Manufacturing Technology Competitiveness Act of 2004 - (Sec. 2) Directs the President to establish or designate: (1) an Interagency Committee (IC) to plan and coordinate Federal efforts in manufacturing research and development; and (2) an Advisory Committee to provide advice and information to the IC from the non-Federal manufacturing research and development community.
(Sec. 3) Amends the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (NIST Act) to require the NIST Director to establish a pilot program of collaborative manufacturing research grants to partnerships among firms, educational institutions, research institutions, State agencies, and nonprofit organizations to encourage development of innovative, multidisciplinary manufacturing technologies.
(Sec. 4) Amends the NIST Act to require the NIST Director to establish manufacturing sciences research fellowships at specified postdoctoral and senior levels.
(Sec. 5) Revises the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program under the NIST Act to require the evaluation panel to notify any MEP center of the center's performance deficiencies if it has not received a positive evaluation. Authorizes the panel to place such a center on probation for one year and then reevaluate it. Authorizes the NIST Director, if a center has not addressed the deficiencies or shown significant improvement in performance, either to conduct a new competition to select an operator for the center or to close the center.
Establishes, within the MEP program, a manufacturing extension center competitive grant program to develop projects to solve new or emerging manufacturing problems.
Requires all MEP centers to submit annual audits to the Secretary and make such audits available to the public on request.
(Sec. 6) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2005 through 2008 to the Secretary of Commerce for: (1) scientific and technical research and services laboratory activities of NIST in specified categories; (2) the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award program under the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980; and (3) construction and maintenance of NIST facilities.
(Sec. 7) Requires the NIST Director, as part of the Teacher Science and Technology Enhancement Institute Program, to carry out a Standards Education program to award competitive grants to institutions of higher education to support their efforts to develop curricula on the role of standards in the fields of engineering, business, science, and economics.
Authorizes appropriations for FY 2005 through 2008 to the Secretary of Commerce for the Teacher Science and Technology Enhancement Institute Program of NIST.
(Sec. 8) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2005 through 2008 to the Secretary of Commerce for the following NIST programs: (1) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (in this case, such funding may go through the Secretary or other appropriate Federal agencies); (2) Collaborative Manufacturing Research Pilot Grants; and (3) Manufacturing Fellowships.
[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3598 Introduced in House (IH)]
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3598
To establish an interagency committee to coordinate Federal
manufacturing research and development efforts in manufacturing,
strengthen existing programs to assist manufacturing innovation and
education, and expand outreach programs for small and medium-sized
manufacturers, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 21, 2003
Mr. Ehlers (for himself and Mr. Udall of Colorado) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish an interagency committee to coordinate Federal
manufacturing research and development efforts in manufacturing,
strengthen existing programs to assist manufacturing innovation and
education, and expand outreach programs for small and medium-sized
manufacturers, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Manufacturing Technology
Competitiveness Act of 2003''.
SEC. 2. INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE AND ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
(a) Interagency Committee.--
(1) Establishment.--The President shall establish an
interagency committee on manufacturing research and
development, which shall include representatives from the
Office of Science and Technology Policy, the National Institute
of Standards and Technology, the Small Business Administration,
the Science and Technology Directorate of the Department of
Homeland Security, the National Science Foundation, the
Department of Energy's Office of Industrial Technology, a
representative of the Department of Energy National
Laboratories with expertise in manufacturing research, and any
other agency that the President may designate. The Interagency
Committee shall be chaired by the Under Secretary of Commerce
for Manufacturing and Technology.
