IB 
Union Calendar No. 89 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2397 
[Report No. 116–121] 
To amend the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act to make 
changes to the implementation of the network for manufacturing innova-
tion, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 30, 2019 
Ms. STEVENS (for herself, Mr. BALDERSON, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. REED, Ms. 
JOHNSON of Texas, and Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Tech-
nology 
JUNE 19, 2019 
Additional sponsors: Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. RYAN, Mr. TONKO, Mr. CASTEN 
of Illinois, Mr. CRIST, Ms. HILL of California, Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of 
Oklahoma, Mr. FOSTER, Mr. LAMB, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. MORELLE, Mrs. 
DINGELL, Mrs. WAGNER, Mrs. CRAIG, Mr. JOYCE of Ohio, Mr. SUOZZI, 
and Mrs. LAWRENCE 
JUNE 19, 2019 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on April 30, 2019] 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:44 Jun 19, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6652
E:\BILLS\H2397.RH
H2397
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
A BILL 
To amend the National Institute of Standards and Tech-
nology Act to make changes to the implementation of 
the network for manufacturing innovation, and for other 
purposes. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:44 Jun 19, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6652
E:\BILLS\H2397.RH
H2397
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
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 ‘‘American Manufac-
turing Leadership Act’’. 
SEC. 2. CHANGES IN IMPLEMENTATION OF NETWORK FOR 
MANUFACTURING INNOVATION. 
Section 34 of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278s) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘Network 
for Manufacturing Innovation Program’’ and in-
serting ‘‘Manufacturing USA Program’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in subparagraph (G), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(ii) in subparagraph (H), by striking 
the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; 
and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(I) to contribute to the development of re-
gional manufacturing innovation clusters across 
the Nation.’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:44 Jun 19, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2397.RH
H2397
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘Sec-
retary’’ each place it appears in subparagraph 
(C) and (D) and inserting ‘‘agency head’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by striking subparagraph (E); 
(ii) by redesignating subparagraphs 
(A), (B), (C), and (D) as clauses (i), (ii), 
(iii), and (iv), respectively, and moving the 
margins of such clauses (as so redesignated) 
two ems to the right; 
(iii) in the matter preceding clause (i) 
(as so redesignated), by striking ‘‘Activities 
of a center for manufacturing innovation 
may include’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(A) REQUIRED ACTIVITIES.—Activities of 
a center for manufacturing innovation shall in-
clude’’; 
(iv) in clause (ii), as so redesignated, 
by inserting before the period at the end the 
following: 
‘‘addressing 
workforce 
needs 
through training and education programs 
at all appropriate education levels’’; 
(v) in clause (iii), as so redesignated, 
by inserting before the period at the end the 
following: ‘‘, as appropriate’’; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:44 Jun 19, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2397.RH
H2397
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
(vi) by inserting after clause (iv) (as so 
redesignated) the following: 
‘‘(v) Development of roadmaps with re-
spect to technology areas being pursued by 
that center for manufacturing innovation 
that take into account the research and de-
velopment undertaken at other centers for 
manufacturing innovation and Federal 
agencies with respect to such areas.’’; and 
(vii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(B) PERMISSIBLE ACTIVITIES.—Activities 
of a center for manufacturing innovation may 
include such other activities as the agency head, 
in consultation with Federal departments and 
agencies whose missions contribute to, or are af-
fected by, advanced manufacturing, considers 
consistent with the purposes described in sub-
section (a)(2).’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (3), by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(C) APPLICATION.—Effective beginning on 
the date of the enactment of the American Manu-
facturing Leadership Act, a manufacturing cen-
ter shall be subject to subsections (a)(2), (c), and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:44 Jun 19, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2397.RH
H2397
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
(d) in the same manner and to the same extent 
as such provisions apply to a center for manu-
facturing innovation established pursuant to this 
section if such center— 
‘‘(i)(I) is, as of such date of enactment, 
considered a center for manufacturing inno-
vation under subparagraph (A) or recog-
nized as a center for manufacturing innova-
tion under subparagraph (B); and 
‘‘(II) as of such date of enactment, re-
ceives Federal financial assistance under 
subsection (d) or otherwise consistent with 
the purposes of this section; or 
‘‘(ii) is under pending agency review 
for such recognition as of such date of en-
actment.’’; 
(3) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘Secretary’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘agency head’’; and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘for a period of not 
less than 5 and not more than 7 years’’ 
after ‘‘financial assistance’’; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:44 Jun 19, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2397.RH
H2397
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘Sec-
retary’’ each place it appears and inserting 
‘‘agency head’’; 
(C) in paragraph (4)— 
(i) by amending subparagraph (A) to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(A) COMPETITIVE, 
MERIT
REVIEW.—In 
awarding financial assistance under paragraph 
(1), the agency head shall— 
‘‘(i) use a competitive, merit review 
process that includes peer review by a di-
verse group of individuals with relevant ex-
pertise from both the private and public sec-
tors; and 
‘‘(ii) ensure that the technology focus of 
a center for manufacturing innovation does 
not substantially duplicate the technology 
focus of any other center for manufacturing 
innovation.’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (B)(i), by strik-
