109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 250
AN ACT 
To establish an interagency committee to coordinate Federal 
manufacturing research and development efforts in man-
ufacturing, strengthen existing programs to assist manu-
facturing innovation and education, and expand outreach 
programs for small and medium-sized manufacturers, 
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Manufacturing Tech-
nology Competitiveness Act of 2005’’. 
SEC. 2. INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE AND ADVISORY COM-
MITTEE. 
(a) INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE.—
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The President shall es-
tablish or designate an interagency committee on 
manufacturing research and development, which 
shall include representatives from the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy, the National Insti-
tute of Standards and Technology, the Science and 
Technology Directorate of the Department of Home-
land Security, the National Science Foundation, the 
Department of Energy, and any other agency that 
the President may designate. The Chair of the Inter-
agency Committee shall be designated by the Direc-
tor of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. 
(2) FUNCTIONS.—The Interagency Committee 
shall be responsible for the planning and coordina-
tion of Federal efforts in manufacturing research 
and development through—
(A) establishing goals and priorities for 
manufacturing research and development, in-
cluding the strengthening of United States 
manufacturing through the support and coordi-
nation of Federal manufacturing research, de-
velopment, technology transfer, standards, and 
technical training; 
(B) developing, within 6 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, and updating 
every 3 years for delivery with the President’s 
annual budget request to Congress, a strategic 
plan, to be transmitted to the Committee on 
Science of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate, for manufac-
turing research and development that includes 
an analysis of the research, development, tech-
nology transfer, standards, technical training, 
and integration needs of the manufacturing sec-
tor important to ensuring and maintaining 
United States competitiveness; 
(C) proposing an annual coordinated inter-
agency budget for manufacturing research and 
development to the Office of Management and 
Budget; and
(D) developing and transmitting to Con-
gress an annual report on the Federal programs 
involved in manufacturing research, develop-
ment, technical training, standards, and inte-
gration, their funding levels, and their impacts 
on United States manufacturing competitive-
ness, including the identification and analysis of 
the manufacturing research and development 
problems that require additional attention, and 
recommendations of how Federal programs 
should address those problems. 
(3) RECOMMENDATIONS AND VIEWS.—In car-
rying out its functions under paragraph (2), the 
Interagency Committee shall consider the rec-
ommendations of the Advisory Committee and the 
views of academic, State, industry, and other entities 
involved in manufacturing research and develop-
ment. 
(b) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—
(1) 
ESTABLISHMENT.—Not 
later 
than 
months after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
President shall establish or designate an advisory 
committee to provide advice and information to the 
Interagency Committee.
(2) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The Advisory Com-
mittee shall assist the Interagency Committee by 
providing it with recommendations on—
(A) the goals and priorities for manufac-
turing research and development; 
(B) the strategic plan, including proposals 
on how to strengthen research and development 
to help manufacturing; and 
(C) other issues it considers appropriate. 
(3) REPORT.—The Advisory Committee shall 
provide an annual report to the Interagency Com-
mittee and the Congress that shall assess—
(A) the progress made in implementing the 
strategic plan and challenges to this progress; 
(B) the effectiveness of activities under the 
strategic plan in improving United States man-
ufacturing competitiveness; 
(C) the need to revise the goals and prior-
ities established by the Interagency Committee; 
and 
(D) new and emerging problems and op-
portunities affecting the manufacturing re-
search community, research infrastructure, and 
the measurement and statistical analysis of
manufacturing that may need to be considered 
by the Interagency Committee. 
(4) FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT AP-
PLICATION.—Section 14 of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act shall not apply to the Advisory Com-
mittee. 
SEC. 3. COLLABORATIVE MANUFACTURING RESEARCH 
PILOT GRANTS. 
The National Institute of Standards and Technology 
Act is amended—
(1) by redesignating the first section 32 (15 
U.S.C. 271 note) as section 34 and moving it to the 
end of the Act; and 
(2) by inserting before the section moved by 
paragraph (1) the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 33. COLLABORATIVE MANUFACTURING RESEARCH 
PILOT GRANTS. 
