I 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5639 
To update the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 6, 2016 
Mr. MOOLENAAR (for himself, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. 
SMITH of Texas, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. POSEY, Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts, 
Mr. TONKO, and Mr. GRAYSON) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
A BILL 
To update the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology Act, 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 ‘‘National Institute of 
Standards and Technology Improvement Act of 2016’’. 
SEC. 2. STANDARDS AND CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT. 
Section 2 of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 272) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
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(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 
by striking ‘‘authorized to take’’ and inserting 
‘‘authorized to serve as the President’s principal 
adviser on standards policy pertaining to the 
Nation’s technological competitiveness and in-
novation ability and to take’’; 
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘compare 
standards’’ and all that follows through ‘‘Fed-
eral Government’’ and inserting ‘‘facilitate 
standards-related information sharing and co-
operation between Federal agencies’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (13), by striking ‘‘Fed-
eral, State, and local’’ and all that follows 
through ‘‘private sector’’ and inserting ‘‘tech-
nical standards activities and conformity assess-
ment activities of Federal, State, and local gov-
ernments with private sector’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (22), by striking ‘‘and’’ 
after the semicolon; 
(B) by redesignating paragraph (23) as 
paragraph (25); and 
(C) by inserting after paragraph (22) the 
following: 
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‘‘(23) participate in and support scientific and 
technical conferences; 
‘‘(24) perform pre-competitive measurement 
science and technology research in partnership with 
institutions of higher education and industry to pro-
mote United States industrial competitiveness; and’’. 
SEC. 3. VISITING COMMITTEE ON ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY. 
Section 10 of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘15 members’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘not fewer than 11 members’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘at least 10’’ and inserting 
‘‘at least two-thirds’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘The Committee may consult with the National 
Research Council in making recommendations 
regarding general policy for the Institute.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (h)(1), by striking ‘‘, including 
the Program established under section 28,’’. 
SEC. 4. POLICE AND SECURITY AUTHORITY. 
Section 15 of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278e) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘of the Government; and’’ and 
inserting ‘‘of the Government;’’; and 
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(2) by striking ‘‘United States Code.’’ and in-
serting ‘‘United States Code; and (i) the protection 
of Institute buildings and other plant facilities, 
equipment, and property, and of employees, associ-
ates, visitors, or other persons located therein or as-
sociated therewith, notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law.’’. 
SEC. 5. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH. 
The National Institute of Standards and Technology 
Act (15 U.S.C. 271 et seq.) is amended by striking sec-
tions 18, 19, and 19A and inserting the following: 
‘‘SEC. 18. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director may support, pro-
mote, and coordinate activities and efforts to enhance pub-
lic awareness and understanding of measurement sciences, 
standards, and technology by the general public, industry, 
government, and academia in support of the Institute’s 
mission. 
‘‘(b) RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director may award 
research fellowships and other forms of financial and 
logistical assistance, including direct stipend awards, 
to— 
‘‘(A) students at institutions of higher edu-
cation within the United States who show 
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SEC. 6. PROGRAMMATIC PLANNING REPORT. 
Section 23(d) of the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278i(d)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following: ‘‘The 3-year pro-
grammatic planning document shall also describe how the 
Director is addressing recommendations from the Visiting 
Committee on Advanced Technology established under 
section 10.’’. 
SEC. 7. ASSESSMENTS BY THE NATIONAL RESEARCH COUN-
CIL. 
(a) NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES REVIEW.— 
Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Director of the National Institute of Stand-
ards and Technology shall enter into a contract with the 
National Academy of Sciences to conduct a single, com-
prehensive review of the Institute’s laboratory programs. 
The review shall— 
(1) assess the technical merits and scientific 
caliber of the research conducted at the laboratories; 
(2) examine the strengths and weaknesses of 
the 2010 laboratory reorganization on the Institute’s 
ability to fulfill its mission; 
(3) evaluate how crosscutting research and de-
velopment activities are planned, coordinated, and 
executed across the laboratories; and 
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(4) assess how the laboratories are engaging in-
dustry, including the incorporation of industry need, 
into the research goals and objectives of the Insti-
tute. 