ing ‘‘Secretary’’ and inserting ‘‘agency 
head’’; 
(iii) by amending subparagraph (C) to 
read as follows: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:44 Jun 19, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2397.RH
H2397
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
‘‘(C) PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT, TRANS-
PARENCY, 
AND
ACCOUNTABILITY.—For 
each 
award of financial assistance under paragraph 
(1), the agency head shall develop and implement 
metrics-based performance standards to assess 
the effectiveness of activities funded in making 
progress toward the purposes of the Program.’’; 
(iv) in subparagraph (D), by striking 
‘‘the Secretary shall’’ and all that follows 
through ‘‘collaborate’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing: ‘‘agency head, in coordination with 
the National Program Office, as appro-
priate, shall collaborate’’; and 
(v) in subparagraph (E), by striking 
‘‘Secretary’’ and inserting ‘‘agency head’’; 
and 
(D) in paragraph (5)— 
(i) by amending subparagraph (A) to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(A) TERM OF AWARD.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to clause 
(ii), an award made to a center for manu-
facturing innovation may be renewed for an 
additional period not to exceed the duration 
of the original funding award, subject to a 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:44 Jun 19, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2397.RH
H2397
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
rigorous merit review. In awarding addi-
tional funds, the agency head shall consider 
the extent to which the center has made 
progress in achieving the purposes described 
in subsection (a) and carrying out the ac-
tivities specified in subsection (c)(2). 
‘‘(ii) EXISTING
CENTERS.—Notwith-
standing clause (i), a center already in ex-
istence or undergoing a renewal process on 
the date of enactment of the American Man-
ufacturing Leadership Act— 
‘‘(I) may continue to receive sup-
port for the duration of the original 
funding award beginning on the date 
of establishment of that center; and 
‘‘(II) shall be eligible for renewal 
of that funding pursuant to clause 
(i).’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraphs (B) and (C), by 
striking ‘‘Secretary’’ each place it appears 
and inserting ‘‘agency head’’; 
(4) by amending subsection (e) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(e) GRANT PROGRAM FOR PUBLIC SERVICE ACTIVI-
TIES
FOR CENTERS
FOR MANUFACTURING INNOVATION 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:44 Jun 19, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2397.RH
H2397
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
WITHOUT FEDERAL FUNDING.—The Secretary may award 
grants on a competitive basis to centers of manufacturing 
innovation that are no longer recognized as such under sub-
section (c)(3)(C) to carry out workforce development, out-
reach to small- and medium-sized manufacturers, and other 
activities that— 
‘‘(1) are determined by the Secretary to be in the 
national interest; and 
‘‘(2) are unlikely to receive private sector finan-
cial support.’’; 
(5) in subsection (f)— 
(A) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in subparagraph (E), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(ii) in subparagraph (F), by striking 
the period at the end and inserting a semi-
colon; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(G) to work with non-sponsoring Federal 
agencies to explore and develop options for spon-
soring centers for manufacturing innovation at 
such agencies; 
‘‘(H) to work with sponsoring Federal agen-
cies to develop and implement network-wide per-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:44 Jun 19, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2397.RH
H2397
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
formance goals with measurable targets and 
timelines; 
‘‘(I) to help develop pilot programs that 
may be implemented by the centers for manufac-
turing innovation to address specific purposes of 
the Program, including to accelerate technology 
transfer to the private sector; and 
‘‘(J) to identify and disseminate best prac-
tices for workforce education and training across 
centers for manufacturing innovation and fur-
ther enhance collaboration among centers for 
manufacturing innovation in developing and 
implementing such practices.’’; and 
(B) by amending paragraph (5) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(5) HOLLINGS
MANUFACTURING
EXTENSION 
PARTNERSHIP.—The Secretary shall ensure that the 
National Program Office incorporates the Hollings 
Manufacturing Extension Partnership into Program 
planning to ensure— 
‘‘(A) significant outreach to, participation 
of, and engagement of small- and medium-sized 
manufacturers in centers for manufacturing in-
novation across the entirety of the manufac-
turing supply chain; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:44 Jun 19, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2397.RH
H2397
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
‘‘(B) that the results of the Program, in-
cluding technologies developed by the Program, 
reach small- and medium-sized manufacturers 
and that such entities have access to technical as-
sistance, as appropriate, in deploying those tech-
nologies.’’; 
(6) in subsection (g)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)(A)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘The Secretary’’ and all 
that follows through ‘‘report to the Sec-
retary’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘Each 
agency head shall require each recipient of 
financial assistance from that agency under 
subsection (d)(1) and any other manufac-
turing centers considered to be centers for 
manufacturing innovation pursuant to sub-
section (c)(3) to annually submit to the ap-
propriate agency head a report’’; and 
(ii) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘Each agency head shall submit such re-
ports to the Secretary.’’; and 
(B) by amending paragraph (3) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(3) ASSESSMENTS BY GAO.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:44 Jun 19, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2397.RH
H2397
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
‘‘(A) ASSESSMENTS.—Not less frequently 
than once every 3 years, the Comptroller General 
shall submit to Congress an assessment of the op-
eration of the Program during the most recent 3- 
year period, including an assessment of the 
progress made towards achieving the goals speci-
fied in the national strategic plan for advanced 
manufacturing under section 102(b)(7) of the 
America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 
2010 (42 U.S.C. 6622(b)(7)). 
