[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1427 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 584
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 1427
[Report No. 116-291]
To amend the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act to
improve the Network for Manufacturing Innovation Program, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 13, 2019
Mr. Coons (for himself, Mr. Gardner, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Tillis, Ms.
Hassan, Mr. Peters, Mr. Moran, Mr. Rubio, Ms. Klobuchar, and Ms.
Collins) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
November 16, 2020
Reported by Mr. Wicker, with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act to
improve the Network for Manufacturing Innovation Program, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``Global Leadership in
Advanced Manufacturing Act of 2019''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENTS TO NETWORK FOR MANUFACTURING INNOVATION
PROGRAM.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Centers for Manufacturing Innovation.--Subsection (c)
of section 34 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act
(15 U.S.C. 278s) is amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) in subparagraphs (B) and (C)(i) of paragraph
(1), by striking ``and tool'' both places it appears and
inserting ``tool development for microelectronics, food
manufacturing, superconductors, advanced battery technologies,
robotics, advanced sensors, quantum information science, supply
chain water optimization, and aeronautics and advanced
materials'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) in paragraph (2)(D), by striking ``and
minority'' and inserting ``, minority, and veteran'';
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking ``, but
such'' and all that follows through ``under subsection
(d)''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Financial Assistance To Establish and Support Centers
for Manufacturing Innovation.--Subsection (d) of such section is
amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) in paragraph (4)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) in subparagraph (C)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) in clause (i), by striking ``;
and'' and inserting a semicolon;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) in clause (ii)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (I) by inserting ``,
including appropriate measures for
assessing the effectiveness of the
activities funded with regards to the
center's success in advancing the
current state of the applicable
advanced manufacturing technology area
such as technology readiness level and
manufacturing readiness level,'' after
``measures''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (II) by striking the
period at the end; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) by adding at the end the
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(iii) establish standards for
the performance of centers for manufacturing
innovation that are based on the measures
developed under clause (ii); and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(iv) for each center for
manufacturing innovation supported by the
award, if any, once every 5 years, conduct an
assessment of the center to confirm whether the
performance of the center is meeting the
standards for performance established under
clause (iii).'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) in subparagraph (D), by inserting ``,
including the Department of Agriculture, the Department
of Defense, the Department of Education, the Department
of Energy, the Department of Labor, the Food and Drug
Administration, the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, the National Institutes of Health, and
the National Science Foundation'' after
``manufacturing''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) in subparagraph (E)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) in clause (ii), by striking
``without the need for long-term Federal
funding'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) in clause (iii), by striking
``significantly'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) in clause (v), by inserting
``and to improve the domestic supply chain''
after ``technologies''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iv) in clause (ix), by inserting
``industrial, research, entrepreneurship, and
other'' after ``leverage the'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) in paragraph (5)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) by striking subparagraph (A) and
inserting the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) In general.--No award of financial
assistance may be made under paragraph (1) to support a
center for manufacturing innovation that the Secretary
finds under paragraph (4)(C) does not meet the
standards for performance established under paragraph
(4)(C)(iii).'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) in subparagraph (B)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) in the first sentence, by
striking ``large capital facilities or
equipment purchases'' and inserting ``large
capital facilities, equipment purchases,
workforce development, or general operations'';
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) by striking the second
sentence; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) by striking subparagraph (C);
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(6) Use of financial assistance.--Financial
assistance awarded under paragraph (1) may be used--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) for the purposes described in such
paragraph; or</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(B) to carry out Program-wide activities
directed by the Secretary, such as activities targeting
workforce development.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Funding.--Subsection (e)(2) of such section is
amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as
follows:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) NIST industrial technical services
account.--To the extent provided for in advance by
appropriations Acts, the Secretary may use amounts
appropriated to the Institute for Industrial Technical
Services account to carry out this section as
follows:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(i) For each of the fiscal years
2015 through 2019, an amount not to exceed