‘‘(a) AUTHORITY.—
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Director shall es-
tablish a pilot program of awards to partnerships 
among participants described in paragraph (2) for 
the purposes described in paragraph (3). Awards 
shall be made on a peer-reviewed, competitive basis. 
‘‘(2) PARTICIPANTS.—Such partnerships shall 
include at least—
‘‘(A) 1 manufacturing industry partner; 
and 
‘‘(B) 1 nonindustry partner. 
‘‘(3) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the program 
under this section is to foster cost-shared collabora-
tions among firms, educational institutions, research 
institutions, State agencies, and nonprofit organiza-
tions to encourage the development of innovative, 
multidisciplinary manufacturing technologies. Part-
nerships receiving awards under this section shall 
conduct applied research to develop new manufac-
turing processes, techniques, or materials that would 
contribute to improved performance, productivity, 
and competitiveness of United States manufacturing, 
and build lasting alliances among collaborators. 
‘‘(b) PROGRAM CONTRIBUTION.—Awards under this 
section shall provide for not more than one-third of the 
costs of a partnership. Not more than an additional one-
third of such costs may be obtained directly or indirectly 
from other Federal sources. 
‘‘(c) APPLICATIONS.—Applications for awards under 
this section shall be submitted in such manner, at such 
time, and containing such information as the Director 
shall require. Such applications shall describe at a min-
imum—
‘‘(1) how each partner will participate in devel-
oping and carrying out the research agenda of the 
partnership; 
‘‘(2) the research that the grant would fund; 
and 
‘‘(3) how the research to be funded with the 
award would contribute to improved performance, 
productivity, and competitiveness of the United 
States manufacturing industry. 
‘‘(d) SELECTION CRITERIA.—In selecting applica-
tions for awards under this section, the Director shall con-
sider at a minimum—
‘‘(1) the degree to which projects will have a 
broad impact on manufacturing; 
‘‘(2) the novelty and scientific and technical 
merit of the proposed projects; and 
‘‘(3) the demonstrated capabilities of the appli-
cants to successfully carry out the proposed re-
search. 
‘‘(e) DISTRIBUTION.—In selecting applications under 
this section the Director shall ensure, to the extent prac-
ticable, a distribution of overall awards among a variety 
of manufacturing industry sectors and a range of firm 
sizes.
‘‘(f) DURATION.—In carrying out this section, the Di-
rector shall run a single pilot competition to solicit and 
make awards. Each award shall be for a 3-year period.’’. 
SEC. 4. MANUFACTURING FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. 
Section 18 of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278g–1) is amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—’’ before 
‘‘The Director is authorized’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(b) MANUFACTURING FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.—
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—To promote the devel-
opment of a robust research community working at 
the leading edge of manufacturing sciences, the Di-
rector shall establish a program to award—
‘‘(A) postdoctoral research fellowships at 
the Institute for research activities related to 
manufacturing sciences; and 
‘‘(B) senior research fellowships to estab-
lished researchers in industry or at institutions 
of higher education who wish to pursue studies 
related to the manufacturing sciences at the In-
stitute. 
‘‘(2) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible for an 
award under this subsection, an individual shall sub-
mit an application to the Director at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information as 
the Director may require. 
‘‘(3) STIPEND LEVELS.—Under this section, the 
Director shall provide stipends for postdoctoral re-
search fellowships at a level consistent with the Na-
tional Institute of Standards and Technology 
Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program, and sen-
ior research fellowships at levels consistent with sup-
port for a faculty member in a sabbatical position.’’. 
SEC. 5. MANUFACTURING EXTENSION. 
(a) MANUFACTURING CENTER EVALUATION.—Sec-
tion 25(c)(5) of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k(c)(5)) is amended by in-
serting ‘‘A Center that has not received a positive evalua-
tion by the evaluation panel shall be notified by the panel 
of the deficiencies in its performance and may be placed 
on probation for one year, after which time the panel may 
reevaluate the Center. If the Center has not addressed the 
deficiencies identified by the panel, or shown a significant 
improvement in its performance, the Director may conduct 
a new competition to select an operator for the Center or 
may close the Center.’’ after ‘‘sixth year at declining lev-
els.’’.