(2) Functions.--The Interagency Committee shall be
responsible for the planning and coordination of Federal
efforts in manufacturing research and development through--
(A) establishing goals and priorities for
coordinated manufacturing research and development,
including the strengthening of United States
manufacturing through the support and coordination of
Federal manufacturing research, development, technology
transfer, standards, and technical training;
(B) propose a coordinated interagency budget for
manufacturing research and development to the Office of
Management and Budget that will ensure the maintenance
of a balanced research portfolio and ensure that each
agency is allocated the level of funding required to
meet the goals and priorities established for
manufacturing research and development; and
(C) developing, within 6 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, and updating every 3 years, a
strategic plan, to be transmitted to the Committee on
Science of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of
the Senate, and to the President, for manufacturing
research and development that includes--
(i) an analysis of the research,
development, technology transfer, standards,
technical training, and integration needs of
the manufacturing sector important to ensuring
and maintaining United States competitiveness;
(ii) a report on the various Federal
programs involved in manufacturing research,
development, technical training, standards, and
integration, their funding levels, and the
degree to which they meet the needs identified
under clause (i);
(iii) an analysis of the gaps that exist in
those Federal programs and recommendations of
changes that should be made to fill those gaps;
and
(iv) a plan on how to better coordinate and
strengthen federally supported manufacturing
research, development, technical training, and
integration activities.
(3) Recommendations and views.--In carrying out its
functions under paragraph (2), the Interagency Committee shall
consider the input and recommendations of the Advisory
Committee and the views of academic, State, industry, and other
entities in the manufacturing research and development
community.
(4) Coordination of grant programs.--To ensure the
effective implementation of the collaborative grant program
under section 33 of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology Act, the member agencies of the Interagency
Committee shall, where practicable, coordinate their
manufacturing grant activities with that program.
(b) Advisory Committee.--
(1) Establishment.--Not later than 6 months after the date
of enactment of this Act, the President shall establish an
advisory committee to provide advice and information to the
Interagency Committee from the non-Federal manufacturing
research and development community. The Advisory Committee
shall be composed of no more than 25 members appointed by the
President, including the following:
(A) 4 members from outside the Federal Government
who are eminent in the manufacturing industry, at least
2 of whom are representatives of small and medium-sized
companies in such industry.
(B) 4 members from the academic research community
who are eminent in their field and have expertise in
the manufacturing sciences.
(C) 3 members from labor unions, a majority of
whose membership have manufacturing jobs.
(2) Input and recommendations.--The Advisory Committee
shall assist the Interagency Committee by providing it with
input and recommendations on--
(A) the goals and priorities for manufacturing
research and development; and
(B) the strategic plan, including proposals for
focus areas for research, development, technology
transfer, standards, technical training, supply chain
integration, and the identification and proposal of
technological or organizational solutions to challenges
such as outsourcing.
(3) Report.--The Advisory Committee shall also assist the
Interagency Committee in the update of its strategic plan by
providing a report every 3 years, which shall also be
transmitted to the Committee on Science of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate, and to the President, that shall
assess--
(A) the progress made in implementing the strategic
plan and challenges to this progress;
(B) the management, coordination, implementation of
activities under the strategic plan;
(C) the effectiveness of these activities in
improving United States manufacturing competitiveness;
(D) the need to revise the goals and priorities
established by the Interagency Committee; and
(E) new and emerging problems and opportunities
affecting the manufacturing research community,
including workforce issues, education, research
infrastructure, and the measurement and statistical
analysis of manufacturing that may need to be
considered by the Interagency Committee.
(4) Federal advisory committee act application.--Section 14
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act shall not apply to the
Advisory Committee.
SEC. 3. MANUFACTURING AND TECHNOLOGY.
(a) Amendment.--Section 5 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology
Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3704) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 5. MANUFACTURING AND TECHNOLOGY.
``(a) Establishment.--There is established in the Department of
Commerce a Manufacturing and Technology Administration, which shall
operate in accordance with the provisions, findings, and purposes of
this Act. The Manufacturing and Technology Administration shall
include--
``(1) the National Institute of Standards and Technology;
``(2) the National Technical Information Service; and
``(3) a policy analysis office, which shall be known as the
Office of Manufacturing and Technology Policy.