$5,000,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(ii) For each of fiscal years
2020 through 2030, such amounts as may be
necessary to carry out this section.'';
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``through
2024'' and inserting ``through 2019''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) National Program Office.--Subsection (f) of such
section is amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) in paragraph (2)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) in subparagraph (B)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) by inserting ``coordinate with
and, as appropriate,'' before ``enter'';
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) by inserting ``including the
Department of Agriculture, the Department of
Defense, the Department of Education, the
Department of Energy, the Department of Labor,
the Food and Drug Administration, the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, the
National Institutes of Health, and the National
Science Foundation,'' after
``manufacturing,'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``;
and'' and inserting a semicolon;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as
subparagraph (J); and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) by inserting after subparagraph (E)
the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(F) to carry out pilot programs in
collaboration with the centers for manufacturing
innovation such as a laboratory-embedded
entrepreneurship program;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(G) to provide support services and
funding as necessary to promote workforce development
activities;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(H) to coordinate with centers for
manufacturing innovation to develop best practices for
the membership agreements and coordination of similar
project solicitations;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(I) to collaborate with the Department
of Labor, the Department of Education, industry, career
and technical education schools, local community
colleges, universities, and labor organizations to
provide input for the development of national
certifications for advanced manufacturing workforce
skills in the technology areas of the centers for
manufacturing innovation; and'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``State and
local governments,'' after ``community colleges,'';
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) in paragraph (5)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) by striking ``The Secretary'' and
inserting the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) In general.--The Secretary'';
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) by adding at the end the
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(B) Liaisons.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(i) In general.--The Secretary
may provide financial assistance to a
manufacturing extension center established as
part of the Hollings Manufacturing Extension
Partnership to detail a liaison of the center
to a center for manufacturing innovation to
facilitate the support by the Partnership of at
least the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(I) Cybersecurity
awareness and support services for
small- and medium-sized
manufacturers.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(II) Assistance with
workforce development.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(III) Technology
transfer for small and medium-sized
manufacturers.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(ii) Selection of liaisons.--
Selection of a liaison under this subparagraph
shall be made in coordination with the
applicable center for manufacturing
innovation.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (e) Reporting and Auditing.--Subsection (g) of such
section is amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``December
31, 2024'' and inserting ``December 31, 2030''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) in paragraph (3)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) in subparagraph (A)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) by striking ``2 years'' and
inserting ``3 years''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) by striking ``2-year'' and
inserting ``3-year''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking
``December 31, 2024'' and inserting ``December 31,
2030''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (f) Expansion.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations, the Secretary of Commerce shall increase the number of
centers for manufacturing innovation that participate in the Network
for Manufacturing Innovation Program.</DELETED>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Global Leadership in Advanced
Manufacturing Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENTS TO NETWORK FOR MANUFACTURING INNOVATION PROGRAM.
(a) Alternate Program Name.--Subsection (a) of section 34 of the
National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278s) is
amended by inserting ``or as `Manufacturing USA''' after ``as the
`Network for Manufacturing Innovation Program'''.
(b) Centers for Manufacturing Innovation.--Subsection (c) of such
section is amended--
(1) in subparagraphs (B) and (C)(i) of paragraph (1), by
striking ``and tool development for microelectronics'' both
places it appears and inserting ``tool development for
microelectronics, food manufacturing, superconductors, advanced
battery technologies, robotics, advanced sensors, quantum
information science, supply chain water optimization,
aeronautics and advanced materials, and graphene and graphene
commercialization'';
(2) in paragraph (2)(D), by striking ``and minority'' and
inserting ``, minority, and veteran''; and
(3) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking ``, but such'' and all
that follows through ``under subsection (d)''.
(c) Financial Assistance To Establish and Support Centers for
Manufacturing Innovation.--Subsection (d) of such section is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1) is amended to read as follows:
``(1) In general.--In carrying out the Program, the
Secretary shall award financial assistance to the following:
``(A) To a person or group of persons to assist the
person or group of persons in planning, establishing,
or supporting a center for manufacturing innovation.