(b) FEDERAL SHARE.—Strike section 25(d) of the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 
U.S.C. 278k(d)) and insert the following: 
‘‘(d) ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDS.—In addition to such 
sums as may be appropriated to the Secretary and Direc-
tor to operate the Centers program, the Secretary and Di-
rector also may accept funds from other Federal depart-
ments and agencies and under section 2(c)(7) from the 
private sector for the purpose of strengthening United 
States manufacturing. Such funds, if allocated to a Center 
or Centers, shall not be considered in the calculation of 
the Federal share of capital and annual operating and 
maintenance costs under subsection (c).’’. 
(c) MANUFACTURING EXTENSION CENTER COMPETI-
TIVE GRANT PROGRAM.—Section 25 of the National Insti-
tute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k) 
is amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
sections: 
‘‘(e) COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM.—
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Director shall es-
tablish, within the Manufacturing Extension Part-
nership program under this section and section 26 
of this Act, a program of competitive awards among 
participants described in paragraph (2) for the pur-
poses described in paragraph (3).
‘‘(2) 
PARTICIPANTS.—Participants 
receiving 
awards under this subsection shall be the Centers, or 
a consortium of such Centers. 
‘‘(3) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the program 
under this subsection is to develop projects to solve 
new or emerging manufacturing problems as deter-
mined by the Director, in consultation with the Di-
rector of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership 
program, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership 
National Advisory Board, and small and medium-
sized manufacturers. One or more themes for the 
competition may be identified, which may vary from 
year to year, depending on the needs of manufactur-
ers and the success of previous competitions. These 
themes shall be related to projects associated with 
manufacturing extension activities, including supply 
chain integration and quality management, or extend 
beyond these traditional areas. 
‘‘(4) APPLICATIONS.—Applications for awards 
under this subsection shall be submitted in such 
manner, at such time, and containing such informa-
tion as the Director shall require, in consultation 
with the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Na-
tional Advisory Board.
‘‘(5) SELECTION.—Awards under this sub-
section shall be peer reviewed and competitively 
awarded. The Director shall select proposals to re-
ceive awards—
‘‘(A) that utilize innovative or collaborative 
approaches to solving the problem described in 
the competition; 
‘‘(B) that will improve the competitiveness 
of industries in the region in which the Center 
or Centers are located; and 
‘‘(C) that will contribute to the long-term 
economic stability of that region. 
‘‘(6) PROGRAM CONTRIBUTION.—Recipients of 
awards under this subsection shall not be required 
to provide a matching contribution. 
‘‘(f) AUDITS.—A center that receives assistance 
under this section shall submit annual audits to the Sec-
retary in accordance with Office of Management and 
Budget Circular A–133 and shall make such audits avail-
able to the public on request.’’. 
(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 Com-
mittee 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 Manufac-
turing Extension Partnership State partners and the Man-
ufacturing Extension Partnership National Advisory 
Board. 
SEC. 6. SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL RESEARCH AND SERV-
ICES. 
(a) LABORATORY ACTIVITIES.—There are authorized 
to be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce for the 
scientific and technical research and services laboratory 
activities of the National Institute of Standards and Tech-
nology—
(1) $426,267,000 for fiscal year 2006, of 
which—
(A) $50,833,000 shall be for Electronics 
and Electrical Engineering; 
(B) $28,023,000 shall be for Manufac-
turing Engineering; 
(C) $52,433,000 shall be for Chemical 
Science and Technology; 
(D) $46,706,000 shall be for Physics;
(E) $33,500,000 shall be for Material 
Science and Engineering; 
(F) $24,321,000 shall be for Building and 
Fire Research; 
(G) $68,423,000 shall be for Computer 
Science and Applied Mathematics; 
(H) $20,134,000 shall be for Technical As-
sistance; 
(I) $48,326,000 shall be for Research Sup-
port Activities; 
(J) $29,369,000 shall be for the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology Center 
for Neutron Research; and 
(K) $18,543,000 shall be for the National 
Nanomanufacturing and Nanometrology Facil-
ity; 
(2) $447,580,000 for fiscal year 2007; and 
(3) $456,979,000 for fiscal year 2008. 
