108TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 3598
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.
108TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 3598
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 2004’’.
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 Interagency Com-
mittee shall be chaired by the Under Secretary of
Commerce for Technology.
(2) FUNCTIONS.—The Interagency Committee
shall be responsible for the planning and coordina-
tion of Federal efforts in manufacturing research
and development through—
(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 as sec-
tion 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
minimum—
‘‘(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) 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.’’.
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
Technology—
(1) $425,688,000 for fiscal year 2005, of
which—
(A) $55,777,000 shall be for Electronics
and Electrical Engineering;
(B) $29,584,000 shall be for Manufac-
turing Engineering;
(C) $50,142,000 shall be for Chemical
Science and Technology;
(D) $42,240,000 shall be for Physics;
(E) $62,724,000 shall be for Material
Science and Engineering;
(F) $23,594,000 shall be for Building and
Fire Research;
(G) $60,660,000 shall be for Computer
Science and Applied Mathematics, of which
$2,800,000 shall be for activities in support of
the Help America Vote Act of 2002;
(H) $17,445,000 shall be for Technical As-
sistance; and
(I) $78,102,000 shall be for Research Sup-
port Activities;
(2) $446,951,000 for fiscal year 2006;
(3) $469,299,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
(4) $492,764,000 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) $5,400,000 for fiscal year 2005;
(2) $5,535,000 for fiscal year 2006;
(3) $5,674,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
(4) $5,815,000 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 such
sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2005
through 2008.
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
minimum—
(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
minimum—
(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.