``(b) Undersecretary and Assistant Secretaries.--The President
shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to the
extent provided for in appropriations Acts--
``(1) an Under Secretary of Commerce for Manufacturing and
Technology, who shall be an individual with engineering or
management experience in manufacturing, including experience
with small and medium-sized manufacturing firms, and experience
in dealing with public policy matters related to manufacturing,
and who shall be compensated at the rate provided for level III
of the Executive Schedule in section 5314 of title 5, United
States Code;
``(2) an Assistant Secretary of Manufacturing who shall
serve as a policy analyst for the Under Secretary; and
``(3) an Assistant Secretary of Technology who shall serve
as a policy analyst for the Under Secretary.
``(c) Under Secretary's Duties.--The Secretary, through the Under
Secretary, as appropriate, shall--
``(1) manage the Manufacturing and Technology
Administration and supervise its agencies, programs, and
activities;
``(2) serve as a point of contact on Federal manufacturing
research and development, as well as broader policy issues
related to manufacturing, for discussions among industry,
academic, labor, and other groups;
``(3) provide that cooperative efforts to stimulate
industrial competitiveness and innovation be undertaken between
the Under Secretary and other officials in the Department of
Commerce responsible for such areas as trade and economic
assistance;
``(4) encourage and assist the creation of centers and
other joint initiatives by State or local governments, regional
organizations, private businesses, institutions of higher
education, nonprofit organizations, or Federal laboratories to
encourage technology transfer, to encourage innovation, and to
promote an appropriate climate for investment in technology-
related industries;
``(5) propose and encourage cooperative research involving
appropriate Federal entities, State or local governments,
regional organizations, colleges or universities, nonprofit
organizations, or private industry to promote the common use of
resources, to improve training programs and curricula, to
stimulate interest in manufacturing and technology careers, and
to encourage the effective dissemination of manufacturing and
technology skills within the wider community;
``(6) propose and support studies and policy experiments,
in cooperation with other Federal agencies, to determine the
effectiveness of measures for improving United States
manufacturing capabilities and productivity; and
``(7) ensure that activities undertaken by the
Manufacturing and Technology Administration, where appropriate,
take into account the needs of small and medium-sized
manufacturers.
``(d) Assistant Secretaries' Duties.--The Assistant Secretaries
described in subsection (b)(2) and (3) shall--
``(1) produce periodic manufacturing reports and policy
analyses for use by the Advisory Committee described in
paragraph (3), Federal agencies, policymakers, and
manufacturers, which may include such subjects as technology
trends, workforce, education, and the manufacturing economy, to
guide improvements in United States industrial productivity;
``(2) identify manufacturing and technological needs,
problems, and opportunities within and across industrial
sectors that, if addressed, could make significant
contributions to the economy of the United States;
``(3) provide technical and administrative support to the
Interagency Committee established or designated under section
2(a) of the Manufacturing Technology Competitiveness Act of
2003 and the Advisory Committee established or designated under
section 2(b) of the Manufacturing Technology Competitiveness
Act of 2003; and
``(4) conduct public outreach, including the dissemination
of findings and recommendations of the Interagency Committee
and the Advisory Committee described in paragraph (3), and of
the activities of the Manufacturing and Technology
Administration.
``(e) Report on Foreign Efforts.--Not later than one year after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Commerce for
Manufacturing and Technology shall submit a report to Congress
describing the efforts of foreign governments to attract and develop
technology-based manufacturing, including supporting technical and
scientific education, research and development, development of
standards, and encouraging technological investment from overseas.''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 4 of the Stevenson-Wydler
Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3703) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``Manufacturing and''
after ``Office of''; and
(2) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``Manufacturing and''
after ``Under Secretary of Commerce for''.
SEC. 4. COLLABORATIVE MANUFACTURING RESEARCH GRANTS.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology Act is
amended--
(1) by redesignating the first section 32 as section 34 and
moving it to the end of the Act; and
(2) by inserting before the section moved by paragraph (1)
the following new section:
``SEC. 33. COLLABORATIVE MANUFACTURING RESEARCH GRANTS.
