Work Force Enhancement for Technology Transfer Act

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Work Force Enhancement for 
Technology Transfer Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDING AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds and declares the following:
            (1) Skilled American workers are as essential to the 
        Nation's productivity and long-term competitiveness as are new 
        technologies. As technologies become more sophisticated and 
        computer controlled, managers and other workers in 
        manufacturing firms who are skilled in the effective 
        utilization and operation of those advanced and modern 
        technologies will become increasingly important to the Nation's 
        international competitiveness, standard of living, and national 
        security.
            (2) When United States manufacturing firms invest in 
        advanced and modern technologies, they can increase their 
        productivity and competitiveness by simultaneously investing in 
        targeted worker training for the effective utilization and 
        operation of those specific technologies.
            (3) United States manufacturing firms, particularly smaller 
        firms, are increasingly turning to the expanding technology 
        extension activities of the Department of Commerce's National 
        Institute of Standards and Technology for technical and 
        managerial assistance in order to identify and install the best 
        and most appropriate advanced and modern technologies.
            (4) With its extensive knowledge of the best available 
        technologies, the National Institute of Standards and 
        Technology, with its associated Regional Centers for the 
        Transfer of Manufacturing Technology and, when established, its 
        Manufacturing Outreach Centers, can provide training in the 
        effective utilization and operation of these technologies, can 
        promote the development of effective training materials for 
        these technologies, and can serve as a clearinghouse for 
        information on the best available training materials.
    (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to enhance the 
international competitiveness, standard of living, and national 
security of the United States by expanding the current technology 
extension activities of the Department of Commerce's National Institute 
of Standards and Technology (hereafter in this Act referred to as the 
``Institute'') to include worker training in the effective utilization 
and operation of specific advanced and modern technologies.

SEC. 3. WORKER TRAINING ACTIVITIES.

    In addition to existing responsibilities and authorities prescribed 
by law, the Secretary of Commerce (hereafter in this Act referred to as 
the ``Secretary''), through the Director of the Institute (hereafter in 
this Act referred to as the ``Director''), shall direct Regional 
Centers for the Transfer of Manufacturing Technology and, when 
established, Manufacturing Outreach Centers, to utilize, when 
appropriate, their expertise and capability to assist managers and 
other workers in United States manufacturing firms in effectively 
utilizing and operating advanced and modern technologies--
            (1) by making available assessments of the needs of United 
        States manufacturing firms for worker training in the effective 
        utilization and operation of specific technologies the firms 
        have adopted or are planning to adopt;
            (2) by making available to United States manufacturing 
        firms information on commercially and publicly provided worker 
        training services, including those provided by United States 
        sources of technologies, in the effective utilization and 
        operation of specific technologies the firms have adopted or 
        are planning to adopt; and
            (3) by making available to United States manufacturing 
        firms accessible and affordable training services for the 
        effective utilization and operation of specific technologies 
        the firms have adopted or are planning to adopt when such 
        training is not available from commercially or other publicly 
        provided training services.

SEC. 4. WORKER TRAINING ANALYSIS AND INFORMATION DISSEMINATION.

    In addition to existing responsibilities and authorities prescribed 
by law, the Secretary, through the Director and in consultation with 
appropriate Federal officials and with leaders of industry and labor, 
shall assist managers and other workers in United States manufacturing 
firms in effectively utilizing and operating advanced and modern 
technologies--
            (1) by establishing and managing a clearinghouse for 
        information, to be available through the National Technology 
        Transfer Center to the Regional Centers for the Transfer of 
        Manufacturing Technology, to the Manufacturing Outreach Centers 
        when they are established, to other technology training 
        entities, or directly to United States manufacturing firms, on 
        the best available training material and services for the 
        effective utilization and operation of specific advanced and 
        modern technologies;
            (2) by encouraging United States providers of advanced and 
        modern technologies for manufacturing firms to develop training 
        material specifically designed for the managers and other 
        workers responsible for utilizing and operating such 
        technologies; and
            (3) by establishing as an important criterion in the 
        assessment of advanced and modern technologies the availability 
        of training material specifically designed for the managers and 
        other workers responsible for utilizing and operating such 
        technologies.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for the 
establishment and management of a technology training clearinghouse 
$2,000,000 for fiscal year 1994 and $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
1995 and 1996.

Summary: Work Force Enhancement for Technology Transfer Act - Requires the Secretary of Commerce, through the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, to direct Regional Centers for the Transfer of Manufacturing Technology and, when established, Manufacturing Outreach Centers, to assist managers and other workers in US manufacturing firms in using advanced and modern technologies, through needs assessments, information, and training services. Requires the Secretary, through the Director, to assist such managers and other workers in such use by: (1) establishing an information clearinghouse on the best available training material and services. (2) encouraging US providers of such technologies for manufacturing firms to develop training material specifically designed for the managers and other workers responsible. And (3) establishing the availability of such specifically designed training material as an important criterion in assessing such technologies. Authorizes appropriations for a technology training clearinghouse.