National Institute of Manufacturing Act

To establish the National Institute of Manufacturing, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the National Institute of Manufacturing Act 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Council The term Council (2) Director The term Director (3) Institute The term Institute (4) Institution of higher education The term institution of higher education 20 U.S.C. 1002 (5) Secondary school The term secondary school 20 U.S.C. 7801 (6) Secretary The term Secretary 3. Establishment of National Institute of Manufacturing (a) Establishment There is established in the Department of Commerce an institute to be known as the National Institute of Manufacturing (b) Mission The primary missions of the Institute are to— (1) ensure global leadership in advanced manufacturing technologies critical to the long-term economic and national security of the United States; (2) restore and strengthen the United States industrial commons, which includes the essential skills, equipment, and suppliers that provide the foundation for the innovativeness and competitiveness of all United States manufacturers; (3) strengthen the technical, financial, and educational conditions and assets necessary to ensure that the United States is the best location for the creation and production of advanced technologies emerging from national research and development investments; (4) capitalize on the scientific and technological advances produced by researchers and innovators in the United States by developing capable and responsive institutions focused on advancing the technology and manufacturing readiness levels of those advances; (5) support the discovery, invention, scale-up, and transition of new products and manufacturing technologies to full-scale production in the United States; (6) address the evolving needs of manufacturers to find a diverse set of workers with the necessary skills, training, and expertise; (7) improve and expand manufacturing engineering and technology offerings within institutions of higher education and secondary schools to be more closely aligned with the needs of the United States manufacturing sector and the goal of strengthening the long-term competitiveness of United States manufacturing; and (8) work collaboratively with the private sector to leverage the knowledge, resources, and programs of the private sector to foster manufacturing in the United States and anticipate and prepare for emergencies and global, national, and regional supply chain disruptions. (c) Functions In carrying out the purposes of this Act, the Institute shall— (1) convene key industry, academic, and other stakeholders to identify short-, medium-, and long-term needs and priorities of the manufacturing sector in the United States, including emergency readiness; (2) monitor the status of technological developments, critical production capacity, skill availability, investment patterns, emerging defense needs, and other key indicators of manufacturing competitiveness, such as key indicators from manufacturing dealers, to guide investment decisions; (3) initiate and support discovery, invention, and translational research in engineering and manufacturing by making contracts or other arrangements, including grants, awards, cooperative agreements, loans, and other forms of assistance, to conduct that research and to assess the impact of that research on the economic well-being, climate, and national security of the United States; (4) administer programs that incentivize and facilitate collaboration among private and public sector stakeholders in United States manufacturing; (5) award scholarships and graduate fellowships in the engineering and manufacturing disciplines; (6) award industrial, academic, and governmental fellowships to faculty and retired manufacturing experts to support the manufacturing interests of the United States; (7) advise United States manufacturers on international trade and investment policies in international markets and advise the Federal Government on how to expand business opportunities for United States manufacturers in international markets; (8) develop and assess key indicators of manufacturing competitiveness, including the geographic diversity of manufacturing in the United States, and provide interpretation and analysis of collected data on the manufacturing sector in the United States; (9) provide small and medium manufacturers, including new startups, with financial support, including loans, counseling, training, technical assistance, and advocacy; and (10) identify opportunities to achieve commercial-scale production of emerging technologies by leveraging government procurement contracts. (d) Director (1) In general There shall be a Director of the Institute, who shall— (A) be appointed by the President, by and with the consent of the Senate; (B) oversee all Institute activities; (C) serve as an ex-officio member of the Council; (D) make recommendations regarding, and manage, the budget of the Institute; and (E) advise and consult with the Secretary on all policy issues relating to manufacturing. (2) Exercise of authority of the National Institute of Manufacturing (A) In general Except as otherwise provided, the Director shall exercise all of the authority granted to the Institute under this Act, including any powers and functions that may be delegated to the Director by the Secretary. (B) Final actions All actions taken by the Director under this Act, or under the terms of a delegation described in subparagraph (A), shall be final and binding upon the Institute. (3) Duties as Director The Director shall— (A) coordinate all activities within the Department of Commerce relating to manufacturing and advise and consult with the Secretary on all policy issues relating to manufacturing; (B) advise and consult with the Secretary on the national security supply chain; (C) monitor the status of technological developments, critical production capacity, skill availability, investment patterns, emerging defense needs, and other key