(b) ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENTS.—Section 24 of the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 
U.S.C. 278j) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 24. ASSESSMENTS BY THE NATIONAL RESEARCH 
COUNCIL. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Institute shall contract with 
the National Research Council to perform and report on 
assessments of the technical quality and impact of the 
work conducted at Institute laboratories. 
‘‘(b) SCHEDULE.—Two laboratories shall be assessed 
under subsection (a) each year, and each laboratory shall 
be assessed at least once every 3 years. 
‘‘(c) SUMMARY REPORT.—Beginning in the year 
after the first assessment is conducted under subsection 
(a), and once every 2 years thereafter, the Institute shall 
contract with the National Research Council to prepare 
a report that summarizes the findings common across the 
individual assessment reports. 
‘‘(d) ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENTS.—The Institute, at 
the discretion of the Director, also may contract with the 
National Research Council to conduct additional assess-
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ments of Institute programs and projects that involve col-
laboration across the Institute laboratories and centers 
and assessments of selected scientific and technical topics. 
‘‘(e) CONSULTATION WITH VISITING COMMITTEE ON 
ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY.—The National Research Coun-
cil may consult with the Visiting Committee on Advanced 
Technology established under section 10 in performing the 
assessments under this section. 
‘‘(f) REPORTS.—Not later than 30 days after the 
completion of each assessment, the Institute shall transmit 
the report on such assessment to the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate.’’. 
SEC. 8. HOLLINGS MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNER-
SHIP. 
Section 25 of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k) is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘SEC. 25. HOLLINGS MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PART-
NERSHIP. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, through the 
Director and, if appropriate, through other officials, 
shall provide assistance for the creation and support 
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of manufacturing extension centers, to be known as 
the ‘Hollings Manufacturing Extension Centers’, for 
the transfer of manufacturing technology and best 
business practices (in this Act referred to as the 
‘Centers’). The program under this section shall be 
known as the ‘Hollings Manufacturing Extension 
Partnership’. 
‘‘(2) AFFILIATIONS.—Such Centers shall be af-
filiated with any United States-based public or non-
profit institution or organization, or group thereof, 
that applies for and is awarded financial assistance 
under this section. 
‘‘(3) OBJECTIVE.—The objective of the Centers 
is to enhance competitiveness, productivity, and 
technological performance in United States manufac-
turing through— 
‘‘(A) the transfer of manufacturing tech-
nology and techniques developed at the Insti-
tute to Centers and, through them, to manufac-
turing companies throughout the United States; 
‘‘(B) the participation of individuals from 
industry, institutions of higher education, State 
governments, other Federal agencies, and, when 
appropriate, the Institute in cooperative tech-
nology transfer activities; 
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‘‘(C) efforts to make new manufacturing 
technology and processes usable by United 
States-based small- and medium-sized compa-
nies; 
‘‘(D) the active dissemination of scientific, 
engineering, technical, and management infor-
mation about manufacturing to industrial firms, 
including small- and medium-sized manufac-
turing companies; 
‘‘(E) the utilization, when appropriate, of 
the expertise and capability that exists in Fed-
eral laboratories other than the Institute; 
‘‘(F) the provision to community colleges 
and area career and technical education schools 
of information about the job skills needed in 
small- and medium-sized manufacturing busi-
nesses in the regions they serve; and 
‘‘(G) promoting and expanding certifi-
cation systems offered through industry, asso-
ciations, and local colleges, when appropriate. 
‘‘(b) ACTIVITIES.—The activities of the Centers shall 
include— 
‘‘(1) the establishment of automated manufac-
turing systems and other advanced production tech-
nologies, based on Institute-supported research, for 
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Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate a plan as to how the Institute 
will conduct reviews, assessments, and re-
application competitions under this para-
graph. 
‘‘(ii) INDEPENDENT
ASSESSMENT.— 
The Director shall contract with an inde-
pendent organization to perform an assess-
ment of the implementation of the re-
application competition process under this 
paragraph within 3 years after the trans-
mittal of the report under clause (i). The 
organization conducting the assessment 
under this clause may consult with the 
MEP Advisory Board. 
‘‘(iii) COMPARISON
OF
CENTERS.— 
Not later than 2 years after the date of en-
actment of the National Institute of Stand-
ards and Technology Improvement Act of 
2016, the Director shall transmit to the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Tech-
nology of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate a report 
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