``(B) To a center for manufacturing innovation,
including a center that was not established using
Federal funds, to support workforce development, cross-
center projects, and other efforts which support the
purposes of the Program.'';
(2) in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), by striking ``under
paragraph (1)'' each place it appears and inserting ``under
paragraph (1)(A)'';
(3) in paragraph (4)--
(A) in subparagraph (C)--
(i) in clause (i), by striking ``; and''
and inserting a semicolon;
(ii) in clause (ii)--
(I) by inserting ``, including
appropriate measures for assessing the
effectiveness of the activities funded
with regards to the center's success in
advancing the current state of the
applicable advanced manufacturing
technology area such as technology
readiness level and manufacturing
readiness level,'' after ``measures'';
and
(II) by striking the period at the
end and inserting a semicolon; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(iii) establish standards for the
performance of centers for manufacturing
innovation that are based on the measures
developed under clause (ii); and
``(iv) for each center for manufacturing
innovation supported by the award, 5 years
after the initial award and every 5 years
thereafter until Federal funding is
discontinued, conduct an assessment of the
center to confirm whether the performance of
the center is meeting the standards for
performance established under clause (iii).'';
(B) in subparagraph (D), by inserting ``,
including, as appropriate, the Department of
Agriculture, the Department of Defense, the Department
of Education, the Department of Energy, the Department
of Labor, the Food and Drug Administration, the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the
National Institutes of Health, and the National Science
Foundation'' after ``manufacturing''; and
(C) in subparagraph (E)--
(i) in clause (ii), by striking ``without
the need for long-term Federal funding'';
(ii) in clause (iii), by striking
``significantly'';
(iii) in clause (v), by inserting ``and to
improve the domestic supply chain'' after
``technologies''; and
(iv) in clause (ix), by inserting
``industrial, research, entrepreneurship, and
other'' after ``leverage the'';
(4) in paragraph (5)--
(A) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the
following:
``(A) Performance deficiency.--
``(i) Notice of deficiency.--If the
Secretary finds that a center for manufacturing
innovation does not meet the standards for
performance established under clause (iii) of
paragraph (4)(C) during an assessment pursuant
to clause (iv) of such paragraph, the Secretary
shall notify the center of any deficiencies in
the performance of the center and provide the
center one year to remedy such deficiencies.
``(ii) Failure to remedy.--If a center for
manufacturing innovation fails to remedy a
deficiency identified under clause (i) or to
show significant improvement in performance one
year after notification of a performance
deficiency identified under clause (i), the
Secretary shall notify the center that the
center is ineligible for further financial
assistance awarded under paragraph (1) .'';
(B) in subparagraph (B), in the first sentence, by
striking ``large capital facilities or equipment
purchases'' and inserting ``satellite centers, large
capital facilities, equipment purchases, workforce
development, or general operations''; and
(C) by striking subparagraph (C); and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
``(6) Use of financial assistance.--Financial assistance
awarded under paragraph (1)(B) may be used to carry out
Program-wide activities directed by the Secretary, such as
activities targeting workforce development.''.
(d) Funding.--Subsection (e)(2) of such section is amended--
(1) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows:
``(A) NIST industrial technical services account.--
To the extent provided for in advance by appropriations
Acts, the Secretary may use amounts appropriated to the
Institute for Industrial Technical Services account to
carry out this section as follows:
``(i) For each of the fiscal years 2015
through 2019, an amount not to exceed
$5,000,000.
``(ii) For each of fiscal years 2020
through 2030, such amounts as may be necessary
to carry out this section.''; and
(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``through 2024'' and
inserting ``through 2019''.
(e) National Program Office.--Subsection (f) of such section is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)--
(A) in subparagraph (B)--
(i) by inserting ``coordinate with and, as
appropriate,'' before ``enter''; and
(ii) by inserting ``including the
Department of Agriculture, the Department of
Defense, the Department of Education, the
Department of Energy, the Department of Labor,
the Food and Drug Administration, the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, the
National Institutes of Health, and the National
Science Foundation,'' after ``manufacturing,'';
(B) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``; and'' and
inserting a semicolon;
(C) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as
subparagraph (J); and
(D) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the
following:
``(F) to carry out pilot programs in collaboration
with the centers for manufacturing innovation such as a
laboratory-embedded entrepreneurship program;
``(G) to provide support services and funding as
necessary to promote workforce development activities;
``(H) to coordinate with centers for manufacturing
innovation to develop best practices for the membership
agreements and coordination of similar project
solicitations;
``(I) to collaborate with the Department of Labor,
the Department of Education, industry, career and
technical education schools, local community colleges,
universities, and labor organizations to provide input
for the development of national certifications for
advanced manufacturing workforce skills in the
technology areas of the centers for manufacturing
innovation; and'';
(2) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``State, Tribal, and
local governments,'' after ``community colleges,''; and
(3) in paragraph (5)--
(A) by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting the
following:
``(A) In general.--The Secretary''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Liaisons.--
``(i) In general.--The Secretary may
provide financial assistance to a manufacturing
extension center established as part of the
Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership to
support the purposes of the Program by
providing services in one or more of the
following areas:
``(I) Cybersecurity awareness and
support services for small- and medium-
sized manufacturers.
``(II) Assistance with workforce
development.
``(III) Technology transfer for
small and medium-sized manufacturers.
``(IV) Such other areas as the
Secretary determines appropriate to
support the purposes of the Program.
``(ii) Support.--Support under clause (i)
may include the designation of a liaison.''.
(f) Reporting and Auditing.--Subsection (g) of such section is
amended--
(1) in paragraphs (1) and (2), by striking ``under
subsection (d)(1)'' and inserting ``under subsection
(d)(1)(A)'';
(2) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``December 31, 2024''
and inserting ``December 31, 2030''; and
(3) in paragraph (3)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)--
(i) by striking ``2 years'' and inserting
``3 years''; and
(ii) by striking ``2-year'' and inserting
``3-year''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``December 31,
2024'' and inserting ``December 31, 2030''.
(g) Expansion.--Subject to the availability of appropriations, the
Secretary of Commerce shall increase the number of centers for
manufacturing innovation that participate in the Network for
Manufacturing Innovation Program.
SEC. 3. REGIONAL INNOVATION PROGRAM.
Section 27 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3722) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 27. REGIONAL INNOVATION PROGRAM.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Eligible recipient defined.--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 is a nonprofit organization,
an institution of higher education, a public-private
partnership, a science or research park, a Federal
laboratory, a venture development organization, or an
economic development organization or similar entity
that is focused primarily on improving science,
technology, innovation, or entrepreneurship; or
``(E) a consortium of any of the entities described
in subparagraphs (A) through (D).
``(2) Regional innovation initiative.--The term `regional
innovation initiative' means a geographically-bounded public or
nonprofit activity or program to address issues in the local
innovation systems in order to--
``(A) increase the success of innovation-driven
industry;
``(B) strengthen the competitiveness of industry
through new product innovation and new technology
adoption;
``(C) improve the pace of market readiness and
overall commercialization of innovative research;
``(D) enhance the overall innovation capacity and
long-term resilience of the region; and
``(E) leverage the region's unique competitive
strengths to stimulate innovation and to create jobs.
``(3) State.--The term `State' means one of the several
States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands,
Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands, or any other territory or possession of the United
States.
``(4) Venture development organization.--The term `venture
development organization' means a State or nonprofit
organization that contributes to regional or sector-based
economic prosperity by providing services for the purposes of--
``(A) accelerating the commercialization of
research;
``(B) strengthening the competitive position of
industry through the development, commercial adoption,
or deployment of technology; and
``(C) providing financial grants, loans, or direct
financial investment to commercialize technology.
``(b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a regional
innovation program to encourage and support the development of regional
innovation strategies designed to increase innovation-driven economic
opportunity within their respective regions.
``(c) Regional Innovation Grants.--
``(1) Authorization of grants.--As part of the program
established pursuant to subsection (b), the Secretary may award
grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible recipients for
activities designed to develop and support a regional
innovation initiative.
``(2) Permissible activities.--A grant awarded under this
subsection shall be used for multiple activities determined
appropriate by the Secretary, including--
``(A) improving the connectedness and strategic
orientation of the region through planning, technical
assistance, and communication among participants of a
regional innovation initiative;
``(B) attracting additional participants to a
regional innovation initiative;
``(C) increasing the availability and investment of
private and philanthropic financing that supports
innovation-based business ventures;
``(D) completing the research, development and
introduction of new products, processes, and services
into the commercial market;
``(E) increasing the number of full-time equivalent
employment opportunities within innovation-based
business ventures in the geographic region; and
``(F) achieving quantifiable, positive benefits to,
or measurable enhancements for, the economic
performance of the geographic region.
``(3) Restricted activities.--Grants awarded under this
subsection may not be used to pay for--
``(A) costs related to the recruitment, inducement,
or associated financial or tangible incentives that
might be offered to relocate an existing business from
a geographic area to another geographic area; or
``(B) costs associated with offsetting revenues
forgone by one or more taxing authorities through tax
incentives, tax increment financing, special
improvement districts, tax abatements for private
development within designated zones or geographic
areas, or other reduction in revenues resulting from
tax credits affecting the geographic region of the
eligible recipients.
``(4) Applications.--
``(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.--Each application submitted under
subparagraph (A) shall--
``(i) describe the regional innovation
initiative;
``(ii) indicate whether the regional
innovation initiative is supported by the
private sector, State and local governments,
and other relevant stakeholders;
``(iii) identify what activities the
regional innovation initiative will undertake;
``(iv) describe the expected outcomes of
the regional innovation initiative and how the
eligible recipient will measure progress toward
those outcomes;
``(v) indicate whether the participants in
the regional innovation initiative have access
to, or contribute to, a well-trained workforce
and other innovation assets that are critical
to the successful outcomes specified in the
application;
``(vi) indicate whether the participants in
the regional innovation initiative are capable
of attracting additional funds from non-Federal
sources; and
``(vii) if appropriate for the activities
proposed in the application, analyze the
likelihood that the participants in the
regional innovation initiative will be able to
sustain activities after grant funds received
under this subsection have been expended.
``(C) Feedback.--The Secretary shall provide
feedback to program applicants that are not awarded
grants to help them improve future applications.
``(D) Special considerations.--The Secretary shall
give special consideration to--
``(i) applications proposing to include
workforce or training related activities in
their regional innovation initiative from
eligible recipients who agree to collaborate
with local workforce investment area boards;
and
``(ii) applications from regions that
contain communities negatively impacted by
trade.
``(5) Cost share.--The Secretary may not provide more than
50 percent of the total cost of any activity funded under this
subsection.
``(6) Outreach to rural communities.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct
outreach to public and private sector entities in rural
communities to encourage those entities to participate
in regional innovation initiatives under this
subsection.
``(B) Justification.--As part of the program
established pursuant to subsection (b), not less
frequently than once each year for the duration of the
program as authorized, the Secretary, acting through
the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic
Development, shall submit to Congress an annual report
that explains the balance in the allocation of grants
to eligible recipients under this subsection between
rural and urban areas.
``(7) Funding.--The Secretary may accept funds from other
Federal agencies to support grants and activities under this
subsection.
``(d) Regional Innovation Research and Information Program.--
``(1) In general.--As part of the program established
pursuant to subsection (b), the Secretary shall establish a
regional innovation research and information program--
``(A) to gather, analyze, and disseminate
information on best practices for regional innovation
initiatives, 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 initiatives;
``(C) to support the development of relevant
metrics and measurement standards to evaluate regional
innovation initiatives, including the extent to which
such strategies stimulate innovation, productivity, and
economic development; and
``(D) to collect and make available data on
regional innovation initiatives in the United States,
including data on--
``(i) the size, specialization, and
competitiveness of regional innovation
initiatives;
``(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
initiatives; and
``(iii) supply chain product and service
flows within and between regional innovation
initiatives.
``(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 section.
``(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
awarded under subsection (c) into the program established under
this subsection.
``(e) 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 at
other Federal agencies.
``(2) Collaboration.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall explore and
pursue collaboration with other Federal agencies,
including through multi-agency 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.
``(f) Evaluation.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 5 years after Congress
first appropriates funds to carry out this section, the
Secretary shall competitively award a contract with an
independent entity to conduct an evaluation of programs
established under this section.
``(2) Requirements.--The evaluation conducted under
paragraph (1) shall include--
``(A) an assessment of whether the program is
achieving its goals;
``(B) the program's efficacy in providing awards to
geographically diverse entities;
``(C) any recommendations for how the program may
be improved; and
``(D) a recommendation as to whether the program
should be continued or terminated.
``(g) Reporting Requirement.--Not later than 5 years after the
first grant is awarded under subsection (c), and every 5 years
thereafter until 5 years after the last grant recipient completes the
regional innovation initiative for which such grant was awarded, the
Secretary shall submit a report to Congress that describes the outcome
of each regional innovation initiative that was completed during the
previous 5 years.
``(h) Funding.--From amounts appropriated by Congress for economic
development assistance authorized under section 27 of the Stevenson-
Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3722), the
Secretary may use up to $50,000,000 in each of the fiscal years 2020
through 2024 to carry out this section.''.
Calendar No. 584
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 1427
[Report No. 116-291]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act to
improve the Network for Manufacturing Innovation Program, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
November 16, 2020
Reported with an amendment
Global Leadership in Advanced Manufacturing Act of 2019
#1427 | S Congress #116
Policy Area: Commerce
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovationsAviation and airportsComputer security and identity theftComputers and information technologyCongressional oversightElectric power generation and transmissionEmployment and training programsEnergy storage, supplies, demandFood industry and servicesGovernment studies and investigationsManufacturingMaterialsPerformance measurementSmall businessTechnology transfer and commercializationVeterans' education, employment, rehabilitationWater use and supply
Last Action: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 584. (11/16/2020)
Bill Text Source: Congress.gov
Summary and Impacts
Original Text