Chief Manufacturing Officer Act
This bill directs the President to appoint a United States Chief Manufacturing Officer. The officer must coordinate manufacturing-related policies and activities across agencies and submit a national manufacturing srategy to develop the manufacturing sector, encourage economic growth, and promote the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturing.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1591 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1591
To establish the United States Chief Manufacturing Officer in the
Executive Office of the President with the responsibility of developing
a National Manufacturing Strategy to revitalize the manufacturing
sector, spur economic growth, and expand United States competitiveness,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 3, 2021
Mr. Ryan (for himself and Mr. Reed) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the United States Chief Manufacturing Officer in the
Executive Office of the President with the responsibility of developing
a National Manufacturing Strategy to revitalize the manufacturing
sector, spur economic growth, and expand United States competitiveness,
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 ``Chief Manufacturing Officer Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS.
(a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
(1) The manufacturing sector consists of establishments
that are primarily engaged in the transformation of materials,
substances, or components into products.
(2) A healthy, innovative manufacturing base plays a
central role in the United States economy and national defense.
(3) The Federal Government supports manufacturing in a
variety of ways; support for manufacturing-related activities
are dispersed across several agencies in the executive branch.
(4) Manufacturing employment, output, and exports are
impacted by a myriad of factors including the state of
infrastructure and transportation, tax policies, environmental
and other business regulations, trade policies, innovation
ecosystems, workforce development, and education initiatives.
Legislation and executive actions can have unintended impact on
the growth of manufacturing in the United States.
(5) Manufacturers account for 11 percent of the total gross
domestic product output in the United States, employing 8
percent of the workforce. Total output from manufacturing is
more than 2 trillion dollars. There are nearly 13 million
manufacturing employees in the United States, with an average
annual compensation of about $85,000.
(6) Given that 99 percent of manufacturing firms are small
and medium size enterprises with a predominantly local
employment footprint, workforce development programs must be
rooted in local circumstance and requirements.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that a well-
designed National Manufacturing Strategy would benefit the United
States economy in several important ways, including the following:
(1) A revitalized manufacturing sector would enable the
United States to increase its economic growth from domestic and
export production.
(2) Manufacturing jobs continue to pay higher wages and
benefits than non-manufacturing jobs. Average domestic wages
would rise in response to growing manufacturing output.
(3) Manufacturing industries undertake two-thirds of
private-sector research and development, which fuels the
innovation that serves as a primary engine of economic growth.
A growing manufacturing sector would help lay the foundations
for future economic expansion.
(4) The United States would expand its long-standing
leadership in advanced manufacturing technologies with Federal
investments in manufacturing research and development,
education, and workforce training.
(5) There exists a longstanding connection between domestic
manufacturing, national defense, and homeland security. A
strong and innovative manufacturing industry will maintain the
technical superiority of the United States military and secure
supply chain integrity.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Agency.--The term ``agency'' has the meaning given that
term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code.
(2) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given that
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001).
(3) National manufacturing strategy; strategy.--The terms
``National Manufacturing Strategy'' and ``Strategy'' mean the
National Manufacturing Strategy described in subsection (d).
(4) Small business.--The term ``small business'' means a
company that has fewer than 500 employees.
(5) Nonprofit organization.--The term ``nonprofit
organization'' means an organization that is described under
section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt
from tax under section 501(a) of such Code.
(6) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several
States, the District of Columbia, each commonwealth, territory,
or possession of the United States, and each federally
recognized Indian Tribe.
(7) State educational agency.--The term ``State educational
agency'' has the meaning given that term in section 8101 of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (20 U.S.C. 7801).
SEC. 4. UNITED STATES CHIEF MANUFACTURING OFFICER.
(a) Appointment.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the President shall appoint a United
States Chief Manufacturing Officer (referred to in this section
as the ``Chief Manufacturing Officer'').
(2) Qualifications.--The President shall select the Chief
Manufacturing Officer from among individuals who have basic
qualifications and expertise in manufacturing technology and
policy.
(3) Reporting.--The position of Chief Manufacturing Officer
shall be in the Executive Office of the President and shall
report to the President through the Chief of Staff.
(4) National economic council.--The Chief Manufacturing
Officer shall be a member of the National Economic Council.
(b) Pay.--The annual rate of pay for the Chief Manufacturing
Officer shall be level II of the Executive Schedule rate of pay
(subchapter II of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code)
commensurate with the qualifications and expertise of the individual
appointed to be such Officer.
(c) Duties.--The duties of the Chief Manufacturing Officer are as
follows:
(1) To advise the President on policy issues that affect
the workforce and economic activity of the manufacturing sector
including science, technology, trade, tariffs, currency, and
procurement policies.
(2) To deliver the National Manufacturing Strategy.
(3) To convene interagency working groups to align Federal
policies to drive implementation of the National Manufacturing
Strategy, including collaboration among the Departments of
Education, Labor, Energy, Commerce, and Defense, the
Environmental Protection Agency, National Science Foundation,
Small Business Administration, and other agencies.
(4) To evaluate the effectiveness of existing measures
designed to improve innovation, productivity, energy
efficiency, economic growth, cybersecurity, and manufacturing
industries' contribution to national security.
(5) To propose studies and policy experiments, in
cooperation with agencies and the manufacturing industry, to
determine effective measures to advance technological
innovation and productivity in manufacturing in the United
States.
(6) To propose studies and policy experiments, in
cooperation with agencies and the manufacturing industry, to
determine effective measures to improve environmental
sustainability within the manufacturing industry.
(7) To connect manufacturing support programs across the
United States to make them more efficient, focused, and easier
to use.
(8) To identify opportunities to improve the efficiency of
grant opportunities that affect the manufacturing workforce.
