39–008 

109TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 109–227 

PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 250, MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY COMPETITIVENESS ACT OF 2005 

SEPTEMBER 20, 2005.—Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed 

Mr. GINGREY, from the Committee on Rules, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H. Res. 451] 

The Committee on Rules, having had under consideration House 

Resolution 451, by a nonrecord vote, report the same to the House 

with the recommendation that the resolution be adopted. 

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS OF THE RESOLUTION

The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 250, the Manufacturing Technology Competitiveness Act of 2005, under a structured rule. The rule provides one hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Science. The rule waives all points of 

order against consideration of the bill. 

The rule provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Science now printed in 

the bill shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of 

amendment and shall be considered as read. The rule waives all 

points of order against the committee amendment in the nature of 

a substitute. 

The rule makes in order only those amendments printed in this 

report. The rule provides that the amendments printed in this report may be offered only in the order printed in this report, may 

be offered only by a Member designated in this report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified in this report equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject 

to a demand for a division of the question in the House or in the 

Committee of the Whole. The rule waives all points of order against 

the amendments printed in this report. 

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Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions. 

EXPLANATION OF WAIVERS

The waiver of all points of order against consideration of the bill 

includes a waiver of section 401(a)(1) of the Congressional Budget 

Act of 1974 (prohibiting consideration of legislation, as reported, 

providing new contract authority or new borrowing authority that 

is not limited to amounts provided in appropriation acts). 

SUMMARY OF AMENDMENTS MADE IN ORDER

(Summaries derived from information provided by the amendment sponsor.) 

1. Boehlert: Manager’s Amendment. Requires the Manufacturing 

Extension Partnership program to assist businesses affected by 

Hurricane Katrina, and requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology to study the effects of Katrina on buildings to 

determine whether to recommend any changes in building codes. 

(10 minutes) 

2. Gordon: Requires the Director of the National Institute of 

Standards and Technology (NIST) to provide to the House Science 

Committee and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation a 3-year programmatic and operational plan for the 

MEP. Requires the plan to include comments of the MEP National 

Advisory Board and of the State partners. (10 minutes) 

3. Jackson-Lee: Makes funds under the section titled ‘‘Scientific 

and Technical Research and Services’’ available to the maximum 

extent practicable, to diverse institutions, including Historically 

Black Colleges and Universities and other minority serving institutions for Technical Workforce Education and Development. (10 

minutes) 

4. Larson: Re-orients the current Technology Administration 

(TA), the Undersecretary of Technology, and Office of Technology 

Policy (OTP) towards manufacturing and competitiveness issues. 

Renames and refocuses TA by establishing a Manufacturing Administration, an Undersecretary of Manufacturing, and an Office of 

Industry Analysis. Requires the Manufacturing Administration to 

conduct broad-based manufacturing and technology policy analysis; 

and to coordinate with States, local governments, and universities 

on manufacturing and technology activities. NIST and the National 

Technical Information Service would remain a part of the Manufacturing Administration. (10 minutes) 

5. Udall (CO): Increases the authorization levels of NSF’s Advanced Technological Education Program to $70 million for FY06, 

$73.5 million for FY07, and $77 million for FY08. (10 minutes) 

TEXT OF AMENDMENTS MADE IN ORDER 

1. AN AMENDMENT TO BE OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE BOEHLERT

OF NEW YORK, OR HIS DESIGNEE, DEBATABLE FOR 10 MINUTES

At the end of the bill, add the following new sections: 

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SEC. 10. KATRINA ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 

(a) PROGRAM ESTABLISHMENT.— Not later than 30 days after the 

date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Institute 

of Standards and Technology shall establish within the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program established under sections 

25 and 26 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 

Act (15 U.S.C. 278k and 278l) a Katrina Assistance Program, to 

provide assistance to impacted small and medium-sized manufacturers in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. 