indicators of manufacturing competitiveness to coordinate with the Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary for Administration of the Department of Commerce in developing the annual budgets for manufacturing-related programs of the Department of Commerce; (D) oversee and convene the Council; and (E) solicit input from the public and private sectors and academia regarding emerging trends in manufacturing and the responsiveness of Federal programming. (4) Term The Director shall serve for a term of 6 years, unless removed earlier by the President. (e) Directorates Unless otherwise provided by the Director, there shall be within the Institute the following Directorates: (1) A Directorate for Technology Development, which shall— (A) make competitive awards to support discovery, invention, and translational research in the fields of engineering and manufacturing; (B) conduct prize competitions in accordance with section 24 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 ( 15 U.S.C. 3719 (C) administer a pilot program establishing translational research centers associated with institutions of higher education, which will guide and fund research needed to translate laboratory results to testable beta prototypes and facilitate connections with domestic manufacturers to scale domestic production; and (D) administer other programs and activities that promote technology development. (2) A Directorate for the Industrial Commons, which shall— (A) administer the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership; (B) administer the Manufacturing USA Program established under section 34 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act ( 15 U.S.C. 278s (C) administer other programs and activities that promote robust manufacturing innovation ecosystems and support manufacturing supply chains in the United States during emergencies. (3) A Directorate for Education and Workforce Development, which shall— (A) make competitive awards for scholarships and graduate fellowships; (B) make competitive awards for industrial, academic, and governmental fellowships to faculty and retired manufacturing experts; (C) make competitive awards for research, development, and evaluation of innovative training programs; and (D) administer programs and activities that promote the short-term and long-term workforce and education needs of the manufacturing sector. (4) A Directorate for Small and Medium Manufacturers, which shall— (A) administer programs for loans, investment capital, and surety bonds for small and medium manufacturing firms; (B) administer the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program established under 25 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act ( 15 U.S.C. 278k (C) administer other programs and activities that help small and medium manufacturers prosper. (5) A Directorate on Trade, which shall— (A) manage and oversee an Office of Manufacturer Trade, which shall— (i) advise manufacturers in the United States on trade; (ii) advise the United States Trade Representative, the Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade, and other entities in the Federal Government on trade to benefit manufacturers in the United States; (iii) receive and solicit recommendations and feedback from manufacturers in the United States; and (iv) appoint an employee of the Office to serve as a liaison between— (I) the Office; and (II) (aa) the United States Trade Representative; and (bb) the Industry Trade Advisory Committees on Aerospace Equipment, Automotive Equipment and Capital Goods, and Steel; and (B) manage and oversee a United States Manufacturer Trade Council, which shall— (i) receive and solicit recommendations and feedback from manufacturers in the United States; and (ii) in addition to voting members, be composed of ex-officio members of the Industry Trade Advisory Committees described in subparagraph (A)(iv)(II)(bb). (f) Authorities In carrying out the duties of the Director under this Act, the Director may— (1) appoint or create such advisory committees as may be appropriate for purposes of consultation and advice to the Institute in the performance of the functions of the Institute; (2) issue rules governing the manner of operations of the Institute; (3) make expenditures necessary for administering the provisions in this Act; (4) enter into contracts or other arrangements with organizations and individuals in the United States and foreign countries as the Director determines necessary to carry out the functions of the Institute; (5) award scholarships and fellowships to citizens of the United States for the purpose of study or scientific work in manufacturing; (6) acquire, construct, hold, and dispose of real and personal property as the Director determines necessary; and (7) accept unconditional gifts or donations of services, money, or property. (g) Advisory committees The Institute shall manage and oversee the following advisory committees: (1) The Council. (2) The Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory Board established under section 25(m) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act ( 15 U.S.C. 278k(m) (3) The Materials Processing Equipment Technical Advisory Committee. (h) Patent rights (1) In general Each contract entered into by the Director shall contain provisions governing the disposition of inventions produced under the contract. (2) Prohibition No officer or employee of the Institute may acquire or transfer any rights under the patent laws of the United States for any invention achieved in performing the assigned activities of the officer or employee. (i) Transfer of functions and technical and conforming amendments (1) Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (A) Transfer of functions All functions of the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership of the Department of Commerce, including the personnel, assets, and obligations of the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership of the Department of Commerce, as in existence on the day before the date