[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 255 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 255
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
January 5, 2007
Mr. Ehlers introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Science and Technology
_______________________________________________________________________
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 2007''.
SEC. 2. INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE AND ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
(a) Interagency Committee.--
(1) Establishment.--The President shall establish or
designate 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 Science and Technology
Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security, the
National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, and any
other agency that the President may designate. The Chair of the
Interagency Committee shall be designated by the Director of
the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
(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
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) developing, within 6 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, and updating every 3 years for
delivery with the President's annual budget request to
Congress, 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, for manufacturing
research and development that includes 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;
(C) proposing an annual coordinated interagency
budget for manufacturing research and development to
the Office of Management and Budget; and
(D) developing and transmitting to Congress an
annual report on the Federal programs involved in
manufacturing research, development, technical
training, standards, and integration, their funding
levels, and their impacts on United States
manufacturing competitiveness, including the
identification and analysis of the manufacturing
research and development problems that require
additional attention, and recommendations of how
Federal programs should address those problems.
(3) Recommendations and views.--In carrying out its
functions under paragraph (2), the Interagency Committee shall
consider the recommendations of the Advisory Committee and the
views of academic, State, industry, and other entities involved
in manufacturing research and development.
(b) Advisory Committee.--
(1) Establishment.--Not later than 6 months after the date
of enactment of this Act, the President shall establish or
designate an advisory committee to provide advice and
information to the Interagency Committee.
(2) Recommendations.--The Advisory Committee shall assist
the Interagency Committee by providing it with recommendations
on--
(A) the goals and priorities for manufacturing
research and development;
(B) the strategic plan, including proposals on how
to strengthen research and development to help
manufacturing; and
(C) other issues it considers appropriate.
(3) Report.--The Advisory Committee shall provide an annual
report to the Interagency Committee and the Congress that shall
assess--
(A) the progress made in implementing the strategic
plan and challenges to this progress;
(B) the effectiveness of activities under the
strategic plan in improving United States manufacturing
competitiveness;
(C) the need to revise the goals and priorities
established by the Interagency Committee; and
(D) new and emerging problems and opportunities
affecting the manufacturing research community,
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. COLLABORATIVE MANUFACTURING RESEARCH PILOT GRANTS.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology Act is amended--
(1) by redesignating the first section 32 (15 U.S.C. 271
note) 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 PILOT GRANTS.
``(a) Authority.--
``(1) Establishment.--The Director shall establish a pilot
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 cost-shared 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 research that the grant would fund; and
``(3) how the research 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; and
``(3) the demonstrated capabilities of the applicants to
successfully carry out the proposed research.
``(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) Duration.--In carrying out this section, the Director shall
run a single pilot competition to solicit and make awards. Each award
shall be for a 3-year period.''.
SEC. 4. MANUFACTURING FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.
Section 18 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
Act (15 U.S.C. 278g-1) is amended--
(1) by inserting ``(a) In General.--'' before ``The
Director is authorized''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(b) Manufacturing Fellowship Program.--
``(1) Establishment.--To promote the development of a
robust research community working at the leading edge of
manufacturing sciences, the Director shall establish a program
to award--
``(A) postdoctoral research fellowships at the
Institute for research activities related to
manufacturing sciences; and
``(B) senior research fellowships to established
researchers in industry or at institutions of higher
education who wish to pursue studies related to the
manufacturing sciences at the Institute.
``(2) Applications.--To be eligible for an award under this
subsection, an individual shall submit an application to the
Director at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Director may require.
``(3) 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. 5. 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 may be placed on
probation for one year, after which time the panel may 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 may conduct a new competition to select an operator for the
Center or may close the Center.'' after ``sixth year at declining
levels.''.
(b) Federal Share.--Strike section 25(d) of the National Institute
of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k(d)) and insert the
following:
``(d) Acceptance of Funds.--In addition to such sums as may be
appropriated to the Secretary and Director to operate the Centers
program, the Secretary and Director also may accept funds from other
Federal departments and agencies and under section 2(c)(7) from the
private sector for the purpose of strengthening United States
manufacturing. Such funds, if allocated to a Center or Centers, shall
not be considered in the calculation of the Federal share of capital
and annual operating and maintenance costs under subsection (c).''.
(c) 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
subsections:
``(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 shall be related to projects
associated with manufacturing extension activities, including
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.
