SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Revitalize American 
Manufacturing and Innovation Act of 2014’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) In 2012, manufacturers contributed $2.03 
trillion to the economy, or 1⁄8 of United States Gross 
Domestic Product. 
(2) For every $1.00 spent in manufacturing, 
another $1.32 is added to the economy, the highest 
multiplier effect of any economic sector. 
(3) Manufacturing supports an estimated 
17,400,000 jobs in the United States—about 1 in 6 
private-sector jobs. More than 12,000,000 Ameri-
cans (or 9 percent of the workforce) are employed 
directly in manufacturing. 
(4) In 2012, the average manufacturing worker 
in the United States earned $77,505 annually, in-
cluding pay and benefits. The average worker in all 
industries earned $62,063. 
(5) Taken alone, manufacturing in the United 
States would be the 8th largest economy in the 
world. 
(6) Manufacturers in the United States perform 
two-thirds of all private-sector research and develop-
ment in the United States, driving more innovation 
than any other sector. 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF NETWORK FOR MANUFAC-
TURING INNOVATION. 
The National Institute of Standards and Technology 
Act (15 U.S.C. 271 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating section 34 as section 35; 
and 
(2) by inserting after section 33 (15 U.S.C. 
278r) the following: 
‘‘SEC. 34. NETWORK FOR MANUFACTURING INNOVATION. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF NETWORK FOR MANUFAC-
TURING INNOVATION PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish within the Institute a program to be known as 
the ‘Network for Manufacturing Innovation Pro-
gram’ (referred to in this section as the ‘Program’). 
‘‘(2) PURPOSES OF PROGRAM.—The purposes of 
the Program are— 
‘‘(A) to improve the competitiveness of 
United States manufacturing and to increase 
the production of goods manufactured predomi-
nantly within the United States;
‘‘(B) to stimulate United States leadership 
in advanced manufacturing research, innova-
tion, and technology; 
‘‘(C) to facilitate the transition of innova-
tive technologies into scalable, cost-effective, 
and high-performing manufacturing capabili-
ties; 
‘‘(D) to facilitate access by manufacturing 
enterprises to capital-intensive infrastructure, 
including 
high-performance 
electronics 
and 
computing, and the supply chains that enable 
these technologies; 
‘‘(E) to accelerate the development of an 
advanced manufacturing workforce; 
‘‘(F) to facilitate peer exchange of and the 
documentation of best practices in addressing 
advanced manufacturing challenges; 
‘‘(G) to leverage non-Federal sources of 
support to promote a stable and sustainable 
business model without the need for long-term 
Federal funding; and 
‘‘(H) to create and preserve jobs. 
‘‘(3) SUPPORT.—The Secretary, acting through 
the Director, shall carry out the purposes set forth 
in paragraph (2) by supporting—
‘‘(A) the Network for Manufacturing Inno-
vation established under subsection (b); and 
‘‘(B) the establishment of centers for man-
ufacturing innovation. 
‘‘(4) DIRECTOR.—The Secretary shall carry out 
the Program through the Director. 
‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF NETWORK FOR MANUFAC-
TURING INNOVATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—As part of the Program, 
the Secretary shall establish a network of centers for 
manufacturing innovation. 
‘‘(2) DESIGNATION.—The network established 
under paragraph (1) shall be known as the ‘Network 
for Manufacturing Innovation’ (referred to in this 
section as the ‘Network’). 