of enactment of this Act, shall be transferred to the Institute. (B) Deeming of name Any reference in any law, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership of the Department of Commerce shall be deemed a reference to the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership of the Institute. (C) Unexpended balances Unexpended balances of appropriations, authorization, allocations, or other funds related to the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership of the Department of Commerce shall be available for use by the Institute for purposes for which the appropriations, authorizations, allocations, or other funds were originally made available. (2) Manufacturing USA Program (A) Transfer of functions All functions of the Manufacturing USA Program carried out by the National Office of the Manufacturing USA Network of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, including the personnel, assets, and obligations carried out by that National Office, as in existence on the day before the date of enactment of this Act, shall be transferred to the Directorate for the Industrial Commons of the Institute. (B) Deeming of name Any reference in any law, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the Manufacturing USA Program carried out by the National Office of the Manufacturing USA Network of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall be deemed a reference to the Manufacturing USA Program carried out by the Directorate for the Industrial Commons of the Institute. (C) Unexpended balances Unexpended balances of appropriations, authorization, allocations, or other funds related to the Manufacturing USA Program carried out by the National Office of the Manufacturing USA Network of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall be available for use by the Institute for purposes for which the appropriations, authorizations, allocations, or other funds were originally made available. (D) Technical and conforming amendments Section 34 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act ( 15 U.S.C. 278s (i) in subsection (a)— (I) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and (II) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following: (2) Manufacturing Director The term Manufacturing Director ; (ii) in subsection (b)— (I) in paragraph (1), by striking The Secretary shall establish within the Institute There is within the National Institute of Manufacturing (II) in paragraph (3), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking The Secretary, acting through the Director The Manufacturing Director, acting through the Directorate for the Industrial Commons of the National Institute of Manufacturing (III) in paragraph (4)— (aa) in the paragraph heading, by inserting Manufacturing Director (bb) by striking Secretary Manufacturing Director (cc) by striking Director. Directorate for the Industrial Commons of the National Institute of Manufacturing. (iii) in subsections (c)(1), (d)(3)(B), (f), (h)(3), (h)(4), (h)(5)(A), (h)(5)(B), (i)(1)(A)(ii), (i)(2)(A), (i)(2)(B)(i), (i)(2)(B)(ii), (j)(1), (j)(2), (j)(3), (j)(4), (j)(5), and (j)(7), by striking Secretary Manufacturing Director (iv) in subsection (e)(1), by striking the Secretary and the Secretary of Energy the Manufacturing Director and the Secretary of Energy (v) in subsection (g), by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows: (1) Authority To the extent provided for in advance by appropriations Acts, the Manufacturing Director may use an amount not to exceed $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2026 to carry out this section from amounts appropriated to the National Institute of Manufacturing. ; (vi) in subsection (h)(1), by striking The Secretary shall establish, within the Institute, There is within the Directorate for the Industrial Commons of the National Institute of Manufacturing (vii) in subsection (i)(1), in the paragraph heading, by striking Secretary Manufacturing Director (E) References Any reference in this Act or an amendment made by this Act to the Manufacturing USA Program carried out by the National Office of the Manufacturing USA Network of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall also be a reference to the Network for Manufacturing Innovation Program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. (F) Rule of construction for centers of manufacturing innovation Nothing in this Act shall be construed to affect, or require the transfer to the Institute of, any Federal financial assistance that is provided to a center for manufacturing innovation by any Federal entity other than the Institute under the Manufacturing USA Program carried out by the National Office of the Manufacturing USA Network of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. (3) Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program (A) Transfer of functions All functions of the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, including the personnel, assets, and obligations of the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, as in existence on the day before the date of enactment of this Act, shall be transferred to the Directorate for Small and Medium Manufacturers of the Institute. (B) Deeming of name Any reference in any law, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall be deemed a reference to the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program of the Directorate for Small and Medium Manufacturers of the Institute. (C) Unexpended balances Unexpended balances of appropriations, authorization, allocations, or other funds related to the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall be available for use by the Directorate for Small and Medium Manufacturers of the Institute for purposes for which the appropriations, authorizations, allocations, or other funds were originally made available. (D) Technical and conforming amendments Section 25 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act ( 15 U.S.C. 278k (i) in subsection (a)— (I) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (8); and (II) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following: (7) Manufacturing Director The term Manufacturing Director ; (ii) in subsection (b), by striking Secretary, acting through the Director Manufacturing Director, acting through the Directorate for Small and Medium Manufacturers of the National Institute of Manufacturing (iii) in subsection (e), by striking Secretary Manufacturing Director (iv) in subsection (f), by striking Secretary Manufacturing Director (v) in subsection (g)— (I) in paragraph (2), in the paragraph heading, by striking secretary Manufacturing Director (II) by striking Secretary Manufacturing Director (vi) in subsection (h), by striking Secretary Manufacturing Director (vii) in subsection (i)— (I) by striking Not the Secretary Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the National Institute of Manufacturing Act (II) by striking Institute the Directorate for Small and Medium Manufacturers of the National Institute of Manufacturing (viii) in subsection (k), by inserting Manufacturing Director (ix) in subsection (l)— (I) by striking the Secretary and Director the Manufacturing Director (II) by striking and from the private sector under section 2(c)(7) of this Act ( 15 U.S.C. 272(c)(7) (x) in subsection (n)— (I) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting Manufacturing Director (II) in paragraph (2), by striking Secretary Manufacturing Director (4) Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory Board (A) Transfer of functions All functions of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory Board of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, including the personnel, assets, and obligations of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory Board of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, as in existence on the day before the date of enactment of this Act, shall be transferred to the Institute. (B) Deeming of name Any reference in any law, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory Board of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall be deemed a reference to the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory Board of the Institute. (C) Unexpended balances Unexpended balances of appropriations, authorization, allocations, or other funds related to the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory Board of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall be available for use by the Institute for purposes for which the appropriations, authorizations, allocations, or other funds were originally made available. (D) Technical and conforming amendments Section 25(m) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act ( 15 U.S.C. 278k(m) (i) in paragraph (1), by striking Institute National Institute of Manufacturing (ii) in paragraph (2)(A)(i), by inserting Manufacturing Director (iii) in paragraph (3)(B), in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting Manufacturing Director (iv) in paragraph (5)(A), by striking Secretary Manufacturing Director (5) Office of Manufacturing (A) Transfer of functions All functions of the Office of Manufacturing of the International Trade Administration of the Department of Commerce, including the personnel, assets, and obligations of the Office of Manufacturing of the International Trade Administration of the Department of Commerce, as in existence on the day before the date of enactment of this Act, shall be transferred to the Office of Manufacturer Trade described in subsection (e)(5)(A). (B) Deeming of name Any reference in any law, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the Office of Manufacturing of the International Trade Administration of the Department of Commerce shall be deemed a reference to the Office of Manufacturer Trade of the Directorate on Trade of the Institute. (C) Unexpended balances Unexpended balances of appropriations, authorization, allocations, or other funds related to the Office of Manufacturing of the International Trade Administration of the Department of Commerce shall be available for use by the Office of Manufacturer Trade of the Directorate on Trade of the Institute for purposes for which the appropriations, authorizations, allocations, or other funds were originally made available. (6) Materials Processing Equipment Technical Advisory Committee (A) Transfer of functions All functions of the Materials Processing Equipment Technical Advisory Committee of the Bureau of Industry and Security of the Department of Commerce, including the personnel, assets, and obligations of the Materials Processing Equipment Technical Advisory Committee of the Bureau of Industry and Security of the Department of Commerce, as in existence on the day before the date of enactment of this Act, shall be transferred to the Institute. (B) Deeming of name Any reference in any law, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the Materials Processing Equipment Technical Advisory Committee of the Bureau of Industry and Security of the Department of Commerce shall be deemed a reference to the Materials Processing Equipment Technical Advisory Committee of the Institute. (C) Unexpended balances Unexpended balances of appropriations, authorization, allocations, or other funds related to the Materials Processing Equipment Technical Advisory Committee of the Bureau of Industry and Security of the Department of Commerce shall be available for use by the Institute for purposes for which the appropriations, authorizations, allocations, or other funds were originally made available. (j) Transitional provisions (1) Transitional authorities (A) Provision of assistance by officials Until the date of the transfer of an entity to the Institute or a component of the Institute under subsection (i), any official having authority over the entity, or functions relating to the entity, as of the day before the date of enactment of this Act shall provide to the Director such assistance, including the use of personnel and assets, as the Director