``(f) Audits.--A center that receives assistance under this section
shall submit annual audits to the Secretary in accordance with Office
of Management and Budget Circular A-133 and shall make such audits
available to the public on request.''.
(d) Programmatic and Operational Plan.--Not later than 120 days
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology shall transmit to the Committee
on Science of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 3-year
programmatic and operational plan for the Manufacturing Extension
Partnership program under sections 25 and 26 of the National Institute
of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k and 278l). The plan
shall include comments on the plan from the Manufacturing Extension
Partnership State partners and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership
National Advisory Board.
SEC. 6. SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL RESEARCH AND SERVICES.
(a) Laboratory Activities.--There are authorized to be appropriated
to the Secretary of Commerce for the scientific and technical research
and services laboratory activities of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology--
(1) $505,340,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(2) $555,874,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
(3) $611,461,000 for fiscal year 2010.
(b) Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Program.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce for the
Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award program under section 17 of the
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3711a)--
(1) $7,828,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(2) $8,063,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
(3) $8,305,000 for fiscal year 2010.
(c) Construction and Maintenance.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce for construction and
maintenance of facilities of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology--
(1) $94,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(2) $94,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
(3) $94,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.
(d) Advanced Technology Program Elimination Report.--Not later than
3 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
provide to the Congress a report detailing the impacts of the possible
elimination of the Advanced Technology Program on the laboratory
programs at the National Institute of Standards Technology.
(e) Loss of Funding.--At the time of the President's budget request
for fiscal year 2009, the Secretary shall provide the Congress a report
on how the Department of Commerce plans to absorb the loss of Advanced
Technology Program funds to the laboratory programs at the National
Institute of Standards and Technology, or otherwise mitigate the
effects of this loss on its programs and personnel.
SEC. 7. STANDARDS EDUCATION PROGRAM.
(a) Program Authorized.--(1) As part of the Teacher Science and
Technology Enhancement Institute Program, the Director of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology shall carry out a Standards
Education program to award grants to institutions of higher education
to support efforts by such institutions to develop curricula on the
role of standards in the fields of engineering, business, science, and
economics. The curricula should address topics such as--
(A) development of technical standards;
(B) demonstrating conformity to standards;
(C) intellectual property and antitrust issues;
(D) standardization as a key element of business strategy;
(E) survey of organizations that develop standards;
(F) the standards life cycle;
(G) case studies in effective standardization;
(H) managing standardization activities; and
(I) managing organizations that develop standards.
(2) Grants shall be awarded under this section on a competitive,
merit-reviewed basis and shall require cost-sharing from non-Federal
sources.
(b) Selection Process.--(1) An institution of higher education
seeking funding under this section shall submit an application to the
Director at such time, in such manner, and containing such information
as the Director may require. The application shall include at a
minimum--
(A) a description of the content and schedule for adoption
of the proposed curricula in the courses of study offered by
the applicant; and
(B) a description of the source and amount of cost-sharing
to be provided.
(2) In evaluating the applications submitted under paragraph (1)
the Director shall consider, at a minimum--
(A) the level of commitment demonstrated by the applicant
in carrying out and sustaining lasting curricula changes in
accordance with subsection (a)(1); and
(B) the amount of cost-sharing provided.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce for the Teacher Science and
Technology Enhancement Institute program of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology--
(1) $773,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(2) $796,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
(3) $820,000 for fiscal year 2010.
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce, or other
appropriate Federal agencies, 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 2008, of which not more
than $1,000,000 shall be for the competitive grant program
under section 25(e) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 278k(e));
(2) $125,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, of which not more
than $4,000,000 shall be for the competitive grant program
under section 25(e) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 278k(e)); and
(3) $130,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, of which not more
than $4,100,000 shall be for the competitive grant program
under section 25(e) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 278k(e)).
(b) Collaborative Manufacturing Research Pilot Grants Program.--
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce
for the Collaborative Manufacturing Research Pilot Grants program under
section 33 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act--
(1) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(2) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
(3) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.
(c) Fellowships.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the
Secretary of Commerce for Manufacturing Fellowships at the National
Institute of Standards and Technology under section 18(b) of the
National Institute of Standards and Technology Act, as added by section
4 of this Act--
(1) $1,500,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(2) $1,750,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
(3) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.
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