(b) PURPOSES.—The Katrina Assistance Program shall— (1) establish triage teams, consisting of personnel from within the national network of Manufacturing Extension Partnership Centers established under section 25 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k) and 

local experts, the purpose of which shall be to assist impacted 

manufacturers; 

(2) develop virtual assistance centers, consisting of databases 

incorporating the results and recommendations of the triage 

team assessments; 

(3) assess the potential disruption on national manufacturing 

supply chains as a result of Hurricane Katrina, and develop 

recommendations of how to minimize such disruption; and 

(4) provide assistance to small and medium-sized manufacturers in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina, consistent 

with the authorities of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program established under section 25 and 26 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 

278k and 278l). 

(c) NO MATCHING FUND REQUIREMENT.—Assistance under the 

Program established under this section shall be exempt from 

matching requirements for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program under the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act. 

(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized to 

be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce such sums as may 

be necessary for the Katrina Assistance Program established under 

this section. 

SEC. 11. BUILT ENVIRONMENT INVESTIGATION FOR HURRICANE 

KATRINA. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall carry out an engineering performance 

study of the effects of Hurricane Katrina in the areas of Louisiana, 

Alabama, and Mississippi covered by the President’s major disaster 

declarations of August 29, 2005. The study shall be based on an examination of physical structures damaged due to excessive wind, 

storm surge, and flooding, including—

(1) key physical infrastructures such as ports, utilities, lifelines associated with infrastructure facilities, and transportation systems; and 

(2) engineered and nonengineered buildings. 

(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the study shall be to—

(1) develop new knowledge concerning practices related to 

building standards and codes; and 

(2) review the adequacy of current building codes and standards for excessive wind, storm surge, and flooding. 

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(c) MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES.—The Director of the National 

Institute of Standards and Technology may convene public meetings and conferences to inform the public, government authorities, 

and relevant professional associations regarding findings and recommendations of the study. 

(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized to 

be appropriated to the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology $3,000,000 for carrying out this section. 

2. AN AMENDMENT TO BE OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE GORDON

OF TENNESSEE, OR HIS DESIGNEE, DEBATABLE FOR 10 MINUTES

At the end of section 5, add the following new subsection: 

(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. 

3. AN AMENDMENT TO BE OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE JACKSONLEE OF TEXAS, OR HER DESIGNEE, DEBATABLE FOR 10 MINUTES

Page 20, after line 14, insert the following: 

Funds shall be made available under this subsection, to the maximum extent practicable, to diverse institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other minority serving 

institutions. 

4. AN AMENDMENT TO BE OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE LARSON OF

CONNECTICUT, OR HIS DESIGNEE, DEBATABLE FOR 10 MINUTES

At the end of the bill, add the following new section: 

SEC. 10. MANUFACTURING AND TECHNOLOGY ADMINISTRATION. 

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 ADMINISTRATION. 

‘‘(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. 

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‘‘(b) UNDER SECRETARY 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 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) 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) conduct manufacturing and technology policy analyses to 

improve United States industrial productivity, manufacturing 

capabilities, and innovation, and cooperate with United States 

industry to improve its productivity, manufacturing capabilities, and ability to compete successfully in an international 

marketplace; 

‘‘(3) 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; 

‘‘(4) assess whether the capital, technical, and other resources being allocated to domestic industrial sectors which are 

likely to generate new technologies are adequate to meet private and social demands for goods and services and to promote 

productivity and economic growth; 

‘‘(5) 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; 

‘‘(6) 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; 

‘‘(7) 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; 

‘‘(8) 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; 

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‘‘(9) serve as a focal point for discussions among United 

States companies on topics of interest to industry and labor, including discussions regarding manufacturing, competitiveness, 

and emerging technologies; ‘‘(10) consider government measures with the potential of advancing United States technological innovation and exploiting 

innovations of foreign origin and publish the results of studies 

and policy experiments; and ‘‘(11) assist in the implementation of the Metric Conversion 

Act of 1975 (15 U.S.C. 205a et seq.).’’. 

5. AN AMENDMENT TO BE OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE UDALL OF

COLORADO, OR HIS DESIGNEE, DEBATABLE FOR 10 MINUTES

Page 20, line 3, strike ‘‘$55,000,000’’ and insert ‘‘$70,000,000’’. 

Page 20, line 7, strike ‘‘$57,750,000’’ and insert ‘‘$73,500,000’’. 

Page 20, line 11, strike ‘‘$60,600,000’’ and insert ‘‘$77,000,000’’. 

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