may request in preparing for the transfer and integration of the entity into the Institute or a component of the Institute. (B) Services and personnel During the 1-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, upon the request of the Secretary, the head of any executive agency may, on a reimbursable basis, provide services or detail personnel to assist with the transfer of an entity to the Institute or a component of the Institute under subsection (i). (2) Incidental transfers The Director of the Office of Management and Budget, in consultation with the Director, shall make such additional incidental dispositions of personnel, assets, and liabilities held, used, arising from, available, or to be made available, in connection with the functions transferred under subsection (i), as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget may determine necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Act. 4. National Manufacturing Advisory Council (a) Establishment There is established in the Department of Commerce the National Manufacturing Advisory Council (b) Mission The mission of the Council shall be to— (1) ensure regular communication between the Federal Government and the manufacturing sector in the United States; (2) advise the Secretary on government policies and government programs that affect United States manufacturing and provide a forum for discussing and proposing solutions to industry-related problems; and (3) ensure that the United States remains the preeminent destination for investment in manufacturing throughout the world. (c) Duties The duties of the Council shall include— (1) meeting from time to time to provide independent advice and recommendations to the Secretary regarding issues involving United States manufacturing; (2) completing specific tasks requested by the Director or the Secretary; (3) monitoring the status of technological developments, critical production capacity, skill availability, investment patterns, emerging defense needs, and other key indicators of manufacturing competitiveness; (4) soliciting input from the public and private sector and academia regarding emerging trends in manufacturing, the responsiveness of Federal programming, and suggestions for areas of increased Federal attention; (5) monitoring global manufacturing trends and global threats to manufacturing sectors in the United States; (6) providing input on providing Federal assistance for manufacturers relating to— (A) international trade and investment matters; (B) research and technology development opportunities; (C) workforce development and training programs and opportunities; (D) small and medium manufacturer needs; and (E) industrial commons and supply chains needs. (d) Charter The Council shall develop a charter to govern the structure and mission of the Council. (e) Membership (1) In general The Council shall— (A) consist of individuals with a balance of backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints; and (B) include individuals that directly represent private industry, academia, and labor. (2) Public participation The nomination process for membership on the Council shall include a public nomination process to the maximum extent practicable. (f) Transfer of functions (1) Transfer of functions All functions of the Manufacturing Council of the International Trade Administration of the Department of Commerce, including the personnel, assets, and obligations of the United States Manufacturing Council of the International Trade Administration of the Department of Commerce, as in existence on the day before the date of enactment of this Act, shall be transferred to the Institute. (2) Deeming of name Any reference in law, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the Manufacturing Council of the International Trade Administration of the Department of Commerce shall be deemed a reference to the National Manufacturing Advisory Council. (3) Unexpended balances Unexpended balances of appropriations, authorization, allocations, or other funds related to the Manufacturing Council of the International Trade Administration of the Department of Commerce shall be available for use by the Director for which the appropriations, authorizations, allocations, or other funds were originally made available. (g) Permanent authority Notwithstanding section 14 5. Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Institute such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.

Summary: National Institute of Manufacturing Act This bill establishes the National Institute of Manufacturing to serve as the central hub for federal manufacturing programs. The institute shall, among other things, (1) convene key stakeholders to identify the needs and priorities of the U.S. manufacturing sector; (2) support and incentivize manufacturing-focused research, collaboration, and education; and (3) provide small and medium manufacturers with financial support, including loans, counseling, training, technical assistance, and advocacy. Overseen by a Director, the institute shall be composed of various directorates (e.g., a Directorate for Technology Development and a Directorate for Trade), and the functions of specified federal manufacturing programs and offices shall be transferred to the institute and its directorates. Transferred programs and offices include the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership, the Manufacturing USA Program, the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program, and the Office of Manufacturing. The bill also permanently reauthorizes the U.S. Manufacturing Council of the International Trade Administration as the National Manufacturing Advisory Council, and it tasks the council with (1) ensuring regular communication between the federal government and the U.S. manufacturing sector, (2) advising the Department of Commerce on government policies and programs that affect U.S. manufacturing, and (3) ensuring the United States remains the leading destination for investment in manufacturing throughout the world.