(b) 
MALCOLM
BALDRIGE
NATIONAL
QUALITY 
AWARD PROGRAM.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to the Secretary of Commerce for the Malcolm 
Baldrige National Quality Award program under section 
17 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3711a)—
(1) $5,654,000 for fiscal year 2006;
(2) $5,795,000 for fiscal year 2007; and 
(3) $5,939,000 for fiscal year 2008. 
(c) CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE.—There are 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Com-
merce for construction and maintenance of facilities of the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology—
(1) $58,898,000 for fiscal year 2006; 
(2) $61,843,000 for fiscal year 2007; and 
(3) $63,389,000 for fiscal year 2008. 
(d) ADVANCED
TECHNOLOGY
PROGRAM
ELIMI-
NATION REPORT.—Not later than 3 months after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall provide to 
the Congress a report detailing the impacts of the possible 
elimination of the Advanced Technology Program on the 
laboratory programs at the National Institute of Stand-
ards Technology. 
(e) LOSS OF FUNDING.—At the time of the Presi-
dent’s budget request for fiscal year 2007, the Secretary 
shall provide the Congress a report on how the Depart-
ment of Commerce plans to absorb the loss of Advanced 
Technology Program funds to the laboratory programs at 
the National Institute of Standards and Technology, or 
otherwise mitigate the effects of this loss on its programs 
and personnel.
SEC. 7. STANDARDS EDUCATION PROGRAM. 
(a) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—(1) As part of the 
Teacher Science and Technology Enhancement Institute 
Program, the Director of the National Institute of Stand-
ards and Technology shall carry out a Standards Edu-
cation program to award grants to institutions of higher 
education to support efforts by such institutions to develop 
curricula on the role of standards in the fields of engineer-
ing, business, science, and economics. The curricula 
should address topics such as—
(A) development of technical standards; 
(B) demonstrating conformity to standards; 
(C) intellectual property and antitrust issues; 
(D) standardization as a key element of busi-
ness strategy; 
(E) survey of organizations that develop stand-
ards; 
(F) the standards life cycle; 
(G) case studies in effective standardization; 
(H) managing standardization activities; and 
(I) managing organizations that develop stand-
ards. 
(2) Grants shall be awarded under this section on a 
competitive, merit-reviewed basis and shall require cost-
sharing from non-Federal sources.
(b) SELECTION PROCESS.—(1) An institution of 
higher education seeking funding under this section shall 
submit an application to the Director at such time, in such 
manner, and containing such information as the Director 
may require. The application shall include at a min-
imum—
(A) a description of the content and schedule 
for adoption of the proposed curricula in the courses 
of study offered by the applicant; and 
(B) a description of the source and amount of 
cost-sharing to be provided. 
(2) In evaluating the applications submitted under 
paragraph (1) the Director shall consider, at a min-
imum—
(A) the level of commitment demonstrated by 
the applicant in carrying out and sustaining lasting 
curricula changes in accordance with subsection 
(a)(1); and 
(B) the amount of cost-sharing provided. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Com-
merce for the Teacher Science and Technology Enhance-
ment Institute program of the National Institute of Stand-
ards and Technology—
(1) $773,000 for fiscal year 2006;
(2) $796,000 for fiscal year 2007; and 
(3) $820,000 for fiscal year 2008. 
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) MANUFACTURING
EXTENSION
PARTNERSHIP 
PROGRAM.—There are authorized to be appropriated to 
the Secretary of Commerce, or other appropriate Federal 
agencies, for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership 
program under sections 25 and 26 of the National Insti-
tute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k 
and 278l)—
(1) $110,000,000 for fiscal year 2006, of which 
not more than $1,000,000 shall be for the competi-
tive grant program under section 25(e) of such Act 
(15 U.S.C. 278k(e)); 
(2) $115,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, of which 
not more than $4,000,000 shall be for the competi-
tive grant program under section 25(e) of such Act 
(15 U.S.C. 278k(e)); and 
(3) $120,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, of which 
not more than $4,100,000 shall be for the competi-
tive grant program under section 25(e) of such Act 
(15 U.S.C. 278k(e)). 
