(2) In 2012, manufacturers contributed $1.87 
trillion to the economy. 
(3) More than 12 million workers are employed 
in the manufacturing sector. 
(4) In many sectors there is a pronounced shift 
to high-skilled manufacturing jobs, and potential 
employees must possess high-level skills in order to 
compete in the job market. 
(5) In 2011, President Obama announced an 
expansion of the Manufacturing Skills Certification 
System as a part of the Skills for America’s Future 
Program. The Manufacturing Skills Certification 
System is a collaborative effort between private in-
dustry and the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology to create manufacturing credentials that 
would be universally recognizable. The credential 
program was designed by the Manufacturing Insti-
tute, a non-profit arm of the National Association of 
Manufacturers. Since its inception in 2011 more 
than 173,000 certifications have been issued. 
(6) Centers across the country, such as the 
Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, have 
been working diligently to educate employers about 
the value of credentials, as well as working with local 
education centers to promote these credentials. 
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These centers bridge the gap between employers and 
potential employees and assist in the creation and 
retention of jobs, and highlight the importance of 
supporting and patronizing local manufacturers and 
businesses. 
SEC. 2. MANUFACTURING SKILLS CERTIFICATION SYSTEM. 
The National Institute of Standards and Technology 
Act (15 U.S.C. 271 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) by inserting after section 25 the following 
new section: 
‘‘SEC. 25A. PROMOTION OF THE MANUFACTURING SKILLS 
CERTIFICATION SYSTEM. 
‘‘In addition to the Centers program created under 
section 25, the Secretary, through the Director, and if ap-
propriate, through other officials, shall provide support 
and assistance to programs throughout the United States 
in order to help those programs promote the Manufac-
turing Skills Certification System, including by— 
‘‘(1) promoting collaboration between commu-
nity colleges, technical schools and local businesses 
to help such colleges and schools to better under-
stand the specific needs of businesses, and busi-
nesses to better understand the skill sets that stu-
dents learn in the programs offered by such colleges 
and schools; 
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‘‘(2) educating businesses and students about 
the value of universally recognized credential pro-
grams and ultimately lead to apprenticeship oppor-
tunities; 
‘‘(3) providing support and assistance for pro-
grams within states looking to implement the Manu-
facturing Skills Certification System; and 
‘‘(4) providing support and assistance for pro-
grams to collaborate with one another at a national 
level.’’; and 
(2) 
in 
section 
25(f)(10) 
(15 
U.S.C. 
278k(f)(10)), by striking ‘‘2011 through 2013’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2014 through 2016’’. 
Æ 
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