Global Leadership in Advanced Manufacturing Act of 2019

To amend the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act to improve the Network for Manufacturing Innovation Program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Global Leadership in Advanced Manufacturing Act of 2019 2. Improvements to Network for Manufacturing Innovation Program (a) Centers for manufacturing innovation Subsection (c) of section 34 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act ( 15 U.S.C. 278s (1) in subparagraphs (B) and (C)(i) of paragraph (1), by striking and tool 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 (2) in paragraph (2)(D), by striking and minority , minority, and veteran (3) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking , but such under subsection (d) (b) Financial assistance To establish and support centers for manufacturing innovation Subsection (d) of such section is amended— (1) in paragraph (4)— (A) in subparagraph (C)— (i) in clause (i), by striking ; and (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, measures (II) by striking the period at the end; 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, 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). ; (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 manufacturing (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 technologies (iv) in clause (ix), by inserting industrial, research, entrepreneurship, and other leverage the (2) in paragraph (5)— (A) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the following: (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). ; (B) in subparagraph (B)— (i) in the first sentence, by striking large capital facilities or equipment purchases large capital facilities, equipment purchases, workforce development, or general operations (ii) by striking the second sentence; and (C) by striking subparagraph (C); and (3) by adding at the end the following: (6) Use of financial assistance Financial assistance awarded under paragraph (1) may be used— (A) for the purposes described in such paragraph; or (B) to carry out Program-wide activities directed by the Secretary, such as activities targeting workforce development. . (c) 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 through 2019 (d) 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, enter (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, manufacturing, (B) in subparagraph (E), by striking ; and (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 and local governments, community colleges, (3) in paragraph (5)— (A) by striking The Secretary (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 detail a liaison of the center to a center for manufacturing innovation to facilitate the support by the Partnership of at least the following: (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. (ii) Selection of liaisons Selection of a liaison under this subparagraph shall be made in coordination with the applicable center for manufacturing innovation. . (e) Reporting and auditing Subsection (g) of such section is amended— (1) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking December 31, 2024 December 31, 2030 (2) in paragraph (3)— (A) in subparagraph (A)— (i) by striking 2 years 3 years (ii) by striking 2-year 3-year (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking December 31, 2024 December 31, 2030 (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.

Summary: Global Leadership in Advanced Manufacturing Act of 2019 This bill expands the scope of the Network for Manufacturing Innovation program, makes changes to the funding design for the centers for manufacturing innovation, and directs interagency collaboration to develop national certifications for advanced manufacturing workforce skills. The Network for Manufacturing Innovation program established a nationwide network of centers for manufacturing innovation, each of which has a unique technological concentration. The bill expands the definition of a center for manufacturing innovation to make eligible for inclusion in the program a center that has a predominant focus on innovative sectors (e.g., food manufacturing, superconductors, and quantum information science). Further, the Department of Commerce must 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. The bill also strikes provisions that progressively decrease the amount of financial assistance provided to a center over a term of years and subsequently cut the center's funding entirely after seven years, replacing them with a continuing five-year, metrics-based review of a center. Additionally, the bill (1) directs Commerce to collaborate with relevant federal departments and agencies when awarding financial assistance, and (2) authorizes Commerce to collaborate with stakeholders for the development of national certifications for advanced manufacturing workforce skills in the respective technology area of each center.