(b) COLLABORATIVE MANUFACTURING RESEARCH 
PILOT GRANTS PROGRAM.—There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce for the Col-
laborative Manufacturing Research Pilot Grants program 
under section 33 of the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology Act—
(1) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2006; 
(2) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and 
(3) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2008. 
(c) FELLOWSHIPS.—There are authorized to be ap-
propriated to the Secretary of Commerce for Manufac-
turing Fellowships at the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology under section 18(b) of the National Insti-
tute of Standards and Technology Act, as added by section 
4 of this Act—
(1) $1,500,000 for fiscal year 2006; 
(2) $1,750,000 for fiscal year 2007; and 
(3) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2008. 
SEC. 9. TECHNICAL WORKFORCE EDUCATION AND DEVEL-
OPMENT. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Director of the 
National Science Foundation, from sums otherwise au-
thorized to be appropriated, for the Advanced Techno-
logical Education Program established under section 3 of 
the Scientific and Advanced-Technology Act of 1992 (42 
U.S.C. 1862i)—
(1) 
$55,000,000 
for 
fiscal 
year 
2006, 
$5,000,000 of which may be used to support the 
education and preparation of manufacturing techni-
cians for certification; 
(2) 
$57,750,000 
for 
fiscal 
year 
2007, 
$5,000,000 of which may be used to support the 
education and preparation of manufacturing techni-
cians for certification; and 
(3) 
$60,600,000 
for 
fiscal 
year 
2008, 
$5,000,000 of which may be used to support the 
education and preparation of manufacturing techni-
cians for certification. 
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. 
(b) AMENDMENT.—Section 3 of the Scientific and 
Advanced-Technology Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 1862i) is 
amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘, including manufacturing’’ 
after ‘‘advanced-technology fields’’ each place it ap-
pears other than in subsection (c)(2); and 
(2) by inserting ‘‘, including manufacturing,’’ 
after ‘‘advanced-technology fields’’ in subsection 
(c)(2).
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 Part-
nership 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 per-
sonnel from within the national network of Manufac-
turing Extension Partnership Centers established 
under section 25 of the National Institute of Stand-
ards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k) and local 
experts, the purpose of which shall be to assist im-
pacted manufacturers; 
(2) develop virtual assistance centers, consisting 
of databases incorporating the results and rec-
ommendations of the triage team assessments; 
(3) assess the potential disruption on national 
manufacturing supply chains as a result of Hurri-
cane 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 Hurri-
cane Katrina, consistent with the authorities of the 
Manufacturing Extension Partnership program es-
tablished 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.—Assist-
ance under the Program established under this section 
shall be exempt from matching requirements for the Man-
ufacturing Extension Partnership program under the Na-
tional Institute of Standards and Technology Act. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Com-
merce such sums as may be necessary for the Katrina As-
sistance Program established under this section. 
SEC. 11. BUILT ENVIRONMENT INVESTIGATION FOR HURRI-
CANE KATRINA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the National In-
stitute of Standards and Technology shall carry out an 
engineering performance study of the effects of Hurricane 
Katrina in the areas of Louisiana, Alabama, and Mis-
sissippi covered by the President’s major disaster declara-
tions of August 29, 2005. The study shall be based on
an examination of physical structures damaged due to ex-
cessive wind, storm surge, and flooding, including—
(1) key physical infrastructures such as ports, 
utilities, lifelines associated with infrastructure fa-
cilities, 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. 
(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.
Passed the House of Representatives September 21, 
2005. 
Attest:
Clerk.
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 250
AN ACT 
To establish an interagency committee to coordi-
nate Federal manufacturing research and devel-
opment efforts in manufacturing, strengthen ex-
isting programs to assist manufacturing innova-
tion and education, and expand outreach pro-
grams for small and medium-sized manufactur-
ers, and for other purposes.