‘‘(B) ELEMENTS.—Each assessment sub-
mitted under subparagraph (A) shall include, for 
the period covered by the report— 
‘‘(i) a review of the management, co-
ordination, and industry utility of the Pro-
gram; 
‘‘(ii) an assessment of the extent to 
which the Program has furthered the pur-
poses described in subsection (a)(2); 
‘‘(iii) such recommendations for legis-
lative and administrative action as the 
Comptroller General considers appropriate 
to improve the Program; and 
‘‘(iv) an assessment as to whether any 
prior recommendations for improvement 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:44 Jun 19, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2397.RH
H2397
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
made by the Comptroller General have been 
implemented or adopted.’’; 
(7) in subsection (h)— 
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘sub-
section (e)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (k)’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(6) COLLABORATIONS
WITH
OTHER
FEDERAL 
AGENCIES.—The Secretary shall collaborate with Fed-
eral agencies whose missions contribute to, or are af-
fected by, advanced manufacturing to identify and le-
verage existing resources at such Federal agencies to 
assist centers of manufacturing innovation in car-
rying out the purposes of the program specified in 
subsection (a)(2). Such existing resources may include 
programs— 
‘‘(A) at the Department of Labor relating to 
labor and apprenticeships; 
‘‘(B) at the Economic Development Admin-
istration relating to regional innovation, such as 
the Regional Innovation Strategies program; 
‘‘(C) at the Department of Education relat-
ing to workforce development, education, train-
ing, and retraining; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:44 Jun 19, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2397.RH
H2397
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
‘‘(D) at the Department of Defense relating 
to procurement and other authorities of the De-
partment of Defense; 
‘‘(E) at the Food and Drug Administration 
relating to biopharmaceutical manufacturing; 
‘‘(F) at the National Science Foundation, 
including the Advanced Technological Education 
program; 
‘‘(G) at the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration relating to procurement, work-
force development, education, training, and re-
training; and 
‘‘(H) additional programs that the Sec-
retary determines are appropriate to support the 
activities of existing centers for manufacturing 
innovation.’’; and 
(8) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(j) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) AGENCY
HEAD.—The term ‘agency head’ 
means the head of a Federal agency that is providing 
financial assistance for a center of manufacturing in-
novation, including the Secretary of Commerce and 
the Secretary of Energy. 
‘‘(2) REGIONAL
INNOVATION
CLUSTER.—The 
term ‘regional innovation cluster’ has the meaning 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:44 Jun 19, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2397.RH
H2397
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
given such term in section 27(f)(1) of the Stevenson- 
Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 
3722(f)(1)). 
‘‘(k) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) NIST.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to the Secretary to carry out this section 
$25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 
2024. 
‘‘(2) RESERVATION.—Of the amount made avail-
able under paragraph (1) the Secretary shall reserve 
not less than $5,000,000 for the National Office of the 
Network for Manufacturing Innovation Program es-
tablished under subsection (f). 
‘‘(3) DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.—For centers of 
manufacturing innovation operated by the Depart-
ment of Energy, there are authorized to be appro-
priated to the Secretary of Energy— 
‘‘(A) $70,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2020, 2021, and 2022; and 
‘‘(B) $84,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2023 and 2024.’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:44 Jun 19, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2397.RH
H2397
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
SEC. 3. INCREASED EMPHASIS ON REGIONAL INNOVATION 
WITHIN AND EXTENSION OF REGIONAL INNO-
VATION PROGRAM. 
Section 27 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Inno-
vation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3722) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(2) by adding at the end the 
following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(I) Developing relationships at the local 
level to build supply chains and use existing ca-
pabilities of entities operating on that level to 
bring economic growth to suburban and rural 
areas.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (g)(2) by striking ‘‘2019’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2024’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:44 Jun 19, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2397.RH
H2397
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
Union Calendar No. 89 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 2397 
[Report No. 116–121] 
A BILL 
To amend the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology Act to make changes to the imple-
mentation of the network for manufacturing in-
novation, and for other purposes. 
JUNE 19, 2019 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:44 Jun 19, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 6651
Sfmt 6651
E:\BILLS\H2397.RH
H2397
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS