities specified in
subsection (c)(2).
``(ii) Existing centers.--Notwithstanding
clause (i), a center 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 center; and
``(II) shall be eligible for renewal
of that funding pursuant to clause
(i).''; and
(ii) in subparagraphs (B) and (C), by
striking ``Secretary'' each place it appears
and inserting ``agency head'';
(4) by amending subsection (e) to read as follows:
``(e) Grant Program for Public Service Activities for Centers for
Manufacturing Innovation Without Federal Funding.--The Secretary may
award grants on a competitive basis to centers of manufacturing
innovation 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.'';
(5) in subsection (f)----
(A) 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 centers for
manufacturing innovation 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 centers for manufacturing innovation
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 centers for
manufacturing innovation and further enhance
collaboration among centers for manufacturing
innovation in developing and implementing such
practices.''; and
(B) 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
centers for manufacturing innovation 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.'';
(6) 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 manufacturing
centers considered to be centers for
manufacturing innovation 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 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);
``(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.'';
(7) in subsection (h)--
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``subsection (e)''
and inserting ``subsection (k)''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(6) 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 centers of manufacturing
innovation 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 centers for manufacturing innovation.''; and
(8) by adding at the end the following:
``(j) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Agency head.--The term `agency head' means the head of
a Federal agency that is providing financial assistance for a
center of manufacturing innovation, 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 Network for
Manufacturing Innovation Program established under subsection
(f).
``(3) Department of energy.--For centers of manufacturing
innovation 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''.
II. Purpose of the Bill
The purpose of the bill is to amend the National Institute
of Standards and Technology Act to reauthorize the network for
manufacturing innovation and make changes to the implementation
of the network. These changes include an increase in activities
in workforce development and outreach to small manufacturers,
and the development of network-wide performance metrics.
III. Background and Need for the Legislation
The Manufacturing USA Institutes are a national network of
institutes focused on accelerating innovation in industry-
relevant manufacturing technologies to support the
commercialization of these technologies. Each Institute is a
public-private partnership that leverages industry, academic,
and federal resources to solve non-competitive/pre-competitive
technical challenges in select advanced manufacturing sectors.
The Institutes started as an initiative of the Obama
Administration in 2012 and were authorized by Congress in 2014
through passage of the Revitalizing American Manufacturing and
Innovation (RAMI) Act, included in the FY15 Appropriations Act.
Technology areas for the fourteen Institutes vary widely, and
include 3D printing, advanced robotics, smart manufacturing,
and advanced composites.
The Manufacturing USA Program has been operational for five
years and several reports, including from the GAO, the National
Academies, and Deloitte, have evaluated the success of the
Institutes in achieving their overall goal of strengthening the
U.S. advanced manufacturing base. The consensus from these
reports is that the Institutes are successfully leveraging the
public-private partnership model to convene industry and
academic partners to make joint R&D investments in technologies
essential to commercializing cutting-edge advanced
manufacturing techniques. However, these reviews have found
that there is still room for improvement for the Institutes to
deliver on the purposes of the Program. The American
Manufacturing Leadership Act (H.R. 2397) incorporates
suggestions from these reports to reauthorize the Manufacturing
USA Program and make some changes to the Program.
IV. Committee Hearings
On March 26, 2019, the Honorable Haley Stevens presiding,
the Research and Technology Subcommittee and the Energy
Subcommittee of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
held a joint hearing to review the successes and further
opportunities for the Manufacturing USA Institutes to achieve
the goal of improving the competitiveness of U.S.
manufacturing. There were five witnesses: 1) Mr. Ryan Myers,
Director of Business Development, DoD for Hexagon Manufacturing
Intelligence (Hexagon MI); 2) Mr. Mike Molnar, Director of the
Office of Advanced Manufacturing at the National Institute of
Standards and Technology (NIST); 3) Dr. John Hopkins, CEO of
the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation
(IACMI); 4) Ms. Valri Lightner, Acting Director of the Advanced
Manufacturing Office under the Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy at the Department of Energy; 5) Dr. Mitchell
Dibbs, Associate R&D Director for External Technology--
Government Programs at the Dow Chemical Company. Witnesses and
Members discussed the benefits of the public-private
partnership model, the need to ensure sustainability for the
institutes, and opportunities to enhance education and
workforce training and outreach to small and medium size
manufacturers.
V. Committee Consideration and Votes
As summarized in Section IV of this report, the
Subcommittee on Research and Technology and the Energy
Subcommittee heard testimony in the 116th Congress relevant to
the activities authorized in H.R. 2397 at a hearing held on
March 26, 2019.
On April 30, 2019, Representative Haley Stevens of the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for herself and
Representatives Balderson, Kennedy, Reed, Eddie Bernice Johnson
of Texas, and Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio, introduced H.R. 2397,
the American Manufacturing and Leadership Act, to reauthorize
the Manufacturing USA program and make changes to the
implementation of the program.
The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology met to
consider H.R. 2397 on Tuesday, May 1, 2019 and considered the
following amendments to the bill:
1. Ms. Stevens offered an amendment to make technical and
conforming amendments to the underlying legislation. The
amendment was agreed to by a voice vote.
2. Mr. Lamb and Mr. Gonzalez offered an amendment that
authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to award grants to
institutes that no longer receive substantial federal funding
under the Manufacturing USA Program in order to continue
federal support for education and workforce training; outreach
to small businesses for that institute's technology area; and
other activities that the private sector is highly unlikely to
support on its own. The amendment was agreed to by a voice
vote.
3. Mr. Posey and Mr. Lamb offered an amendment to add NASA
to a list of agencies that the Secretary of Commerce can
collaborate with to ensure the Manufacturing USA Program is
fully leveraging all relevant Federal programs to achieve
Program purposes. The amendment was agreed to by a voice vote.
4. Mr. Weber offered an amendment to require a sunset on
funding for all institutes after 7 years. The amendment was not
agreed to by a roll call vote of 13 ayes and 20 nays.
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
5. Mr. Weber offered an amendment to add a spending
limitation such that the funding for centers for manufacturing
innovation must come from within the total funds appropriated
to each agency in each fiscal year and adds a hard cap on
funding such that agencies cannot by law exceed the amounts
authorized in this legislation. The amendment was not agreed to
by a roll call vote of 14 ayes and 20 nays.
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Ms. Johnson moved that the Committee favorably report the
bill, H.R. 2397, as amended, to the House with the
recommendation that the bill be approved. The motion was agreed
to by a voice vote.
Ms. Johnson moved that: (1) the staff be authorized to make
any necessary technical and conforming changes to the bill; and
(2) that Members have two subsequent calendar days in which to
submit supplemental, minority, or additional views on the
measure.
VI. Summary of Major Provisions of the Bill
The American Manufacturing Leadership Act (H.R. 2397) would
extend the Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation
(RAMI) Act of 2014 to all agencies sponsoring Manufacturing USA
Institutes, allow for the continuation of the Manufacturing USA
Program through the authorization of funding renewals, and
expand authorities of the NIST Advanced Manufacturing National
Program Office.
VII. Section-by-Section Analysis (by Title and Section)
Sec. 1 Short title
``American Manufacturing Leadership Act''
Sec. 2 Changes in implementation of network for manufacturing
innovation
This section makes changes to the Revitalize American
Manufacturing and Innovation (RAMI) Act of 2014. In particular,
this section: adds contributing to the development of regional
innovation clusters in manufacturing to the purposes of the
Manufacturing USA Program; extends the requirements of the RAMI
Act to all agencies sponsoring Manufacturing USA institutes
(whereas previously the requirements had applied only to the
Department of Commerce (DOC)/NIST); strengthens the institutes'
role in advanced manufacturing workforce development and in
outreach to and inclusion of small and medium sized businesses;
authorizes agencies to renew institutes for an additional
period of funding following a rigorous review of the
institute's progress toward meeting measureable goals; and
ensures that the technology focus of any institute does not
substantially overlap with the technology focus of any other
institute.
This section also expands the authorities of the
Manufacturing USA Program office housed at NIST to collaborate
with other agencies, including to develop network-wide
performance goals; help develop pilot programs for the
institutes; and identify and disseminate best practices in
education and workforce training to the network of institutes.
Additionally, this section strengthens the partnership between
the Manufacturing USA Program and the Manufacturing Extension
Partnership Program to ensure better engagement of small
businesses in the institutes; ensures more consistent annual
reporting from each institute; ties the GAO reviews of the
Manufacturing USA Program to the national strategic plan for
advanced manufacturing required by the America Competes Act of
2010; and ensures that the Program is fully leveraging relevant
programs across the Federal government to help the institutes
achieve their goals. Finally, this section authorizes $25
million for NIST for each of fiscal years 2020-2024; $70
million for DOE for each of fiscal years 2020-2022; and $84
million for DOE for each of fiscal years 2023-2024 in order to
enable each agency to continue funding their current institutes
and stand up at least one additional institute.
Sec. 3. Increased emphasis on regional innovation within and extension
of regional innovation program
This section reauthorizes the Department of Commerce
Economic Development Administration Regional Innovation Program
originally authorized in the America Competes Act of 2010 for
an additional 5 years and adds language on developing
relationships to build supply chains to the list of permissible
activities under Program grants.
VIII. Committee Views
The Committee intends that this legislation shall not
decrease the autonomy of each funding agency to select and
oversee its own center(s) for manufacturing innovation
consistent with that agency's mission. It is also the
Committee's intention that the additional authorities granted
to the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST)
enable NIST to provide shared tools for new and existing
centers to carry out their purposes and activities, without
granting NIST any new authorities over new or existing centers
supported entirely by other agencies. Finally, the Committee
does not intend for this legislation to increase reporting
requirements for centers. Rather, the Committee intends the
onus be on agencies to better coordinate and collaborate to
streamline and standardize some of the reporting requirements,
including performance metrics, as appropriate. The Committee
understands that some metrics and reporting requirements will
continue to be unique to individual agencies. However, a
system-wide assessment of the outcomes of Federal investments
in the Manufacturing USA Program requires at least some
standardization in metrics and reporting.
IX. Cost Estimate
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the Committee adopts as its own the
estimate of new budget authority, entitlement authority, or tax
expenditures or revenues contained in the cost estimate
prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office
pursuant to section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974.
X. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, May 29, 2019.
Hon. Eddie Bernice Johnson,
Chairwoman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Madam Chairwoman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 2397, the American
Manufacturing Leadership Act.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is David Hughes.
Sincerely,
Keith Hall,
Director.
Enclosure.
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Major Provisions
H.R. 2397 would increase the amounts authorized to be
appropriated for the Manufacturing USA grant program that funds
collaborative research and development efforts among academia,
government, and private industry to solve advanced
manufacturing challenges. Manufacturing USA is administered and
funded by the National Institute of Standards and Technology
(NIST) and the Department of Energy (DOE).\1\ The bill also
would extend the authorization for the Regional Innovation
Program administered by the Economic Development Administration
(EDA).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Partners include federal agencies with missions related to
advanced manufacturing in the United States, including the Department
of Defense, Department of Education, Department of Energy, Department
of Health and Human Services, Department of Labor, National Aeronautics
and Space Administration, National Science Foundation, Small Business
Administration, and U.S. Department of Agriculture.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Federal Costs
Increases in spending subject to appropriation under H.R.
2397 are shown in Table 1. CBO estimates that implementing the
bill would cost $218 million over the 2020-2024 period, subject
to appropriation of the authorized amounts.
TABLE 1--ESTIMATED INCREASES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION UNDER H.R. 2397
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By fiscal year, millions of dollars--
----------------------------------------------------------------------
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2019-2024
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NIST:
Authorization........................ 0 20 20 20 20 20 100
Estimated Outlays.................... 0 9 18 20 20 20 87
DOE:
Estimated Authorization.............. 0 20 20 20 34 34 128
Estimated Outlays.................... 0 9 18 20 26 33 106
EDA:
Authorization........................ 0 10 10 10 10 10 50
Estimated Outlays.................... 0 1 3 5 8 8 25
Total Changes:
Estimated Authorization.......... 0 50 50 50 64 64 278
Estimated Outlays................ 0 19 39 45 54 61 218
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NIST = National Institute of Standards and Technology, DOE = Department of Energy; EDA = Economic Development
Administration.
Under current law, NIST is authorized to receive
appropriations of $5 million a year over the 2015-2024 period
to carry out the Manufacturing USA program. H.R. 2397 would
increase that amount to $25 million each fiscal year from 2020
to 2024. CBO estimates that implementing that provision would
cost $87 million over the 2020-2024 period.
Under current law the DOE is authorized to transfer a total
of $250 million over the 2015-2024 period to NIST to carry out
the Manufacturing USA program. To date, however, no DOE
appropriations have been provided for the Manufacturing USA
program. H.R. 2397 would authorize DOE to receive
appropriations of $70 million a year over the 2020-2022 period
and $84 million a year over the 2023-2024 period to fund and
operate centers of manufacturing innovation. Thus, over the
2020-2024 period, H.R. 2397 would increase the amounts
authorized to be appropriated to DOE for this program by $128
million, which CBO estimates would cost $106 million over the
five year period.
Finally, under current law, the authorization of
appropriations for the EDA's Regional Innovation Program
expires in 2019. H.R. 2397 would extend the $10 million a year
authorization through 2024, which CBO estimates would cost $25
million over the next five years.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is David Hughes.
The estimate was reviewed by Theresa Gullo, Assistant Director
for Budget Analysis.
XI. Federal Mandates Statement
H.R. 2397 contains no unfunded mandates.
XII. Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations
The Committee's oversight findings and recommendations are
reflected in the body of this report.
XIII. Statement on General Performance Goals and Objectives
Pursuant to clause (3)(c) of House rule XIII, the goals of
H.R. 2397 are to strengthen coordination of federal investments
in U.S. advanced manufacturing that will improve the
competitiveness of U.S. manufacturing through advanced
manufacturing research, innovation, and technology, develop
domestic advanced manufacturing capabilities, and accelerate
the development of an advanced manufacturing workforce.
XIV. Federal Advisory Committee Statement
H.R. 2397 does not create any advisory committees.
XV. Duplication of Federal Programs
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(5) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the Committee finds that no provision
of H.R. 2397 establishes or reauthorizes a program of the
federal government known to be duplicative of another federal
program, including any program that was included in a report to
Congress pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139 or the
most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance.
XVI. Earmark Identification
Pursuant to clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI, the
Committee finds that H.R. 2397 contains no earmarks, limited
tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits.
XVII. Applicability to the Legislative Branch
The Committee finds that H.R. 2397 does not relate to the
terms and conditions of employment or access to public services
or accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of
the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law 104-1).
XVIII. Statement on Preemption of State, Local, or Tribal Law
This bill is not intended to preempt any state, local, or
tribal law.
XIX. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italic, and existing law in which no
change is proposed is shown in roman):
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY ACT
* * * * * * *
SEC. 34. NETWORK FOR MANUFACTURING INNOVATION.
(a) Establishment of Network for Manufacturing Innovation
Program.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish within
the Institute a program to be known as the ``[Network
for Manufacturing Innovation Program] Manufacturing USA
Program'' (referred to in this section as the
``Program'').
(2) Purposes of program.--The purposes of the Program
are--
(A) to improve the competitiveness of United
States manufacturing and to increase the
production of goods manufactured predominantly
within the United States;
(B) to stimulate United States leadership in
advanced manufacturing research, innovation,
and technology;
(C) to facilitate the transition of
innovative technologies into scalable, cost-
effective, and high-performing manufacturing
capabilities;
(D) to facilitate access by manufacturing
enterprises to capital-intensive
infrastructure, including high-performance
electronics and computing, and the supply
chains that enable these technologies;
(E) to accelerate the development of an
advanced manufacturing workforce;
(F) to facilitate peer exchange of and the
documentation of best practices in addressing
advanced manufacturing challenges;
(G) to leverage non-Federal sources of
support to promote a stable and sustainable
business model without the need for long-term
Federal funding; [and]
(H) to create and preserve jobs[.]; and
(I) to contribute to the development of
regional manufacturing innovation clusters
across the Nation.
(3) Support.--The Secretary, acting through the
Director, shall carry out the purposes set forth in
paragraph (2) by supporting--
(A) the Network for Manufacturing Innovation
established under subsection (b); and
(B) the establishment of centers for
manufacturing innovation.
(4) Director.--The Secretary shall carry out the
Program through the Director.
(b) Establishment of Network for Manufacturing Innovation.--
(1) In general.--As part of the Program, the
Secretary shall establish a network of centers for
manufacturing innovation.
(2) Designation.--The network established under
paragraph (1) shall be known as the ``Network for
Manufacturing Innovation'' (referred to in this section
as the ``Network'').
(c) Centers for Manufacturing Innovation.--
(1) In general.--For purposes of this section, a
``center for manufacturing innovation'' is a center
that--
(A) has been established by a person or group
of persons to address challenges in advanced
manufacturing and to assist manufacturers in
retaining or expanding industrial production
and jobs in the United States;
(B) has a predominant focus on a
manufacturing process, novel material, enabling
technology, supply chain integration
methodology, or another relevant aspect of
advanced manufacturing, such as nanotechnology
applications, advanced ceramics, photonics and
optics, composites, biobased and advanced
materials, flexible hybrid technologies, and
tool development for microelectronics;
(C) as determined by the [Secretary] agency
head, has the potential--
(i) to improve the competitiveness of
United States manufacturing, including
key advanced manufacturing technologies
such as nanotechnology, advanced
ceramics, photonics and optics,
composites, biobased and advanced
materials, flexible hybrid
technologies, and tool development for
microelectronics;
(ii) to accelerate non-Federal
investment in advanced manufacturing
production capacity in the United
States; or
(iii) to enable the commercial
application of new technologies or
industry-wide manufacturing processes;
and
(D) includes active participation among
representatives from multiple industrial
entities, research universities, community
colleges, and such other entities as the
[Secretary] agency head considers appropriate,
which may include industry-led consortia,
career and technical education schools, Federal
laboratories, State, local, and tribal
governments, businesses, educational
institutions, and nonprofit organizations.
(2) Activities.--[Activities of a center for
manufacturing innovation may include--]
(A) Required activities.--Activities of a
center for manufacturing innovation shall
include the following:--
[(A)] (i) Research, development, and
demonstration projects, including
proof-of-concept development and
prototyping, to reduce the cost, time,
and risk of commercializing new
technologies and improvements in
existing technologies, processes,
products, and research and development
of materials to solve precompetitive
industrial problems with economic or
national security implications.
[(B)] (ii) Development and
implementation of education, training,
and workforce recruitment courses,
materials, and programs addressing
workforce needs through training and
education programs at all appropriate
education levels.
[(C)] (iii) Development of innovative
methodologies and practices for supply
chain integration and introduction of
new technologies into supply chains, as
appropriate.
[(D)] (iv) Outreach and engagement
with small and medium-sized
manufacturing enterprises, including
women and minority owned manufacturing
enterprises, in addition to large
manufacturing enterprises.
(v) Development of roadmaps with
respect to technology areas being
pursued by that center for
manufacturing innovation that take into
account the research and development
undertaken at other centers for
manufacturing innovation and Federal
agencies with respect to such areas.
[(E) Such other activities as the Secretary,
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).]
(B) Permissible activities.--Activities of a
center for manufacturing innovation shall
includesuch 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).
(3) Additional centers for manufacturing
innovation.--
(A) In general.--The National Additive
Manufacturing Innovation Institute and other
manufacturing centers formally recognized as
manufacturing innovation centers pursuant to
Federal law or executive actions, or under
pending interagency review for such recognition
as of the date of enactment of the Revitalize
American Manufacturing and Innovation Act of
2014, shall be considered centers for
manufacturing innovation, but such centers
shall not receive any financial assistance
under subsection (d).
(B) Network participation.--A manufacturing
center that is substantially similar to those
established under this subsection but that does
not receive financial assistance under
subsection (d) may, upon request of the center,
be recognized as a center for manufacturing
innovation by the Secretary for purposes of
participation in the Network.
(C) Application.--Effective beginning on the
date of the enactment of the American
Manufacturing Leadership Act, a manufacturing
center 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 center for
manufacturing innovation established pursuant
to this section if such center--
(i)(I) is, as of such date of
enactment, considered a center for
manufacturing innovation under
subparagraph (A) or recognized as a
center for manufacturing innovation
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.
(d) Financial Assistance to Establish and Support Centers for
Manufacturing Innovation.--
(1) In general.--In carrying out the Program, the
[Secretary] agency head shall award financial
assistance for a period of not less than 5 and not more
than 7 years to a person or group of persons to assist
the organization in planning, establishing, or
supporting a center for manufacturing innovation.
(2) Application.--A person or group of persons
seeking financial assistance under paragraph (1) shall
submit to the [Secretary] agency head an application
therefor at such time, in such manner, and containing
such information as the [Secretary] agency head may
require. The application shall, at a minimum, describe
the specific sources and amounts of non-Federal
financial support for the center on the date financial
assistance is sought, as well as the anticipated
sources and amounts of non-Federal financial support
during the period for which the center could be
eligible for continued Federal financial assistance
under this section.
(3) Open process.--In soliciting applications for
financial assistance under paragraph (1), the Secretary
shall ensure an open process that will allow for the
consideration of all applications relevant to advanced
manufacturing regardless of technology area.
(4) Selection.--
[(A) Competitive, merit review.--In awarding
financial assistance under paragraph (1), the
Secretary shall 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.]
(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 center for manufacturing
innovation does not substantially
duplicate the technology focus of any
other center for manufacturing
innovation.
(B) Participation in process.--
(i) In general.--No political
appointee may participate on a peer
review panel. The [Secretary] agency
head shall implement a conflict of
interest policy that ensures public
transparency and accountability, and
requires full disclosure of any real or
potential conflicts of interest on the
parts of individuals that participate
in the merit selection process.
(ii) Definition.--For purposes of
this subparagraph, the term ``political
appointee'' means any individual who--
(I) is employed in a position
described under sections 5312
through 5316 of title 5, United
States Code, (relating to the
Executive Schedule);
(II) is a limited term
appointee, limited emergency
appointee, or noncareer
appointee in the Senior
Executive Service, as defined
under paragraphs (5), (6), and
(7), respectively, of section
3132(a) of title 5, United
States Code; or
(III) is employed in a
position in the executive
branch of the Government of a
confidential or policy-
determining character under
schedule C of subpart C of part
213 of title 5 of the Code of
Federal Regulations.
[(C) Performance measurement, transparency,
and accountability.--For each award of
financial assistance under paragraph (1), the
Secretary shall--
[(i) make publicly available at the
time of the award a description of the
bases for the award, including an
explanation of the relative merits of
the winning applicant as compared to
other applications received, if
applicable; and
[(ii) develop and implement metrics-
based performance measures to assess
the effectiveness of the activities
funded.]
(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.
(D) Collaboration.--In awarding financial
assistance under paragraph (1), [the Secretary
shall, acting through the National Program
Office established under subsection (f)(1),
collaborate] agency head, in coordination with
the National Program Office, as appropriate,
shall collaborate with Federal departments and
agencies whose missions contribute to or are
affected by advanced manufacturing.
(E) Considerations.--In selecting a person
who submitted an application under paragraph
(2) for an award of financial assistance under
paragraph (1), the [Secretary] agency head
shall consider, at a minimum, the following:
(i) The potential of the center for
manufacturing innovation to advance
domestic manufacturing and the
likelihood of economic impact,
including the creation or preservation
of jobs, in the predominant focus areas
of the center for manufacturing
innovation.
(ii) The commitment of continued
financial support, advice,
participation, and other contributions
from non-Federal sources, to provide
leverage and resources to promote a
stable and sustainable business model
without the need for long-term Federal
funding.
(iii) Whether the financial support
provided to the center for
manufacturing innovation from non-
Federal sources significantly exceeds
the requested Federal financial
assistance.
(iv) How the center for manufacturing
innovation will increase the non-
Federal investment in advanced
manufacturing research in the United
States.
(v) How the center for manufacturing
innovation will engage with small and
medium-sized manufacturing enterprises,
to improve the capacity of such
enterprises to commercialize new
processes and technologies.
(vi) How the center for manufacturing
innovation will carry out educational
and workforce activities that meet
industrial needs related to the
predominant focus areas of the center.
(vii) How the center for
manufacturing innovation will advance
economic competitiveness and generate
substantial benefits to the Nation that
extend beyond the direct return to
participants in the Program.
(viii) Whether the predominant focus
of the center for manufacturing
innovation is a manufacturing process,
novel material, enabling technology,
supply chain integration methodology,
or other relevant aspect of advanced
manufacturing that has not already been
commercialized, marketed, distributed,
or sold by another entity.
(ix) How the center for manufacturing
innovation will strengthen and leverage
the assets of a region.
(x) How the center for manufacturing
will encourage the education and
training of veterans and individuals
with disabilities.
(5) Limitations on awards.--
[(A) In general.--No award of financial
assistance may be made under paragraph (1) to a
center of manufacturing innovation after the 7-
year period beginning on the date on which the
Secretary first awards financial assistance to
that center under that paragraph.]
(A) Term of award.--
(i) In general.--Subject to clause
(ii), an award made to a center for
manufacturing innovation 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 center has made
progress in achieving the purposes
described in subsection (a) and
carrying out the activities specified
in subsection (c)(2).
(ii) Existing centers.--
Notwithstanding clause (i), a center
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 center;
and
(II) shall be eligible for
renewal of that funding
pursuant to clause (i).
(B) Matching funds and preferences.--The
total Federal financial assistance awarded to a
center of manufacturing innovation, including
the financial assistance under paragraph (1),
in a given year shall not exceed 50 percent of
the total funding of the center in that year,
except that the [Secretary] agency head may
make an exception in the case of large capital
facilities or equipment purchases. The
[Secretary] agency head shall give weighted
preference to applicants seeking less than the
maximum Federal share of funds allowed under
this paragraph.
(C) Funding decrease.--The amount of
financial assistance provided to a center of
manufacturing innovation under paragraph (1)
shall decrease after the second year of funding
for the center, and shall continue to decrease
thereafter in each year in which financial
assistance is provided, unless the [Secretary]
agency head determines that--
(i) the center is otherwise meeting
its stated goals and metrics under this
section;
(ii) unforeseen circumstances have
altered the center's anticipated
funding; and
(iii) the center can identify future
non-Federal funding sources that would
warrant a temporary exemption from the
limitations established in this
subparagraph.
[(e) Funding.--
[(1) General rule.--Except as provided in paragraph
(2), no funds are authorized to be appropriated by the
Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act of
2014 for carrying out this section.
[(2) Authority.--
[(A) NIST industrial technical services
account.--To the extent provided for in advance
by appropriations Acts, the Secretary may use
not to exceed $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal
years 2015 through 2024 to carry out this
section from amounts appropriated to the
Institute for Industrial Technical Services.
[(B) Energy efficiency and renewable energy
account.--To the extent provided for in advance
by appropriations Acts, the Secretary of Energy
may transfer to the Institute not to exceed
$250,000,000 for the period encompassing fiscal
years 2015 through 2024 for the Secretary to
carry out this section from amounts
appropriated for advanced manufacturing
research and development within the Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy account for the
Department of Energy.]
(e) Grant Program for Public Service Activities for Centers
for Manufacturing Innovation Without Federal Funding.--The
Secretary may award grants on a competitive basis to centers of
manufacturing innovation 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.
(f) National Program Office.--
(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish,
within the Institute, the National Office of the
Network for Manufacturing Innovation Program (referred
to in this section as the ``National Program Office''),
which shall oversee and carry out the Program.
(2) Functions.--The functions of the National Program
Office are--
(A) to oversee the planning, management, and
coordination of the Program;
(B) to enter into memorandums of
understanding with Federal departments and
agencies whose missions contribute to or are
affected by advanced manufacturing, to carry
out the purposes described in subsection
(a)(2);
(C) to develop, not later than 1 year after
the date of enactment of the Revitalize
American Manufacturing and Innovation Act of
2014, and update not less frequently than once
every 3 years thereafter, a strategic plan to
guide the Program;
(D) to establish such procedures, processes,
and criteria as may be necessary and
appropriate to maximize cooperation and
coordinate the activities of the Program with
programs and activities of other Federal
departments and agencies whose missions
contribute to or are affected by advanced
manufacturing;
(E) to establish a clearinghouse of public
information related to the activities of the
Program; [and]
(F) to act as a convener of the Network[.];
(G) to work with non-sponsoring Federal
agencies to explore and develop options for
sponsoring centers for manufacturing innovation
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 centers for manufacturing
innovation 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 centers for manufacturing innovation and
further enhance collaboration among centers for
manufacturing innovation in developing and
implementing such practices.
(3) Recommendations.--In developing and updating the
strategic plan under paragraph (2)(C), the Secretary
shall solicit recommendations and advice from a wide
range of stakeholders, including industry, small and
medium-sized manufacturing enterprises, research
universities, community colleges, and other relevant
organizations and institutions on an ongoing basis.
(4) Report to congress.--Upon completion, the
Secretary shall transmit the strategic plan required
under paragraph (2)(C) to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the
House of Representatives.
[(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
that the results of the Program reach small and medium-
sized entities.]
(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 centers for manufacturing
innovation 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.
(6) Detailees.--Any Federal Government employee may
be detailed to the National Program Office without
reimbursement. Such detail shall be without
interruption or loss of civil service status or
privilege.
(g) Reporting and Auditing.--
(1) Annual reports to the secretary.--
(A) In general.--[The Secretary shall require
each recipient of financial assistance under
subsection (d)(1) to annually submit a report
to the Secretary] Each agency head shall
require each recipient of financial assistance
from that agency under subsection (d)(1) and
any other manufacturing centers considered to
be centers for manufacturing innovation
pursuant to subsection (c)(3) to annually
submit to the appropriate agency head a report
that describes the finances and performance of
the center for manufacturing innovation for
which such assistance was awarded. Each agency
head shall submit such reports to the
Secretary.
(B) Elements.--Each report submitted under
subparagraph (A) shall include--
(i) an accounting of expenditures of
amounts awarded to the recipient under
subsection (d)(1); and
(ii) consistent with the metrics-
based performance measures developed
and implemented by the Secretary under
this section, a description of the
performance of the center for
manufacturing innovation with respect
to--
(I) its goals, plans,
financial support, and
accomplishments; and
(II) how the center for
manufacturing innovation has
furthered the purposes
described in subsection (a)(2).
(2) Annual reports to congress.--
(A) In general.--Not less frequently than
once each year until December 31, 2024, the
Secretary shall submit a report to Congress
that describes the performance of the Program
during the most recent 1-year period.
(B) Elements.--Each report submitted under
subparagraph (A) shall include, for the period
covered by the report--
(i) a summary and assessment of the
reports received by the Secretary under
paragraph (1);
(ii) an accounting of the funds
expended by the Secretary under the
Program, including any temporary
exemptions granted from the
requirements of subsection (d)(5)(C);
(iii) an assessment of the
participation in, and contributions to,
the Network by any centers for
manufacturing innovation not receiving
financial assistance under subsection
(d)(1); and
(iv) an assessment of the Program
with respect to meeting the purposes
described in subsection (a)(2).
[(3) Assessments by gao.--
[(A) Assessments.--Not less frequently than
once every 2 years, the Comptroller General
shall submit to Congress an assessment of the
operation of the Program during the most recent
2-year period.
[(B) Final assessment.--Not later than
December 31, 2024, the Comptroller General
shall submit to Congress a final report
regarding the overall success of the Program.
[(C) Elements.--Each assessment submitted
under subparagraph (A) or (B) 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);
[(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.]
(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 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);
(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.
(h) Additional Authorities.--
(1) Appointment of personnel and contracts.--The
Secretary may appoint such personnel and enter into
such contracts, financial assistance agreements, and
other agreements as the Secretary considers necessary
or appropriate to carry out the Program, including
support for research and development activities
involving a center for manufacturing innovation.
(2) Transfer of funds.--Of amounts available under
the authority provided by [subsection (e)] subsection
(k), the Secretary may transfer to other Federal
agencies such sums as the Secretary considers necessary
or appropriate to carry out the Program. No funds so
transferred may be used to reimburse or otherwise pay
for the costs of financial assistance incurred or
commitments of financial assistance made prior to the
date of enactment of the Revitalize American
Manufacturing and Innovation Act of 2014.
(3) Authority of other agencies.--In the event that
the Secretary exercises the authority to transfer funds
to another agency under paragraph (2), such agency may
accept such funds to award and administer, under the
same conditions and constraints applicable to the
Secretary, all aspects of financial assistance awards
under this section.
(4) Use of resources.--In furtherance of the purposes
of the Program, the Secretary may use, with the consent
of a covered entity and with or without reimbursement,
the land, services, equipment, personnel, and
facilities of such covered entity.
(5) Acceptance of resources.--In addition to amounts
appropriated to carry out the Program, the Secretary
may accept funds, services, equipment, personnel, and
facilities from any covered entity to carry out the
Program, subject to the same conditions and constraints
otherwise applicable to the Secretary under this
section and such funds may only be obligated to the
extent provided for in advance by appropriations Acts.
(6) Covered entity.--For purposes of this subsection,
a covered entity is any Federal department, Federal
agency, instrumentality of the United States, State,
local government, tribal government, territory, or
possession of the United States, or of any political
subdivision thereof, or international organization, or
any public or private entity or individual.
(6) 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 centers of
manufacturing innovation 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 centers for
manufacturing innovation.
(i) Patents.--Chapter 18 of title 35, United States Code,
shall apply to any funding agreement (as defined in section 201
of that title) awarded to new or existing centers for
manufacturing innovation.
(j) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Agency head.--The term ``agency head'' means the
head of a Federal agency that is providing financial
assistance for a center of manufacturing innovation,
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 Network for
Manufacturing Innovation Program established under
subsection (f).
(3) Department of energy.--For centers of
manufacturing innovation 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.
* * * * * * *
----------
STEVENSON-WYDLER TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION ACT OF 1980
* * * * * * *
SEC. 27. REGIONAL INNOVATION PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a regional
innovation program to encourage and support the development of
regional innovation strategies, including regional innovation
clusters.
(b) Cluster Grants.--
(1) In general.--As part of the program established
under subsection (a), the Secretary may award grants on
a competitive basis to eligible recipients for
activities relating to the formation and development of
regional innovation clusters.
(2) Permissible activities.--Grants awarded under
this subsection may be used for activities determined
appropriate by the Secretary, including the following:
(A) Feasibility studies.
(B) Planning activities.
(C) Technical assistance.
(D) Developing or strengthening communication
and collaboration between and among
participants of a regional innovation cluster.
(E) Attracting additional participants to a
regional innovation cluster.
(F) Facilitating market development of
products and services developed by a regional
innovation cluster, including through
demonstration, deployment, technology transfer,
and commercialization activities.
(G) Developing relationships between a
regional innovation cluster and entities or
clusters in other regions.
(H) Interacting with the public and State and
local governments to meet the goals of the
cluster.
(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.
(3) Eligible recipient defined.--In this subsection,
the term ``eligible recipient'' means--
(A) a State;
(B) an Indian tribe;
(C) a city or other political subdivision of
a State;
(D) an entity that--
(i) is a nonprofit organization, an
institution of higher education, a
public-private partnership, a science
or research park, a Federal laboratory,
or an economic development organization
or similar entity; and
(ii) has an application that is
supported by a State or a political
subdivision of a State; or
(E) a consortium of any of the entities
described in subparagraphs (A) through (D).
(4) Application.--
(A) In general.--An eligible recipient shall
submit an application to the Secretary at such
time, in such manner, and containing such
information and assurances as the Secretary may
require.
(B) Components.--The application shall
include, at a minimum, a description of the
regional innovation cluster supported by the
proposed activity, including a description of--
(i) whether the regional innovation
cluster is supported by the private
sector, State and local governments,
and other relevant stakeholders;
(ii) how the existing participants in
the regional innovation cluster will
encourage and solicit participation by
all types of entities that might
benefit from participation, including
newly formed entities and those rival
existing participants;
(iii) the extent to which the
regional innovation cluster is likely
to stimulate innovation and have a
positive impact on regional economic
growth and development;
(iv) whether the participants in the
regional innovation cluster have access
to, or contribute to, a well-trained
workforce;
(v) whether the participants in the
regional innovation cluster are capable
of attracting additional funds from
non-Federal sources; and
(vi) the likelihood that the
participants in the regional innovation
cluster will be able to sustain
activities once grant funds under this
subsection have been expended.
(C) Special consideration.--The Secretary
shall give special consideration to
applications from regions that contain
communities negatively impacted by trade.
(5) Special consideration.--The Secretary shall give
special consideration to an eligible recipient who
agrees to collaborate with local workforce investment
area boards.
(6) Cost share.--The Secretary may not provide more
than 50 percent of the total cost of any activity
funded under this subsection.
(7) Outreach to rural communities.--The Secretary
shall conduct outreach to public and private sector
entities in rural communities to encourage those
entities to participate in regional innovation cluster
activities under this subsection.
(8) Funding.--The Secretary may accept funds from
other Federal agencies to support grants and activities
under this subsection.
(c) Regional Innovation Research and Information Program.--
(1) In general.--As part of the program established
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall establish a
regional innovation research and information program--
(A) to gather, analyze, and disseminate
information on best practices for regional
innovation strategies (including regional
innovation clusters), including information
relating to how innovation, productivity, and
economic development can be maximized through
such strategies;
(B) to provide technical assistance,
including through the development of technical
assistance guides, for the development and
implementation of regional innovation
strategies (including regional innovation
clusters);
(C) to support the development of relevant
metrics and measurement standards to evaluate
regional innovation strategies (including
regional innovation clusters), including the
extent to which such strategies stimulate
innovation, productivity, and economic
development; and
(D) to collect and make available data on
regional innovation cluster activity in the
United States, including data on--
(i) the size, specialization, and
competitiveness of regional innovation
clusters;
(ii) the regional domestic product
contribution, total jobs and earnings
by key occupations, establishment size,
nature of specialization, patents,
Federal research and development
spending, and other relevant
information for regional innovation
clusters; and
(iii) supply chain product and
service flows within and between
regional innovation clusters.
(2) Research grants.--The Secretary may award
research grants on a competitive basis to support and
further the goals of the program established under this
subsection.
(3) Dissemination of information.--Data and analysis
compiled by the Secretary under the program established
in this subsection shall be made available to other
Federal agencies, State and local governments, and
nonprofit and for-profit entities.
(4) Regional innovation grant program.--The Secretary
shall incorporate data and analysis relating to any
grant under subsection (b) into the program established
under this subsection.
(d) Interagency Coordination.--
(1) In general.--To the maximum extent practicable,
the Secretary shall ensure that the activities carried
out under this section are coordinated with, and do not
duplicate the efforts of, other programs at the
Department of Commerce or other Federal agencies.
(2) Collaboration.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall explore
and pursue collaboration with other Federal
agencies, including through multiagency funding
opportunities, on regional innovation
strategies.
(B) Small businesses.--The Secretary shall
ensure that such collaboration with Federal
agencies prioritizes the needs and challenges
of small businesses.
(e) Evaluation.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the
date of enactment of the Revitalize American
Manufacturing and Innovation Act of 2014, the Secretary
shall enter into a contract with an independent entity,
such as the National Academy of Sciences, to conduct an
evaluation of the program established under subsection
(a).
(2) Requirements.--The evaluation shall include--
(A) whether the program is achieving its
goals;
(B) any recommendations for how the program
may be improved; and
(C) a recommendation as to whether the
program should be continued or terminated.
(f) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Regional innovation cluster.--The term ``regional
innovation cluster'' means a geographically bounded
network of similar, synergistic, or complementary
entities that--
(A) are engaged in or with a particular
industry sector and its related sectors;
(B) have active channels for business
transactions and communication;
(C) share specialized infrastructure, labor
markets, and services; and
(D) leverage the region's unique competitive
strengths to stimulate innovation and create
jobs.
(2) State.--The term ``State'' means one of the
several States, the District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam,
American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands, or any other territory or possession
of the United States.
(g) Funding.--
(1) General rule.--Except as provided in paragraph
(2), no funds are authorized to be appropriated by the
Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act of
2014 for carrying out this section.
(2) Authority.--To the extent provided for in advance
by appropriations Acts, the Secretary may use not to
exceed $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2015
through [2019] 2024 to carry out this section from
amounts appropriated for economic development
assistance programs.
* * * * * * *
XX. Proceedings of the Full Committee Markup
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Chairwoman Johnson. Without objection, the bill is
considered as read and open to amendment at any point.
I recognize Ms. Stevens for 5 minutes on the bill.
Ms. Stevens. Thank you, Chairwoman Johnson.
We are thrilled by H.R. 2397, the American Manufacturing
Leadership Act, this bipartisan legislation to reauthorize and
strengthen the Manufacturing USA program. The Manufacturing USA
program is a longstanding initiative that has gone a long way
to support advanced manufacturing in various research
concentrations all throughout the country.
The earliest Institute out of Manufacturing USA, America
Makes, was stood up in Youngstown, Ohio, in 2012 for the
purpose of propelling 3-D printing applications and workforce
training models. The National Network for Manufacturing
Innovation, later renamed Manufacturing USA, was formalized in
the Revitalized American and Manufacturing and Innovation Act
of 2014 to support R&D, tech transfer, and R&D efforts in
various research concentrations. Today, there are 14 institutes
in the network, including the LIFT Institute in southeastern
Michigan, LIFT standing for Lightweight Innovations.
As we heard in our Committee hearing on advanced
manufacturing back in March, the strength of these institutions
lies in the public-private partnership. The private partners,
who contribute at least 50 percent of the cost, come together
to collaborate on precompetitive R&D projects in specific
technology areas. They are only able to do this because of the
support from the Federal Government in the planning,
development, management, and operations for each of the
institutes. The Federal funding also helps research, education,
and outreach activities that the private sector is unlikely to
support on its own.
The Manufacturing USA Institutes provide critical U.S.
global leadership in advanced manufacturing. They also serve as
unique collaborative platforms. Collaboration is the way to
success in the 21st century for U.S. industry and academia to
exchange their expertise, to solve challenges, and push the
bounds of innovation. 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 NGO's.
The program is making great strides in workforce
development as well. For example, in 2017 the LIFT Institute
reached over 160,000 students across the country through
innovative web-based curricula, as well as in-person training
programs. The Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation
Institute has also catalogued the job profiles specific to the
digital manufacturing space and the changing nature of our
transforming economy, our IOT economy, creating a taxonomy that
many companies, large and small, have utilized to create
workforce planning and job-training in-house, as well as
planning for future hiring.
H.R. 2397, the American Manufacturing Leadership Act, or
AMLA, will ensure that the program can continue to contribute
to the growth of our domestic advanced manufacturing industry
and an advanced manufacturing workforce to fill the high-
skilled jobs of the future.
We will never be able to compete by trying to re-create
yesterday. We must manufacture our future. We must continue to
push the boundaries of innovation, to grow the industries of
tomorrow, to win that future. H.R. 2397 reauthorizes
Manufacturing USA through the year 2024 and extends the
requirements of the original RAMI act to all agencies. This is
an interagency effort that sponsors centers for manufacturing
innovation.
We would like to be clear today that each agency that funds
institutes will continue to manage its own institutes with a
significant amount of flexibility in how they do so. This
legislation only seeks to standardize some of the performance
metrics and reporting, strengthen coordination, increase
engagement of small manufacturers to help build out the entire
supply chain, and ensure each institute prioritizes education
and workforce training needs specific to its own technology
area.
Finally, this bill authorizes a total of $125 million for
NIST over 5 years, as well as $378 million for the Department
of Energy. These funds will enable each agency to continue
funding their current institutes to stand--and to stand up at
least one additional institute in Fiscal Year 2020 and each
year after.
I am particularly delighted to have been joined by
colleagues on both sides of the aisle to introduce H.R. 2397. I
would like to thank Chairwoman Johnson, Representatives
Balderson and Gonzalez. This might be one of the few instances
where Ohio and Michigan really come together to win, and the
sponsors of the original RAMI Act, Representatives Kennedy and
Reed, for their partnership in leading this legislation and for
being such great champions for advanced manufacturing.
Chairwoman Johnson. Thank you, Ms. Stevens.
Does anyone else wish to be recognized?
Mr. Lamb. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
Which we can take up later, thank you.
Chairwoman Johnson. Mr. Balderson.
Mr. Lamb. Too soon.
Mr. Balderson. Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you to my
colleague from Michigan. And one of your coaches up there is
from my hometown, so I agree with you on a couple of things, so
thank you.
I am a proud original cosponsor of the Research and
Technology Subcommittee Chairwoman Haley Stevens' bill, the
American Manufacturing Leadership Act. Because our Nation's
economy relies on the manufacturing industry, it must
prioritize policies that strengthen it.
In my home State of Ohio the manufacturing industry
accounts for 16.6 of total output and employs 12.5 percent of
our workforce or 692,000 employees. All told, manufacturing
produced $107 billion worth of output in Ohio in 2017 and
continues to grow each day.
H.R. 2397 will strengthen our Nation's largest investment
in advancing manufacturing. The Manufacturing USA program has
thrived in the past 7 years since its creation and built on
that success to strengthen our manufacturing workforce. This
bill would reauthorize the successful Revitalize American
Manufacturing and Innovation of 2014 and extend it to all
agencies sponsoring centers for manufacturing innovation
allowing more of those that invest in manufacturing to benefit
from this program.
It would further strengthen the institutes' role in
advanced manufacturing workforce development, something I am
deeply passionate about, along with outreach to and inclusion
of small and medium-sized businesses, which are vital to the
American economy.
H.R. 2397 also puts important checks, balances, and
oversight into place by encouraging the program office to
develop a pilot program for the institutes, as well as identify
for and--to best educate workforce training practices. It would
also expand Manufacturing USA's authorities to collaborate with
other agencies, including to develop network-wide performance
goals.
In addition, while this bill would authorize agencies to
renew institutes for an additional period of funding, allowing
those institutes to meet their ultimate goals, this would only
be allowed following a redress review of the institutes'
progress toward meeting measurable goals.
The manufacturing industry is a pillar of the American
economy and drives many of the other industries that make up
our country's annual GDP. Without the manufacturing industry,
the American economy would cease to exist. H.R. 2397 would
expand on manufacturing programs with proven success and
accelerate our Nation's progress in advancing advanced
manufacturing. Ultimately, this legislation leverages existing
programs across the Federal Government to help Manufacturing
USA achieve its goals.
Finally, as an advocate for small business and workforce
development, I'm excited that this bill expands to include more
small and medium-sized manufacturing since they are the
lifeline of our Nation's economy.
Once again, I thank the Chair for her support. I thank my
colleague from Michigan for her leadership on this legislation
and urge the Committee's supportive H.R. 2397.
With that, I yield back the balance of my time, Madam
Chair.
Chairwoman Johnson. Thank you, Mr. Balderson. Anyone else?
The Chair recognizes Mr. Gonzalez.
Mr. Gonzalez. Thank you, Madam Chair Johnson and Ranking
Member Lucas. Thank you for being so bipartisan. This Committee
gives me so much hope. I enjoy every minute I'm in here, and I
know it's because the two of you are providing excellent
leadership, so thank you so much.
Also, Madam Chair Stevens, for your leadership on this
legislation. I also want to thank my colleagues, Congressman
Balderson, Reed, and Kennedy and the Committee staff on both
sides of the aisle for their tireless work on this legislation.
I'm thrilled to see the implementation of provisions addressing
workforce needs and that the legislation has adopted tailored
strategies to reduce the growing skills gap in advanced
manufacturing. I'm also pleased to see that grants awarded by
using a competitive merit review process that includes
expertise from both the private and public sectors.
The American Manufacturing Leadership Act is a good piece
of legislation that prioritizes funding for small and medium-
sized businesses, the real backbone and pillar of our economy.
As our manufacturing sector goes, so does our economy and the
ability for millions of Americans to put food on their table.
Northeast Ohio relies on the strength of our manufacturing
industry with 41,000 people in my district directly working in
manufacturing and contributing $2.2 billion annually in
payroll. This bill would go a long way in helping my community
maintain a competitive edge against competitors abroad. With
other countries such as China and Germany having a more
coordinated effort and ramping up their investments to develop
advanced manufacturing technologies, we need to do more to
ensure our country stays ahead of the game and prevails as the
leader of the world in the invention of technologies.
Finally, I am glad we are here today working in a
bipartisan way to tackle the issues of the present and future.
I believe we are in a pivotal moment where new technologies in
digital manufacturing, 3-D printing, and advanced robotics,
just to name a few, are being deployed at a rapid pace, and
whichever country or countries are able to deploy them at the
fastest rate is going to win the technology race.
I encourage my colleagues to support the underlying
legislation and the competitiveness of American manufacturing.
And with that, I yield back.
Chairwoman Johnson. Thank you, Mr. Gonzalez.
Any other Members wishing to be recognized?
Seeing none, then the first amendment on the roster is an
amendment offered by the gentlelady from Michigan, and you are
recognized to present your amendment.
Ms. Stevens. Thank you, Madam Chair. I have an amendment at
the desk.
Chairwoman Johnson. The clerk will read the amendment.
The Clerk. Amendment number 1, Manager's Amendment offered
by Ms. Stevens.
[The amendment of Ms. Stevens follows:]
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Chairwoman Johnson. I ask unanimous consent to dispense
with the reading, and without objection, so ordered.
I recognize the gentlelady for 5 minutes to explain her
amendment.
Ms. Stevens. My amendment makes technical and conforming
corrections to the underlying bill, the American Manufacturing
Leadership Act. This amendment also corrects an unintentional
disparity where the original bill only authorized funding for
the Department of Energy for 4 years, although funding for the
National Institute for Science and Technology was authorized
for 5 years. This is corrected, so funding for the Department
of Energy is authorized for 5 years as well. And it's--I think
it's Standards and Technology. Thank you.
Chairwoman Johnson. Thank you very much. Are there further
discussions on the----
Mr. Lucas. Madam Chair?
Chairwoman Johnson. Mr. Lucas.
Mr. Lucas. Thank you, Chairwoman Johnson. This amendment
provides technical changes to this legislation and incorporates
the feedback from relevant stakeholders. I encourage my
colleagues to support this amendment and yield back, Madam
Chair.
Chairwoman Johnson. Thank you.
Any further comments?
Hearing none, the vote will occur on the amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
Those opposed, no.
The ayes have it, and the amendment is agreed to.
The next amendment on the roster is an amendment offered by
the gentleman from Pennsylvania, and he is recognized to offer
an amendment, Mr. Lamb.
Mr. Lamb. Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. I have an amendment
at the desk.
Chairwoman Johnson. The clerk will read the amendment.
The Clerk. Amendment number 2 offered by Mr. Lamb and Mr.
Gonzalez.
[The amendment of Mr. Lamb follows:]
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Chairwoman Johnson. I ask unanimous consent to dispense
with the reading. Without objection, so ordered.
And I recognize the gentleman to explain the amendment.
Mr. Lamb. Thank you, ma'am.
I want to thank Ms. Stevens for offering this great bill
and for giving it probably the perfect title. I think that what
this is really about is American leadership in manufacturing. I
think for a long time we were able to get by by having a work
force that basically suited the needs of manufacturing and by
engaging leadership in science and basic research and making
big jumps ahead, but while that was happening, a lot of other
places in the world were developing entire manufacturing
systems to compete with us, and it all came to a head
eventually in places like Pennsylvania and Michigan and Ohio,
which are well-represented on this Committee have seen a lot of
loss for the past couple of generations. And entire towns that
were supported by the manufacturing system we used to have,
have been hollowed out and really hurt by this. Families have
been hurt.
This is about one way that we can continue to lead the
world is by providing jobs that actually take care of these
families and support whole communities and small towns. And
we've gotten away from that. And a choice faces us now of
whether we're going to step up and take the lead on their
behalf again in this new world, in this world in which we have
lost 5 million of these manufacturing jobs as the economy has
changed and globalization has happened, most of them to China.
I think we can win the jobs that are the future. We're not
going to probably get those 5 million back, but we can create
another five in some of the new industries that are coming. And
in western Pennsylvania we have a great example of that in the
Advanced Robotics Manufacturing Institute that we have mostly
at Carnegie Mellon University. They have already done great
work with companies across the region to help them step up and
create more and more of these great family sustaining jobs in
an area that is vital to our national security, as well as our
economy. So we want to see these programs extended.
That's the focus of my amendment really is that these 14
manufacturing institutes that we have, Federal funding is going
to dry up for some of them at some point. They were not meant
to be funded fully the way they are now forever. However, some
of their work must go on, and some of it is of a public good
nature because they're working on problems that are longer and
more difficult than any individual private sector company can
do on their own.
So our goal is to have them be eligible for competitive
grants from the Federal Government going forward to continue
this important work both in advanced robotics like we have in
western Pennsylvania but in all the areas that they focus on.
So that's the focus of this amendment. I hope that everyone
will support it, and I would like to yield the balance of my
time to Mr. Gonzalez from Ohio, who has helped lead on this
amendment.
Chairwoman Johnson. Thank you, Mr. Lamb. Mr. Gonzalez.
Mr. Gonzalez. I want to thank my colleague, Mr. Lamb, for
yielding and for partnering with me on this important
amendment.
I agree with everything you just said about the future of
American manufacturing and why it's so important that we invest
in the future of our economy knowing that we're competing
against China, that the economy is changing with automation,
globalization, et cetera. We need to lead the way, and I
believe that starts here.
This amendment would directly help America Makes Center
located near my district in Youngstown, Ohio, which is
established in 2012 to work as a national accelerator for added
manufacturing and 3D Printing. America Makes should be able to
continue its important work even when the Federal funding has
ended, and this amendment helps the center achieve that.
Again, I encourage all my colleagues to support this
amendment, I thank Mr. Lamb, and with that, I yield back.
Chairwoman Johnson. Thank you, Mr. Gonzalez.
Any further comments or request for recognition?
Hearing none, the vote then occurs on the amendment.
All in favor, say aye.
Those opposed, nay.
The ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted.
The next amendment on the roster is Mr. Posey's amendment,
and--the gentleman from Florida, and he is recognized for an
explanation.
Mr. Posey. Thank you, Madam Chair. I have an amendment at
the desk.
Chairwoman Johnson. The clerk will report the amendment.
The Clerk. Amendment number 3 offered by Mr. Posey and Mr.
Lamb.
[The amendment of Mr. Posey and Mr. Lamb follows:]
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Chairwoman Johnson. I ask unanimous consent to dispense
with the reading, and without objection, so ordered.
I recognize the gentleman for 5 minutes to explain the
amendment.
Mr. Posey. Thank you, Madam Chair.
This amendment introduced by Representative Lamb and me
will allow this program to corroborate with NASA. The main
focus will be to strengthen advanced manufacturing and develop
a highly skilled work force for NASA.
Advanced manufacturing is the use of innovative technology
to improve products or processes. One type of manufacturing
used by the space industry is additive manufacturing. It's a
process that adds material to create an object. One subject is
3D Printing that we're all familiar with. Additive
manufacturing is a gamechanger and would help keep America and
particularly America's space industry in the forefront. This
amendment will help NASA to train people for these high-tech
jobs.
Additionally, it will help with research and development of
this emerging technology. For example, this technology is being
used now on the rocket engine for the Space Launch System that
reduces costs and time. One part used to require over 100
welds. Now, it has only one weld. Blue Origin and SpaceX are
both taking advantage of this new technology. This has
decreased the time from 3 years to only one 3-month period to
manufacture this particular part. This is all because of
additive manufacturing.
I'd like to thank Representative Lamb for co-leading with
me on this amendment, and my thanks go out to you, Madam Chair
in the Ranking Member, for accepting this important amendment.
Thank you, I yield back.
Chairwoman Johnson. Thank you, Mr. Posey.
Any other comments on this amendment?
Hearing none, all those in favor of the amendment, say aye.
Those opposed, nay.
Hearing none, then the amendment is adopted.
We have a Weber amendment next, and--the gentleman from
Texas, and he is recognized to offer the amendment.
Mr. Weber. Thank you, Madam Chair. I have an amendment at
the desk.
Chairwoman Johnson. The clerk will read the amendment--
report the amendment.
The Clerk. Amendment number 4 offered by Mr. Weber.
[The amendment of Mr. Weber follows:]
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Chairwoman Johnson. And I ask unanimous consent to dispense
with the reading. Without objection, so ordered.
I recognize the gentleman for 5 minutes to explain his
amendment.
Mr. Weber. Thank you, Madam Chair.
This amendment reinstates the sunset for funding provided
under this legislation. I so appreciated the gentleman from
Pennsylvania Conor Lamb's comments earlier when he said
programs weren't meant to be funded forever. This amendment
supports the original intent of Congress when we established
this program.
We provided finite, finite--and I emphasize finite
resources to fund manufacturing capabilities for industry to
develop new technologies, but once technologies matured,
industry was intended to take the lead. Now, I'm willing to
consider reauthorizing this program for a defined 7-year
period, but isn't it our job as an authorizing Committee to
wisely allocate Federal research dollars in the long term? And
we cannot do that when programs are authorized in perpetuity.
Some of you will remember that Ronald Reagan said the
closest thing on Earth to eternity was a Federal program, so we
want to be careful with that. And by the way, at the end of the
7 years, Ed Perlmutter would be 73. Today's his birthday, so we
want to wish him happy birthday.
We know that industry has the skills and resources to
commercialize new technologies but they often lack the tools
and facilities needed to develop groundbreaking technologies.
So while it makes sense to invest in the kinds of capabilities
and tools provided by these manufacturing innovation centers,
eventually industry needs to step up to the plate as each area
of technology becomes more mature. With finite dollars--again I
emphasize finite--we cannot support new research programs
without winding down old ones once we reach those technology
goals.
If we fail to provide an end date for a program's funding,
we throw a wrench in the research cycle and could actually both
eliminate industry's motivation to bring these new technologies
to the next stage and inhibit DOE and NIST's ability to enable
innovations in new areas.
A sunset provision also forces us--that's Congress--to do
our job here and regularly reevaluate the legislation we enact
to make sure programs are all still operating effectively, as
well as efficiently. In fact, the original sunset provision is
why we're holding a markup today on a bill that includes a
number of important bipartisan reforms and improvements to the
original legislation. We're making those technological changes.
We're mending it. We're making it better. I think regularly
revisiting and updating our work is a good thing.
I believe by adopting my amendment and including a sunset
after a 7-year period, we take a responsible approach to
investing taxpayer dollars while retaining our ability to
change course within the constantly evolving technology
landscape.
So I want to encourage my colleagues to wish Ed a happy
birthday and support this amendment.
Madam Chair, I yield back.
Chairwoman Johnson. Thank you, Mr. Weber. I recognize
myself to speak on the amendment.
Unfortunately, I must oppose it. I heard what you said, and
it was impressive, just not convincing. The Manufacturing USA
program is the United States' largest investment in advanced
manufacturing with an annual investment of Federal funding of
around $200 million. Moreover, the private sector is already
matching that investment two-to-one.
Other countries recognize the value of investing in
advanced manufacturing and are dedicating 10 times the amount,
with Germany operating a $2 billion network of advanced
manufacturing institutes. Moreover, these countries are in it
for the long term, decades even without any discussion of
sunsets. They understand that technology development takes
time. We didn't invent the personal computer in a day, and we
should not expect the development and demonstration of advanced
manufacturing techniques to occur overnight either.
Also a matter of policy I do not think we should be putting
sunsets in programs that we authorize. The appropriators, with
approval by the full Congress, makes decisions on an annual
basis as to whether a program continues to merit Federal
support. Similarly, agencies already have the authority to stop
funding any Institute if it is no longer meeting the goals or
if it is clear that the private sector can and will continue
without Federal support.
Finally, as authorizers, we can always revisit these
questions ourselves through oversight and further
reauthorizations. Putting a sunset in a law preemptively is not
smart policy if we are committed to ensuring the best return on
our Federal investment. Securing long-term financial support
for the Manufacturing USA program is our best shot for
reclaiming American leadership in advanced manufacturing across
the globe. For that reason, I must oppose this amendment and
remind us all that this is a reauthorization that we are
discussing today.
I yield back.
Mr. Lucas. Madam Chair?
Chairwoman Johnson. Mr. Lucas.
Mr. Lucas. Madam Chair, first, let me note to the Committee
that I always have a certain hesitation about stepping between
two Texans who are in a state of disagreement. That can be a
challenging position. But I would say this amendment does
restore the sunset provision of the underlying legislation, and
while I'm supportive of the underlying bill, I believe we in
Congress do have sometimes to make really tough choices, and
that includes setting limits on how long a program can receive
Federal funding.
This amendment allows for a 7-year reauthorization of funds
for the Centers of Manufacturing Innovation included in this
bill. But after that period it transitions funding to the
private sector. Sunsets also ensure Congress does its job and
regularly reviews authorization. This good government provision
was included in the original legislation we seek to reauthorize
today, so I see no reason why we can't support including it in
today's language.
With that I encourage my colleagues to support the
amendment, and I continue enthusiasm to support the underlying
base bill when we're done.
I yield back, Madam Chair.
Chairwoman Johnson. Thank you, Mr. Lucas.
Any further presentations requested?
Hearing none, then the vote occurs on the motion of Mr.
Weber's motion to put a--on his amendment.
Those in favor, say aye.
Those opposed, nay.
The nays have it.
Mr. Weber. Madam Chair, I'd request a recorded vote.
Chairwoman Johnson. A recorded vote has been requested, and
further proceedings will be postponed, as we announced earlier
with--at the end of the meeting. Thank you, Mr. Weber. Let's
see. Do you have another amendment?
Mr. Weber. Yes, ma'am, I do. Let me jump over to it real
quick.
Chairwoman Johnson. OK.
Mr. Weber. I got to look to my calendar to see who else's
birthday is today. I've used up Ed's.
Thank you, Chairwoman Johnson.
My amendment adds a requirement that no additional funds
are authorized to carry out this legislation. Instead, my
amendment directs NIST and DOE to fund the work authorized
under this legislation. Oh, I'm sorry. I have an amendment at
the desk. Yes.
Chairwoman Johnson. The clerk will report the amendment.
The Clerk. Amendment number 5 offered by Mr. Weber.
[The amendment of Mr. Weber follows:]
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Chairwoman Johnson. I ask unanimous consent to dispense
with the reading, and then we'll ask Mr. Weber to explain his
amendment.
Mr. Weber. If you can tell me where I left off, I'll pick
up there.
Chairwoman Johnson. I'm trying to make you forget it.
Mr. Weber. My amendment adds a requirement that no
additional funds are authorized to carry out this legislation.
Instead, I want to note of course that we have limited funding,
finite funding. Instead, my amendment directs NIST and DOE to
fund the work authorized under this legislation using those
amounts already appropriated to these agencies without
increasing overall spending. Did I mention we have a finite
source of money? That's what we're supposed to have.
Today, DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy, EERE, is funded at almost $2.4 billion with a B, a
budget that dwarfs those of the other applied research programs
at the Department. Currently, DOE's Centers for Manufacturing
Innovation are funded through this office and make up a small
part of DOE's annual $320 million in funding for advanced
manufacturing research. With our national debt at $22 trillion
with a T and climbing with a C, we can't increase overall
spending every time we establish priorities for Federal
research programs. We just can't do that. We don't live in a
world with unlimited resources, so again, it's our job to
prioritize the resources we have and make sure that we are
investing limited Federal dollars in programs that actually
benefit the American taxpayer.
Now, I think a case can be made for prioritizing the
research program and partnerships authorized in this
legislation, don't misunderstand, but it's very clear that DOE
already receives ample funding to maintain this program and
meet the goals established in this bill without another topline
spending increase.
I believe this is a commonsense proposal. It's Congress'
duty, and I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment.
I yield back.
Chairwoman Johnson. Thank you, Mr. Weber. I recognize
myself to speak on the amendment.
My colleague from Texas wants us all to think and act
responsibly with Federal funds, and I am very appreciative of
that and sympathetic to his point of view. However, we have
different priorities about where any cuts or restrictions
should apply, and this particular amendment is not one that I
can support. If anything, we were very conservative in the
funding level we did to recommend for this legislation. Many
stakeholders are pushing us to include enough funds for many
more institutes, not just a few.
As a general policy matter, I'm concerned both about
imposing unfunded mandates on agencies and setting a hard cap
on the program funding rather than leaving agencies some
flexibility to update investment priorities as the needs occur.
If we disagree with decisions being made by any agency under
any administration, the Committee has the authority and the
responsibility to take action at that time. However, imposing
funding restrictions in advance is not a good way to support
research and development and ensure success of Manufacturing
USA program.
I also want to point out that we are not spending money on
these bills. That is the job of the Appropriations Committee.
If they decide the Manufacturing USA program is worthy of
additional support, they can find money in a broader array of
accounts than our Committee is jurisdictionally permitted to
access. I don't think we should be placing limitations on the
Appropriations Committee to make these decisions.
And so for those reasons I oppose this amendment, and I
yield back. Any further----
Mr. Lucas. Madam Chair?
Chairwoman Johnson. Mr. Lucas.
Mr. Lucas. Thank you, Chairwoman Johnson.
This amendment would require funding authorized in the bill
to be provided from within existing authorized levels of NIST
and DOE and, as with the previous amendment, I believe it's a
good government provision. We do not have unlimited funds
available, as our colleague from Texas has noted, and it's our
job in Congress to occasionally make tough choices about our
top priorities, and this amendment would allow us to
specifically authorize what I believe is important
manufacturing research without increasing overall spending in
these agencies.
No legislation is perfect, and I am supportive of this
legislation. We still have some areas of disagreement on the
best way to prioritize our research, but as I close, I'd like
to reiterate my gratitude to Chairwoman Johnson and Chairwoman
Stevens for working with our Members and staff to incorporate
many of the changes we requested in this legislation. I
appreciate your commitment to moving a bipartisan bill forward
through this Committee, and with that, I encourage my
colleagues to support the amendment and yield back, Madam
Chair.
Chairwoman Johnson. Thank you, Mr. Lucas.
Any further comments requested?
Hearing none, then the vote occurs on the amendment.
All in favor, say aye.
Those opposed, say no.
It appears that the noes have it.
Mr. Weber. Madam Chair?
Chairwoman Johnson. Mr.----
Mr. Weber. I would request a recorded vote.
Chairwoman Johnson. Thank you. Further proceedings on this
will be postponed until we do the votes at the end. Thank you
very much.
H.R. 1237
Chairwoman Johnson. We will now consider H.R. 1237, the
COAST Research Act. The clerk will report the bill.
The Clerk. H.R. 1237.
[The bill follows:]
All in favor, say aye.
Those opposed, nay.
The ayes have it, and it's agreed to
Are there any further amendments to the bill?
If not, then a reporting quorum being present, I move that
the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology report H.R.
988, as amended, to the House, with a recommendation that the
bill be approved.
Those in favor of the motion will signify by saying aye.
Those opposed, nay.
The ayes have it. The bill is favorably reported.
Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the
table.
I ask unanimous consent that the staff be authorized to
make any necessary technical and conforming changes to the
bill. Without objection, so ordered.
Members will have 2 subsequent calendar days in which to
submit supplementary minority or additional views on the
measure.
And we're going to recess for 10 minutes, and then we'll
come back and have the roll call votes, and so the purpose of
making sure everyone is notified that a vote will be occurring.
So we're in recess. We're trying to finish before the House
goes in session.
[Recess.]
Chairwoman Johnson. The Committee will come to order.
We are reassembled for the consideration of two amendments.
The question is on the Weber number 4 amendment, and the clerk
will report--well, I guess just call the roll.
The Clerk. Chairwoman Johnson?
Chairwoman Johnson. No.
The Clerk. Chairwoman Johnson, no.
Ms. Lofgren?
Ms. Lofgren. No.
The Clerk. Ms. Lofgren, no.
Mr. Lipinski?
[No response.]
The Clerk. Ms. Bonamici?
Ms. Bonamici. No.
The Clerk. Ms. Bonamici, no.
Mr. Bera?
Mr. Bera. No.
The Clerk. Mr. Bera, no.
Mr. Lamb?
Mr. Lamb. No.
The Clerk. Mr. Lamb, no.
Mrs. Fletcher?
Mrs. Fletcher. No.
The Clerk. Mrs. Fletcher, no.
Ms. Stevens?
Ms. Stevens. No.
The Clerk. Ms. Stevens, no.
Ms. Horn?
Ms. Horn. No.
The Clerk. Ms. Horn, no.
Ms. Sherrill?
Ms. Sherrill. No.
The Clerk. Ms. Sherrill, no.
Mr. Sherman?
[No response.]
The Clerk. Mr. Cohen?
Mr. Cohen. No.
The Clerk. Mr. Cohen, no.
Mr. McNerney?
Mr. McNerney. No.
The Clerk. Mr. McNerney, no.
Mr. Perlmutter?
Mr. Perlmutter. For my good friend Mr. Weber, no.
Mr. Weber. Happy birthday to you, too.
The Clerk. Mr. Perlmutter, no.
Mr. Tonko?
[No response.]
The Clerk. Mr. Foster?
Mr. Foster. No.
The Clerk. Mr. Foster, no.
Mr. Beyer?
Mr. Beyer. No.
The Clerk. Mr. Beyer, no.
Mr. Crist?
Mr. Crist. No.
The Clerk. Mr. Crist, no.
Mr. Casten?
Mr. Casten. No.
The Clerk. Mr. Casten, no.
Ms. Hill?
[No response.]
The Clerk. Mr. McAdams?
Mr. McAdams. No.
The Clerk. Mr. McAdams, no.
Ms. Wexton?
Ms. Wexton. No.
The Clerk. Ms. Wexton, no.
Mr. Lucas?
Mr. Lucas. Aye.
The Clerk. Mr. Lucas, aye.
Mr. Brooks?
Mr. Brooks. Aye.
The Clerk. Mr. Brooks, aye.
Mr. Posey?
Mr. Posey. Aye.
The Clerk. Mr. Posey, aye.
Mr. Weber?
Mr. Weber. Aye.
The Clerk. Mr. Weber, aye.
Mr. Babin?
Mr. Babin. Aye.
The Clerk. Mr. Babin, aye.
Mr. Biggs?
[No response.]
The Clerk. Mr. Marshall?
[No response.]
The Clerk. Mr. Norman?
[No response.]
The Clerk. Mr. Cloud?
Mr. Cloud. Aye.
The Clerk. Mr. Cloud, aye.
Mr. Balderson?
Mr. Balderson. Aye.
The Clerk. Mr. Balderson, aye.
Mr. Olson?
Mr. Olson. Aye.
The Clerk. Mr. Olson, aye.
Mr. Gonzalez?
Mr. Gonzalez. Aye.
The Clerk. Mr. Gonzalez, aye.
Mr. Waltz?
Mr. Waltz. Aye.
The Clerk. Mr. Waltz, aye.
Mr. Baird?
[No response.]
The Clerk. Ms. Herrera Beutler?
Ms. Herrera Beutler. Yes.
The Clerk. Ms. Herrera Butler, aye.
Ms. Gonzalez-Colon?
Ms. Gonzalez-Colon. Aye.
The Clerk. Ms. Gonzalez-Colon, aye.
Chairwoman Johnson. Are there Members who haven't voted or
would like to change their vote?
Mr. Lipinski. Madam Chair?
Chairwoman Johnson. Mr. Lipinski?
Mr. Lipinski. No.
The Clerk. Mr. Lipinski, no.
Chairwoman Johnson. Mr. Tonko?
Mr. Tonko. Tonko, no.
The Clerk. Mr. Tonko, no.
Chairwoman Johnson. Any other Members?
Mr. Baird. Yes.
Chairwoman Johnson. Mr. Baird votes aye.
The Clerk. Mr. Baird, aye.
Mr. Baird. Aye.
Chairwoman Johnson. All reported, the clerk will report.
The Clerk. Madam Chair Johnson?
Chairwoman Johnson. Yes.
The Clerk. The noes are 20 and the ayes are 13.
Chairwoman Johnson. The noes have it. The amendment is not
adopted.
The vote now will occur on amendment number 5 by Mr. Weber.
The clerk will call the roll.
The Clerk. Chairwoman Johnson?
Chairwoman Johnson. No.
The Clerk. Chairwoman Johnson, no.
Ms. Lofgren?
Ms. Lofgren. No.
The Clerk. Ms. Lofgren, no.
Mr. Lipinski?
Mr. Lipinski. No.
The Clerk. Mr. Lipinski, no.
Ms. Bonamici?
Ms. Bonamici. No.
The Clerk. Ms. Bonamici, no.
Mr. Bera?
Mr. Bera. No.
The Clerk. Mr. Bera, no.
Mr. Lamb?
Mr. Lamb. No.
The Clerk. Mr. Lamb, no.
Mrs. Fletcher?
Mrs. Fletcher. No.
The Clerk. Mrs. Fletcher, no.
Ms. Stevens?
Ms. Stevens. No.
The Clerk. Ms. Stevens, no.
Ms. Horn?
Ms. Horn. No.
The Clerk. Ms. Horn, no.
Ms. Sherrill?
Ms. Sherrill. No.
The Clerk. Ms. Sherrill, no.
Mr. Sherman?
[No response.]
The Clerk. Mr. Cohen?
Mr. Cohen. No.
The Clerk. Mr. Cohen, no.
Mr. McNerney?
Mr. McNerney. No.
The Clerk. Mr. McNerney, no.
Mr. Perlmutter?
Mr. Perlmutter. No.
The Clerk. Mr. Perlmutter, no.
Mr. Tonko?
Mr. Tonko. No.
The Clerk. Mr. Tonko, no.
Mr. Foster?
Mr. Foster. No.
The Clerk. Mr. Foster, no.
Mr. Beyer?
Mr. Beyer. No.
The Clerk. Mr. Beyer, no.
Mr. Crist?
Mr. Crist. No.
The Clerk. Mr. Crist, no.
Mr. Casten?
Mr. Casten. No.
The Clerk. Mr. Casten, no.
Ms. Hill?
[No response.]
The Clerk. Mr. McAdams?
Mr. McAdams. No.
The Clerk. Mr. McAdams, no.
Ms. Wexton?
Ms. Wexton. No.
The Clerk. Ms. Wexton, no.
Mr. Lucas?
Mr. Lucas. Aye.
The Clerk. Mr. Lucas, aye.
Mr. Brooks?
Mr. Brooks. Aye.
The Clerk. Mr. Brooks, aye.
Mr. Posey?
Mr. Posey. Aye.
The Clerk. Mr. Posey, aye.
Mr. Weber?
Mr. Weber. Aye.
The Clerk. Mr. Weber, aye.
Mr. Babin?
Mr. Babin. Aye.
The Clerk. Mr. Babin, aye.
Mr. Biggs?
[No response.]
The Clerk. Mr. Marshall?
Mr. Marshall. Aye.
The Clerk. Mr. Marshall, aye.
Mr. Norman?
[No response.]
The Clerk. Mr. Cloud?
Mr. Cloud. Aye.
The Clerk. Mr. Cloud, aye.
Mr. Balderson?
Mr. Balderson. Aye.
The Clerk. Mr. Balderson, aye.
Mr. Olson?
Mr. Olson. Aye.
The Clerk. Mr. Olson, aye.
Mr. Gonzalez?
Mr. Gonzalez. Aye.
The Clerk. Mr. Gonzalez, aye.
Mr. Waltz?
Mr. Waltz. Aye.
The Clerk. Mr. Waltz, aye.
Mr. Baird?
Mr. Baird. Aye.
The Clerk. Mr. Baird, aye.
Ms. Herrera Beutler?
Ms. Herrera Beutler. Aye.
The Clerk. Ms. Herrera Butler, aye.
Ms. Gonzalez-Colon?
Ms. Gonzalez-Colon. Aye.
The Clerk. Aye--Ms. Gonzalez-Colon, aye.
Chairwoman Johnson. Are there any other Members who haven't
voted or would like to change the vote?
The clerk will report.
The Clerk. Madam Chairwoman, the noes are 20 and the ayes
are 14.
Chairwoman Johnson. The motion--the amendment is not
adopted.
A reporting quorum being present, I move that the Committee
on Science, Space, and Technology report 23--H.R. 2397, as
amended, to the House with the recommendation that the bill
will be approved.
Those in favor of the motion will signify by saying aye.
Those opposed, no.
The ayes have it, and the bill is favorably reported.
Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the
table, and I ask unanimous consent that the staff be authorized
to make any necessary technical and conforming changes to the
bill. Without objection, so ordered.
Members will have 2 subsequent calendar days in which to
submit supplementary minority or additional views on the
measure.
Our business is now completed, and the Committee is
adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 11:51 a.m., the Committee was adjourned.]
[all]