‘‘(c) CENTERS FOR MANUFACTURING INNOVATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of this sec-
tion, a ‘center for manufacturing innovation’ is a 
center that— 
‘‘(A) has been established by a person or 
group of persons to address challenges in ad-
vanced manufacturing and to assist manufac-
turers in retaining or expanding industrial pro-
duction and jobs in the United States;
‘‘(B) has a predominant focus on a manu-
facturing process, novel material, enabling tech-
nology, supply chain integration methodology, 
or another relevant aspect of advanced manu-
facturing, such as nanotechnology applications, 
advanced ceramics, photonics and optics, com-
posites, biobased and advanced materials, flexi-
ble hybrid technologies, and tool development 
for microelectronics; 
‘‘(C) as determined by the Secretary, has 
the potential— 
‘‘(i) to improve the competitiveness of 
United States manufacturing, including 
key advanced manufacturing technologies 
such as nanotechnology, advanced ceram-
ics, photonics and optics, composites, 
biobased and advanced materials, flexible 
hybrid technologies, and tool development 
for microelectronics; 
‘‘(ii) to accelerate non-Federal invest-
ment in advanced manufacturing produc-
tion capacity in the United States; or 
‘‘(iii) to enable the commercial appli-
cation of new technologies or industry-wide 
manufacturing processes; and
‘‘(D) includes active participation among 
representatives from multiple industrial entities, 
research universities, community colleges, and 
such other entities as the Secretary considers 
appropriate, which may include industry-led 
consortia, 
career 
and 
technical 
education 
schools, Federal laboratories, State, local, and 
tribal governments, businesses, educational in-
stitutions, and nonprofit organizations. 
‘‘(2) ACTIVITIES.—Activities of a center for 
manufacturing innovation may include the following: 
‘‘(A) Research, development, and dem-
onstration projects, including proof-of-concept 
development and prototyping, to reduce the 
cost, time, and risk of commercializing new 
technologies and improvements in existing tech-
nologies, processes, products, and research and 
development of materials to solve precompetitive 
industrial problems with economic or national 
security implications. 
‘‘(B) Development and implementation of 
education, training, and workforce recruitment 
courses, materials, and programs. 
‘‘(C) Development of innovative methodolo-
gies and practices for supply chain integration
and introduction of new technologies into sup-
ply chains. 
‘‘(D) Outreach and engagement with small 
and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises, 
including women and minority owned manufac-
turing enterprises, in addition to large manu-
facturing enterprises. 
‘‘(E) Such other activities as the Sec-
retary, in consultation with Federal depart-
ments and agencies whose missions contribute 
to or are affected by advanced manufacturing, 
considers consistent with the purposes described 
in subsection (a)(2). 
‘‘(3) ADDITIONAL
CENTERS
FOR
MANUFAC-
TURING INNOVATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The National Additive 
Manufacturing Innovation Institute and other 
manufacturing centers formally recognized as 
manufacturing innovation centers pursuant to 
Federal law or executive actions, or under pend-
ing interagency review for such recognition as 
of the date of enactment of the Revitalize 
American Manufacturing and Innovation Act of 
2014, shall be considered centers for manufac-
turing innovation, but such centers shall not re-
ceive any financial assistance under subsection 
(d). 
‘‘(B) NETWORK PARTICIPATION.—A manu-
facturing center that is substantially similar to 
those established under this subsection but that 
does not receive financial assistance under sub-
section (d) may, upon request of the center, be 
recognized as a center for manufacturing inno-
vation by the Secretary for purposes of partici-
pation in the Network. 
‘‘(d) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ESTABLISH AND 
SUPPORT
CENTERS
FOR
MANUFACTURING
INNOVA-
TION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the Pro-
gram, the Secretary shall award financial assistance 
to a person or group of persons to assist the organi-
zation in planning, establishing, or supporting a cen-
ter for manufacturing innovation. 
‘‘(2) APPLICATION.—A person or group of per-
sons seeking financial assistance under paragraph 
(1) shall submit to the Secretary an application 
therefor at such time, in such manner, and con-
taining such information as the Secretary may re-
quire. The application shall, at a minimum, describe 
the specific sources and amounts of non-Federal fi-
nancial support for the center on the date financial 
assistance is sought, as well as the anticipated 
sources and amounts of non-Federal financial sup-
port during the period for which the center could be 
eligible for continued Federal financial assistance 
under this section. 
‘‘(3) OPEN PROCESS.—In soliciting applications 
for financial assistance under paragraph (1), the 
Secretary shall ensure an open process that will 
allow for the consideration of all applications rel-
evant to advanced manufacturing regardless of tech-
nology area. 
‘‘(4) SELECTION.— 
‘‘(A) COMPETITIVE, MERIT
REVIEW.—In 
awarding financial assistance under paragraph 
(1), the Secretary shall use a competitive, merit 
review process that includes peer review by a di-
verse group of individuals with relevant exper-
tise from both the private and public sectors. 
‘‘(B) PARTICIPATION IN PROCESS.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—No political ap-
pointee may participate on a peer review 
panel. The Secretary shall implement a 
conflict of interest policy that ensures pub-
lic transparency and accountability, and re-
quires full disclosure of any real or poten-
tial conflicts of interest on the parts of in-
dividuals that participate in the merit se-
lection process. 
‘‘(ii) DEFINITION.—For purposes of 
this subparagraph, the term ‘political ap-
pointee’ means any individual who— 
‘‘(I) is employed in a position de-
scribed under sections 5312 through 
5316 of title 5, United States Code, 
(relating to the Executive Schedule); 
‘‘(II) is a limited term appointee, 
limited emergency appointee, or non-
career appointee in the Senior Execu-
tive Service, as defined under para-
graphs (5), (6), and (7), respectively, 
of section 3132(a) of title 5, United 
States Code; or 
‘‘(III) is employed in a position 
in the executive branch of the Govern-
ment of a confidential or policy-deter-
mining character under schedule C of 
subpart C of part 213 of title 5 of the 
Code of Federal Regulations.
‘‘(C) 
PERFORMANCE
MEASUREMENT, 
TRANSPARENCY, AND
ACCOUNTABILITY.—For 
each award of financial assistance under para-
graph (1), the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(i) make publicly available at the 
time of the award a description of the 
bases for the award, including an expla-
nation of the relative merits of the winning 
applicant as compared to other applica-
tions received, if applicable; and 
‘‘(ii) develop and implement metrics- 
based performance measures to assess the 
effectiveness of the activities funded. 
‘‘(D) COLLABORATION.—In awarding fi-
nancial assistance under paragraph (1), the 
Secretary shall, acting through the National 
Program Office established under subsection 
(f)(1), collaborate with Federal departments 
and agencies whose missions contribute to or 
are affected by advanced manufacturing. 
‘‘(E) CONSIDERATIONS.—In selecting a 
person who submitted an application under 
paragraph (2) for an award of financial assist-
ance under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 
consider, at a minimum, the following:
‘‘(i) The potential of the center for 
manufacturing innovation to advance do-
mestic manufacturing and the likelihood of 
economic impact, including the creation or 
preservation of jobs, in the predominant 
focus areas of the center for manufac-
turing innovation. 
‘‘(ii) The commitment of continued fi-
nancial support, advice, participation, and 
other 
contributions 
from 
non-Federal 
sources, to provide leverage and resources 
to promote a stable and sustainable busi-
ness model without the need for long-term 
Federal funding. 
‘‘(iii) Whether the financial support 
provided to the center for manufacturing 
innovation from non-Federal sources sig-
nificantly exceeds the requested Federal fi-
nancial assistance. 
‘‘(iv) How the center for manufac-
turing innovation will increase the non- 
Federal investment in advanced manufac-
turing research in the United States. 
‘‘(v) How the center for manufac-
turing innovation will engage with small
and medium-sized manufacturing enter-
prises, to improve the capacity of such en-
terprises to commercialize new processes 
and technologies. 
‘‘(vi) How the center for manufac-
turing innovation will carry out educational 
and workforce activities that meet indus-
trial needs related to the predominant 
focus areas of the center. 
‘‘(vii) How the center for manufac-
turing innovation will advance economic 
competitiveness and generate substantial 
benefits to the Nation that extend beyond 
the direct return to participants in the 
Program. 
‘‘(viii) Whether the predominant focus 
of the center for manufacturing innovation 
is a manufacturing process, novel material, 
enabling technology, supply chain integra-
tion methodology, or other relevant aspect 
of advanced manufacturing that has not 
already been commercialized, marketed, 
distributed, or sold by another entity.
cants seeking less than the maximum Federal 
share of funds allowed under this paragraph. 
‘‘(C) FUNDING
DECREASE.—The amount 
of financial assistance provided to a center of 
manufacturing innovation under paragraph (1) 
shall decrease after the second year of funding 
for the center, and shall continue to decrease 
thereafter in each year in which financial assist-
ance is provided, unless the Secretary deter-
mines that— 
‘‘(i) the center is otherwise meeting 
its stated goals and metrics under this sec-
tion; 
‘‘(ii) unforeseen circumstances have 
altered the center’s anticipated funding; 
and 
‘‘(iii) the center can identify future 
non-Federal funding sources that would 
warrant a temporary exemption from the 
limitations established in this subpara-
graph. 
‘‘(e) FUNDING.— 
‘‘(1) GENERAL RULE.—Except as provided in 
paragraph (2), no funds are authorized to be appro-
priated by the Revitalize American Manufacturing
and Innovation Act of 2014 for carrying out this 
section. 
‘‘(2) AUTHORITY.— 
‘‘(A) NIST INDUSTRIAL TECHNICAL SERV-
ICES ACCOUNT.—To the extent provided for in 
advance by appropriations Acts, the Secretary 
may use not to exceed $5,000,000 for each of 
the fiscal years 2015 through 2024 to carry out 
this section from amounts appropriated to the 
Institute for Industrial Technical Services. 
‘‘(B) ENERGY
EFFICIENCY
AND
RENEW-
ABLE ENERGY ACCOUNT.—To the extent pro-
vided for in advance by appropriations Acts, the 
Secretary of Energy may transfer to the Insti-
tute not to exceed $250,000,000 for the period 
encompassing fiscal years 2015 through 2024 
for the Secretary to carry out this section from 
amounts appropriated for advanced manufac-
turing research and development within the En-
ergy Efficiency and Renewable Energy account 
for the Department of Energy. 
‘‘(f) NATIONAL PROGRAM OFFICE.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish, within the Institute, the National Office of 
the Network for Manufacturing Innovation Program
(referred to in this section as the ‘National Program 
Office’), which shall oversee and carry out the Pro-
gram. 
‘‘(2) FUNCTIONS.—The functions of the Na-
tional Program Office are— 
‘‘(A) to oversee the planning, management, 
and coordination of the Program; 
‘‘(B) to enter into memorandums of under-
standing with Federal departments and agen-
cies whose missions contribute to or are af-
fected by advanced manufacturing, to carry out 
the purposes described in subsection (a)(2); 
‘‘(C) to develop, not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of the Revitalize Amer-
ican Manufacturing and Innovation Act of 
2014, and update not less frequently than once 
every 3 years thereafter, a strategic plan to 
guide the Program; 
‘‘(D) to establish such procedures, proc-
esses, and criteria as may be necessary and ap-
propriate to maximize cooperation and coordi-
nate the activities of the Program with pro-
grams and activities of other Federal depart-
ments and agencies whose missions contribute 
to or are affected by advanced manufacturing;
‘‘(E) to establish a clearinghouse of public 
information related to the activities of the Pro-
gram; and 
‘‘(F) to act as a convener of the Network. 
‘‘(3) RECOMMENDATIONS.—In developing and 
updating the strategic plan under paragraph (2)(C), 
the Secretary shall solicit recommendations and ad-
vice from a wide range of stakeholders, including in-
dustry, small and medium-sized manufacturing en-
terprises, research universities, community colleges, 
and other relevant organizations and institutions on 
an ongoing basis. 
‘‘(4) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Upon completion, 
the Secretary shall transmit the strategic plan re-
quired under paragraph (2)(C) to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Sen-
ate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Tech-
nology of the House of Representatives. 
‘‘(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 that the results of the Program 
reach small and medium-sized entities.
‘‘(6) DETAILEES.—Any Federal Government 
employee may be detailed to the National Program 
Office without reimbursement. Such detail shall be 
without interruption or loss of civil service status or 
privilege. 
‘‘(g) REPORTING AND AUDITING.— 
‘‘(1) ANNUAL REPORTS TO THE SECRETARY.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
require each recipient of financial assistance 
under subsection (d)(1) to annually submit a 
report to the Secretary that describes the fi-
nances and performance of the center for man-
ufacturing innovation for which such assistance 
was awarded. 
‘‘(B) ELEMENTS.—Each report submitted 
under subparagraph (A) shall include— 
‘‘(i) an accounting of expenditures of 
amounts awarded to the recipient under 
subsection (d)(1); and 
‘‘(ii) consistent with the metrics-based 
performance measures developed and im-
plemented by the Secretary under this sec-
tion, a description of the performance of 
the center for manufacturing innovation 
with respect to—
‘‘(I) its goals, plans, financial 
support, and accomplishments; and 
‘‘(II) how the center for manu-
facturing innovation has furthered the 
purposes 
described 
in 
subsection 
(a)(2). 
‘‘(2) ANNUAL REPORTS TO CONGRESS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not less frequently 
than once each year until December 31, 2024, 
the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress 
that describes the performance of the Program 
during the most recent 1-year period. 
‘‘(B) ELEMENTS.—Each report submitted 
under subparagraph (A) shall include, for the 
period covered by the report— 
‘‘(i) a summary and assessment of the 
reports received by the Secretary under 
paragraph (1); 
‘‘(ii) an accounting of the funds ex-
pended by the Secretary under the Pro-
gram, including any temporary exemptions 
granted from the requirements of sub-
section (d)(5)(C); 
‘‘(iii) an assessment of the participa-
tion in, and contributions to, the Network
by any centers for manufacturing innova-
tion not receiving financial assistance 
under subsection (d)(1); and 
‘‘(iv) an assessment of the Program 
with respect to meeting the purposes de-
scribed in subsection (a)(2). 
‘‘(3) ASSESSMENTS BY GAO.— 
‘‘(A) ASSESSMENTS.—Not less frequently 
than once every 2 years, the Comptroller Gen-
eral shall submit to Congress an assessment of 
the operation of the Program during the most 
recent 2-year period. 
‘‘(B) FINAL ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 
December 31, 2024, the Comptroller General 
shall submit to Congress a final report regard-
ing the overall success of the Program. 
‘‘(C) ELEMENTS.—Each assessment sub-
mitted under subparagraph (A) or (B) shall in-
clude, 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 
made by the Comptroller General have 
been implemented or adopted. 
‘‘(h) ADDITIONAL AUTHORITIES.— 
‘‘(1) APPOINTMENT OF PERSONNEL AND CON-
TRACTS.—The Secretary may appoint such per-
sonnel and enter into such contracts, financial as-
sistance agreements, and other agreements as the 
Secretary considers necessary or appropriate to 
carry out the Program, including support for re-
search and development activities involving a center 
for manufacturing innovation. 
‘‘(2) TRANSFER OF FUNDS.—Of amounts avail-
able under the authority provided by subsection (e), 
the Secretary may transfer to other Federal agencies 
such sums as the Secretary considers necessary or 
appropriate to carry out the Program. No funds so 
transferred may be used to reimburse or otherwise 
pay for the costs of financial assistance incurred or 
commitments of financial assistance made prior to
the date of enactment of the Revitalize American 
Manufacturing and Innovation Act of 2014. 
‘‘(3) AUTHORITY OF OTHER AGENCIES.—In the 
event that the Secretary exercises the authority to 
transfer funds to another agency under paragraph 
(2), such agency may accept such funds to award 
and administer, under the same conditions and con-
straints applicable to the Secretary, all aspects of fi-
nancial assistance awards under this section. 
‘‘(4) USE OF RESOURCES.—In furtherance of 
the purposes of the Program, the Secretary may use, 
with the consent of a covered entity and with or 
without reimbursement, the land, services, equip-
ment, personnel, and facilities of such covered entity. 
‘‘(5) ACCEPTANCE OF RESOURCES.—In addition 
to amounts appropriated to carry out the Program, 
the Secretary may accept funds, services, equipment, 
personnel, and facilities from any covered entity to 
carry out the Program, subject to the same condi-
tions and constraints otherwise applicable to the 
Secretary under this section and such funds may 
only be obligated to the extent provided for in ad-
vance by appropriations Acts. 
‘‘(6) COVERED ENTITY.—For purposes of this 
subsection, a covered entity is any Federal depart-
ment, Federal agency, instrumentality of the United 
States, State, local government, tribal government, 
territory, or possession of the United States, or of 
any political subdivision thereof, or international or-
ganization, or any public or private entity or indi-
vidual. 
‘‘(i) PATENTS.—Chapter 18 of title 35, United States 
Code, shall apply to any funding agreement (as defined 
in section 201 of that title) awarded to new or existing 
centers for manufacturing innovation.’’. 
SEC. 4. NATIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN FOR ADVANCED MANU-
FACTURING. 
Section 102 of the America COMPETES Reauthor-
ization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 6622) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the 
following: ‘‘In furtherance of the Committee’s work, 
the Committee shall consult with the National Eco-
nomic Council.’’; 
(2) in subsection (b), by striking paragraph (7) 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(7) develop and update a national strategic 
plan for advanced manufacturing in accordance with 
subsection (c).’’; and 
(3) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the 
following:
‘‘(c) NATIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN FOR ADVANCED 
MANUFACTURING.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The President shall submit 
to Congress, and publish on an Internet website that 
is accessible to the public, the strategic plan devel-
oped under paragraph (2). 
‘‘(2) DEVELOPMENT.—The Committee shall de-
velop, and update as required under paragraph (4), 
in coordination with the National Economic Council, 
a strategic plan to improve Government coordination 
and provide long-term guidance for Federal pro-
grams and activities in support of United States 
manufacturing competitiveness, including advanced 
manufacturing research and development. 
‘‘(3) CONTENTS.—The strategic plan described 
in paragraph (2) shall— 
‘‘(A) specify and prioritize near-term and 
long-term objectives, including research and de-
velopment objectives, the anticipated time frame 
for achieving the objectives, and the metrics for 
use in assessing progress toward the objectives; 
‘‘(B) describe the progress made in achiev-
ing the objectives from prior strategic plans, in-
cluding a discussion of why specific objectives 
were not met;
‘‘(C) specify the role, including the pro-
grams and activities, of each relevant Federal 
agency in meeting the objectives of the strategic 
plan; 
‘‘(D) describe how the Federal agencies 
and Federally funded research and development 
centers supporting advanced manufacturing re-
search and development will foster the transfer 
of research and development results into new 
manufacturing technologies and United States- 
based manufacturing of new products and proc-
esses for the benefit of society to ensure na-
tional, energy, and economic security; 
‘‘(E) describe how such Federal agencies 
and centers will strengthen all levels of manu-
facturing education and training programs to 
ensure an adequate, well-trained workforce; 
‘‘(F) describe how such Federal agencies 
and centers will assist small and medium-sized 
manufacturers in developing and implementing 
new products and processes; 
‘‘(G) analyze factors that impact innova-
tion and competitiveness for United States ad-
vanced manufacturing, including—
‘‘(i) technology transfer and commer-
cialization activities; 
‘‘(ii) the adequacy of the national se-
curity industrial base; 
‘‘(iii) the capabilities of the domestic 
manufacturing workforce; 
‘‘(iv) export opportunities and trade 
policies; 
‘‘(v) financing, investment, and tax-
ation policies and practices; 
‘‘(vi) emerging technologies and mar-
kets; 
‘‘(vii) advanced manufacturing re-
search and development undertaken by 
competing nations; and 
‘‘(viii) the capabilities of the manufac-
turing workforce of competing nations; and 
‘‘(H) elicit and consider the recommenda-
tions of a wide range of stakeholders, including 
representatives from diverse manufacturing 
companies, academia, and other relevant orga-
nizations and institutions. 
‘‘(4) UPDATES.—Not later than May 1, 2018, 
and not less frequently than once every 4 years 
thereafter, the President shall submit to Congress,
and publish on an Internet website that is accessible 
to the public, an update of the strategic plan sub-
mitted under paragraph (1). Such updates shall be 
developed in accordance with the procedures set 
forth under this subsection. 
‘‘(5) REQUIREMENT TO CONSIDER STRATEGY IN 
THE BUDGET.—In preparing the budget for a fiscal 
year under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States 
Code, the President shall include information re-
garding the consistency of the budget with the goals 
and recommendations included in the strategic plan 
developed under this subsection applying to that fis-
cal year. 
‘‘(6) AMP STEERING COMMITTEE INPUT.—The 
Advanced Manufacturing Partnership Steering Com-
mittee of the President’s Council of Advisors on 
Science and Technology shall provide input, perspec-
tive, and recommendations to assist in the develop-
ment and updates of the strategic plan under this 
subsection.’’. 
SEC. 5. REGIONAL INNOVATION PROGRAM. 
Section 27 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Inno-
vation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3722) is amended to read 
as follows:
‘‘SEC. 27. REGIONAL INNOVATION PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish a regional innovation program to encourage and sup-
port the development of regional innovation strategies, in-
cluding regional innovation clusters. 
‘‘(b) CLUSTER GRANTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—As part of the program es-
tablished under subsection (a), the Secretary may 
award grants on a competitive basis to eligible re-
cipients for activities relating to the formation and 
development of regional innovation clusters. 
‘‘(2) PERMISSIBLE ACTIVITIES.—Grants award-
ed under this subsection may be used for activities 
determined appropriate by the Secretary, including 
the following: 
‘‘(A) Feasibility studies. 
‘‘(B) Planning activities. 
‘‘(C) Technical assistance. 
‘‘(D) Developing or strengthening commu-
nication and collaboration between and among 
participants of a regional innovation cluster. 
‘‘(E) Attracting additional participants to 
a regional innovation cluster. 
‘‘(F) Facilitating market development of 
products and services developed by a regional 
innovation cluster, including through dem-
onstration, deployment, technology transfer, 
and commercialization activities. 
‘‘(G) Developing relationships between a 
regional innovation cluster and entities or clus-
ters in other regions. 
‘‘(H) Interacting with the public and State 
and local governments to meet the goals of the 
cluster. 
‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE RECIPIENT DEFINED.—In this 
subsection, the term ‘eligible recipient’ means— 
‘‘(A) a State; 
‘‘(B) an Indian tribe; 
‘‘(C) a city or other political subdivision of 
a State; 
‘‘(D) an entity that— 
‘‘(i) is a nonprofit organization, an in-
stitution of higher education, a public-pri-
vate partnership, a science or research 
park, a Federal laboratory, or an economic 
development organization or similar entity; 
and 
‘‘(ii) has an application that is sup-
ported by a State or a political subdivision 
of a State; or
‘‘(E) a consortium of any of the entities 
described in subparagraphs (A) through (D). 
‘‘(4) APPLICATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible recipient 
shall submit an application to the Secretary at 
such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information and assurances as the Secretary 
may require. 
‘‘(B) COMPONENTS.—The application shall 
include, at a minimum, a description of the re-
gional innovation cluster supported by the pro-
posed activity, including a description of— 
‘‘(i) whether the regional innovation 
cluster is supported by the private sector, 
State and local governments, and other rel-
evant stakeholders; 
‘‘(ii) how the existing participants in 
the regional innovation cluster will encour-
age and solicit participation by all types of 
entities that might benefit from participa-
tion, including newly formed entities and 
those rival existing participants; 
‘‘(iii) the extent to which the regional 
innovation cluster is likely to stimulate in-
novation and have a positive impact on re-
gional economic growth and development; 
‘‘(iv) whether the participants in the 
regional innovation cluster have access to, 
or contribute to, a well-trained workforce; 
‘‘(v) whether the participants in the 
regional innovation cluster are capable of 
attracting additional funds from non-Fed-
eral sources; and 
‘‘(vi) the likelihood that the partici-
pants in the regional innovation cluster will 
be able to sustain activities once grant 
funds under this subsection have been ex-
pended. 
‘‘(C) SPECIAL CONSIDERATION.—The Sec-
retary shall give special consideration to appli-
cations from regions that contain communities 
negatively impacted by trade. 
‘‘(5) SPECIAL CONSIDERATION.—The Secretary 
shall give special consideration to an eligible recipi-
ent who agrees to collaborate with local workforce 
investment area boards. 
‘‘(6) COST
SHARE.—The Secretary may not 
provide more than 50 percent of the total cost of 
any activity funded under this subsection.
‘‘(7) OUTREACH
TO
RURAL
COMMUNITIES.— 
The Secretary shall conduct outreach to public and 
private sector entities in rural communities to en-
courage those entities to participate in regional inno-
vation cluster activities under this subsection. 
‘‘(8) FUNDING.—The Secretary may accept 
funds from other Federal agencies to support grants 
and activities under this subsection. 
‘‘(c) REGIONAL INNOVATION RESEARCH AND INFOR-
MATION PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—As part of the program es-
tablished under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
establish a regional innovation research and infor-
mation program— 
‘‘(A) to gather, analyze, and disseminate 
information on best practices for regional inno-
vation strategies (including regional innovation 
clusters), including information relating to how 
innovation, productivity, and economic develop-
ment can be maximized through such strategies; 
‘‘(B) to provide technical assistance, in-
cluding through the development of technical 
assistance guides, for the development and im-
plementation of regional innovation strategies 
(including regional innovation clusters);
‘‘(C) to support the development of rel-
evant metrics and measurement standards to 
evaluate regional innovation strategies (includ-
ing regional innovation clusters), including the 
extent to which such strategies stimulate inno-
vation, productivity, and economic development; 
and 
‘‘(D) to collect and make available data on 
regional innovation cluster activity in the 
United States, including data on— 
‘‘(i) the size, specialization, and com-
petitiveness of regional innovation clusters; 
‘‘(ii) the regional domestic product 
contribution, total jobs and earnings by 
key occupations, establishment size, nature 
of specialization, patents, Federal research 
and development spending, and other rel-
evant information for regional innovation 
clusters; and 
‘‘(iii) supply chain product and service 
flows within and between regional innova-
tion clusters. 
‘‘(2) RESEARCH GRANTS.—The Secretary may 
award research grants on a competitive basis to sup-
port and further the goals of the program estab-
lished under this subsection. 
‘‘(3) DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION.—Data 
and analysis compiled by the Secretary under the 
program established in this subsection shall be made 
available to other Federal agencies, State and local 
governments, and nonprofit and for-profit entities. 
‘‘(4) REGIONAL
INNOVATION
GRANT
PRO-
GRAM.—The Secretary shall incorporate data and 
analysis relating to any grant under subsection (b) 
into the program established under this subsection. 
‘‘(d) INTERAGENCY COORDINATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—To the maximum extent 
practicable, the Secretary shall ensure that the ac-
tivities carried out under this section are coordinated 
with, and do not duplicate the efforts of, other pro-
grams at the Department of Commerce or other 
Federal agencies. 
‘‘(2) COLLABORATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
explore and pursue collaboration with other 
Federal agencies, including through multi-
agency funding opportunities, on regional inno-
vation strategies.