``(a) Authority.--
``(1) Establishment.--The Director shall establish a
program of awards to partnerships among participants described
in paragraph (2) for the purposes described in paragraph (3).
Awards shall be made on a peer-reviewed, competitive basis.
``(2) Participants.--Such partnerships shall include at
least--
``(A) 1 manufacturing industry partner; and
``(B) 1 nonindustry partner.
``(3) Purpose.--The purpose of the program under this
section is to foster collaborations among firms, educational
institutions, research institutions, State agencies, and
nonprofit organizations to encourage the development of
innovative, multidisciplinary manufacturing technologies.
Partnerships receiving awards under this section shall conduct
applied research to develop new manufacturing processes,
techniques, or materials that would contribute to improved
performance, productivity, and competitiveness of United States
manufacturing, and build lasting alliances among collaborators.
``(b) Program Contribution.--Awards under this section shall
provide for not more than one-third of the costs of a partnership. Not
more than an additional one-third of such costs may be obtained
directly or indirectly from other Federal sources.
``(c) Applications.--Applications for awards under this section
shall be submitted in such manner, at such time, and containing such
information as the Director shall require. Such applications shall
describe at a minimum--
``(1) how each partner will participate in developing and
carrying out the research agenda of the partnership;
``(2) the work that the grant would fund; and
``(3) how the work to be funded with the award would
contribute to improved performance, productivity, and
competitiveness of the United States manufacturing industry.
``(d) Selection Criteria.--In selecting applications for awards
under this section, the Director shall consider at a minimum--
``(1) the degree to which projects will have a broad impact
on manufacturing;
``(2) the novelty and scientific and technical merit of the
proposed projects;
``(3) the demonstrated capabilities of the applicants to
successfully carry out the proposed research; and
``(4) any other criteria the Director may require.
``(e) Distribution.--In selecting applications under this section
the Director shall ensure, to the extent practicable a distribution of
overall awards among a variety of manufacturing industry sectors and a
range of firm sizes.
``(f) Preference.--The Director shall give preference to the
selection of applicants whose proposals include training of qualified
candidates at educational institutions or industrial facilities.
``(g) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Director shall transmit to Congress a report on the
performance of the program under this section.''.
SEC. 5. MANUFACTURING FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment.--In order to promote the development of a robust
research community working at the leading edge of manufacturing
sciences, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology shall establish a program to award--
(1) postdoctoral research fellowships to individuals who
are seeking research positions at institutions, including the
National Institute of Standards and Technology, engaged in
research activities related to manufacturing sciences; and
(2) senior research fellowships to individuals seeking
research positions at institutions, including the National
Institute of Standards and Technology, engaged in research
activities related to manufacturing sciences.
(b) Applications.--To be eligible for an award under this section,
an individual shall submit an application to the Director of the
National Institute of Standards and Technology at such time, in such
manner, and containing such information as the Director may require.
(c) Stipend Levels.--Under this section, the Director shall provide
stipends for postdoctoral research fellowships at a level consistent
with the National Institute of Standards and Technology Postdoctoral
Research Fellowship Program, and senior research fellowships at levels
consistent with support for a faculty member in a sabbatical position.
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of
Commerce for the Collaborative Manufacturing Research Grants program
under section 33 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
Act and for Manufacturing Fellowships at the National Institute of
Standards and Technology under section 5 of this Act--
(1) $41,500,000 for fiscal year 2005, of which $40,000,000
shall be for the program under section 33 of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology Act and $1,500,000 shall
be for the program under section 5 of this Act;
(2) $45,750,000 for fiscal year 2006, of which $44,000,000
shall be for the program under section 33 of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology Act and $1,750,000 shall
be for the program under section 5 of this Act;
(3) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, of which $48,000,000
shall be for the program under section 33 of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology Act and $2,000,000 shall
be for the program under section 5 of this Act; and
(4) $54,250,000 for fiscal year 2008, of which $52,000,000
shall be for the program under section 33 of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology Act and $2,250,000 shall
be for the program under section 5 of this Act.
SEC. 7. MANUFACTURING EXTENSION.
(a) Manufacturing Center Evaluation.--Section 25(c)(5) of the
National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C.
278k(c)(5)) is amended by inserting ``A Center that has not received a
positive evaluation by the evaluation panel shall be notified by the
panel of the deficiencies in its performance and placed on probation
for one year, after which time the panel shall reevaluate the Center.
If the Center has not addressed the deficiencies identified by the
panel, or shown a significant improvement in its performance, the
Director shall conduct a new competition to select an operator for the
Center.'' after ``sixth year at declining levels.''.
(b) Manufacturing Extension Center Competitive Grant Program.--
Section 25 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act
(15 U.S.C. 278k) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(e) Competitive Grant Program.--
``(1) Establishment.--The Director shall establish, within
the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program under this
section and section 26 of this Act, a program of competitive
awards among participants described in paragraph (2) for the
purposes described in paragraph (3).
``(2) Participants.--Participants receiving awards under
this subsection shall be the Centers, or a consortium of such
Centers.
``(3) Purpose.--The purpose of the program under this
subsection is to develop projects to solve new or emerging
manufacturing problems as determined by the Director, in
consultation with the Director of the Manufacturing Extension
Partnership program, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership
National Advisory Board, and small and medium-sized
manufacturers. One or more themes for the competition may be
identified, which may vary from year to year, depending on the
needs of manufacturers and the success of previous
competitions. These themes may be related to projects
associated with manufacturing extension activities, including
workforce training, supply chain integration, and quality
management, or extend beyond these traditional areas.
``(4) Applications.--Applications for awards under this
subsection shall be submitted in such manner, at such time, and
containing such information as the Director shall require, in
consultation with the Manufacturing Extension Partnership
National Advisory Board.
``(5) Selection.--Awards under this subsection shall be
peer reviewed and competitively awarded. The Director shall
select proposals to receive awards--
``(A) that utilize innovative or collaborative
approaches to solving the problem described in the
competition;
``(B) that will improve the competitiveness of
industries in the region in which the Center or Centers
are located; and
``(C) that will contribute to the long-term
economic stability of that region.
``(6) Program contribution.--Recipients of awards under
this subsection shall not be required to provide a matching
contribution.
``(7) Report.--Not later than two years after the first
awards under this subsection, the Director shall transmit to
Congress a report on the program describing the grants that
were awarded, their recipients, the success to date of the
program to meet the purposes of this subsection, lessons
learned, and the challenges and opportunities facing the future
success of the program.
``(8) Funding.--Funding for the program under this
subsection shall not be available unless amounts remain
available after financial assistance is provided to Centers as
specified under this section.''.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce for the Manufacturing
Extension Partnership program under sections 25 and 26 of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k and 278l)--
(1) $120,000,000 for fiscal year 2005;
(2) $125,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
(3) $132,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
(4) $137,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
<all>
Rule H. Res. 706 passed House.
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 706. (consideration: CR H5440-5462; text of measure as reported in House: CR H5449-5451)
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3598 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.
The Speaker designated the Honorable Lee Terry to act as Chairman of the Committee.
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 706 and Rule XVIII.
GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 3598.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 706, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson-Lee (TX) amendment.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Jackson-Lee (TX) amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Jackson-Lee (TX) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 706, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Larson (CT) amendment.
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POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Larson (CT) amendment the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Ehlers demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 706, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Peterson (PA) amendment.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 706, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Gordon amendment.
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 3598.
Mr. Costello moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Science.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Costello motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained within the motion seek to report the bill back to the House forthwith with the following amendment: Redesignate section 8 as section 9, and insert after section 7 the following new section: Sec. 8. Manufacturing and Professional Employment Study.
On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 171 - 193 (Roll no. 358). (consideration: CR H5460-5462; text: CR H5460)
Roll Call #358 (House)Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by voice vote.
On passage Passed by voice vote.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.