(9) To assess Federal loan programs to ensure greater
access to capital for small businesses that are manufacturers.
(10) To examine and improve tax incentives for
manufacturing companies in relation to increasing support for
investment in--
(A) workforce training; and
(B) productivity and systems improvements,
including smart supply chain management technology and
cybersecurity measures.
(11) To foster the use of best practices for manufacturing,
information technology, and cybersecurity by identifying and
encouraging their use across all Federal Government programs
and throughout the procurement process.
(12) To encourage the creation of joint initiatives by
State and local governments, regional organizations, private
companies, institutions of higher education, nonprofit
organizations, and Federal laboratories to encourage technology
transfer, to stimulate innovation, and pursue targeted
workforce development to promote an environment ready for
investments in manufacturing-related industries.
(13) To participate in discussions among companies that
manufacture in the United States on topics of interest to the
manufacturing industry and workforce, including discussions
regarding emerging and advanced technologies.
(14) To work with the manufacturing industry to identify
needs, challenges, and opportunities across the manufacturing
sector which, if addressed, could make a significant
contribution to improving the ability of manufacturers in the
United States to compete successfully in international markets.
(15) To carry out ongoing competitive analysis of the
manufacturing policies of the governments of other countries,
alongside their industrial structures and labor conditions, to
help identify factors that successfully support the development
of strong manufacturing industries.
(16) To analyze legislative and agency proposals to assess
and advise on their potential direct and indirect impact on the
manufacturing industry.
(17) To work with agencies and the Director of the Office
of Management and Budget in the development of manufacturing-
related elements of the President's annual budget request to
Congress.
(18) To identify and share best practice activities
designed to help support struggling manufacturing enterprises
to review business plans, improve competitiveness, and manage
issues like succession planning to avoid closures and retain
jobs.
(19) To assist States in their economic development plans
for manufacturing, in their efforts to encourage manufacturing
enterprises to retain manufacturing facilities within the
United States, and to foster the domestic retention of
facilities and jobs.
(20) To support communities negatively impacted by the
closure or relocation of manufacturing facilities by promoting
efforts to create an environment and workforce equipped to
attract advanced manufacturing enterprises.
(21) To promote and grow the Network for Manufacturing
Innovation Program established under section 34 of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278s).
(22) To review the effectiveness of and identify
shortcomings in existing statutes and policies focused on
promoting the domestic use of federally funded research and
development in manufacturing technology.
(23) To identify and evaluate changes to existing statutes
and policies and to recommend legislation and policies to more
effectively ensure the domestic use of federally funded
research and development in manufacturing technology and to
recover such investments from profits realized as a result of
offshore manufacturing of systems or components utilizing
federally funded technologies or their derivatives.
(24) To work with appropriate agencies, State and local
governments, regional organizations, institutions of higher
education, nonprofit organizations, and private companies to
stimulate interest in manufacturing careers.
(25) To enhance public perception of manufacturing careers,
encouraging participation of public and private organizations,
State educational agencies, and institutions of higher
education in the annual celebration of manufacturing industries
on national Manufacturing Day.
(26) To coordinate with activities under the Foreign
Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018 (Public Law
115-232) and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United
States to ensure the protection of sensitive emerging United
States manufacturing-related technologies.
(27) To perform such other functions or activities as the
President may assign.
(d) National Manufacturing Strategy.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the
Chief Manufacturing Officer shall submit the National
Manufacturing Strategy to the President and Congress. The
Strategy shall contain a summary of the current state of
manufacturing in the United States and comprehensive strategies
to--
(A) work across Federal and State government
agencies to produce a coherent integrated strategy and
plans;
(B) identify and address the anticipated workforce
needs of the manufacturing sector, recognizing that
this sector includes diverse industries competing in
different operating environments;
(C) work with industry experts to strengthen
education initiatives, and shape training and
certificate programs that can be adapted to reflect
local circumstances;
(D) create or improve manufacturing training
programs and appropriate career paths into
manufacturing jobs, to expand opportunities for all,
and, in particular, the participation of veterans, the
unemployed, women, and other underrepresented groups;
(E) promote the development of quality control and
other technical standards;
(F) maintain reliable physical and
telecommunication infrastructure and identify and
advocate for future infrastructure requirements;
(G) analyze manufacturing technology needs, monitor
technology developments, and analyze threats to and
opportunities for the manufacturing sector;
(H) recommend appropriate tax incentives and
financial tools to assist manufacturing enterprises to
improve their competitiveness;
(I) review Federal and State regulations to focus
on reducing the cost of manufacturing, while improving
innovation, productivity, and environmental
sustainability;
(J) promote the export of United States
manufactured goods and the enforcement of fair trade
rules embedded in bilateral and international
agreements, including rules related to intellectual
property rights and labor protection;
(K) identify other forms of assistance for
companies that manufacture in the United States,
enabling them to compete successfully in the
international marketplace; and
(L) address such other issues as the President
determines necessary.
(2) Incorporation of other strategic plans.--The Chief
Manufacturing Officer shall integrate into the National
Manufacturing Strategy described in paragraph (1) the
following:
(A) The national strategic plan for advanced
manufacturing developed under section 102(c) of the
America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C.
6622(c)).
(B) The strategic plan developed for the Network
for Manufacturing Innovation Program under section
34(f)(2)(C) of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278s(f)(2)(C)).
(C) The manufacturing elements of the National
Nanotechnology Initiative Strategic Plan under section
2(c)(4) of the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and
Development Act (15 U.S.C. 7501(c)(4)).
(e) Bi-Annual Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the Chief
Manufacturing Officer, in consultation with the Director of the Office
of Management and Budget, shall submit to the President and Congress a
report that describes progress made in the implementation of the
National Manufacturing Strategy and in fulfilment of its objectives.
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Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.
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