IB 
Union Calendar No. 477 
112TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5865 
[Report No. 112–659, Part I] 
To promote the growth and competitiveness of American manufacturing. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 30, 2012 
Mr. LIPINSKI (for himself and Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to 
be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned 
SEPTEMBER 10, 2012 
Additional sponsors: Mr. MANZULLO, Mr. DINGELL, Mr. SCHILLING, Mr. 
DOYLE, Mr. LANCE, Mr. LYNCH, Mr. HULTGREN, Mr. GENE GREEN of 
Texas, Mr. GUTHRIE, Mr. DUNCAN of Tennessee, Mr. MICHAUD, Mr. 
SHERMAN, Mr. RYAN of Ohio, Mr. WOLF, Mr. DAVIS of Kentucky, Mr. 
CICILLINE, Ms. SUTTON, and Mr. MURPHY of Connecticut 
SEPTEMBER 10, 2012 
Reported from the Committee on Energy and Commerce with an amendment 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
SEPTEMBER 10, 2012 
The Committee on the Budget discharged; committed to the Committee of the 
Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on May 30, 2012] 
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A BILL 
To promote the growth and competitiveness of American 
manufacturing. 
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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 Competitiveness Act of 2012’’. 
SEC. 2. NATIONAL MANUFACTURING COMPETITIVENESS 
STRATEGY. 
Not later than June 1, 2014, and June 1, 2018, the 
President shall submit to Congress, and publish on a public 
website, a strategy to promote growth, sustainability, and 
competitiveness in the Nation’s manufacturing sector, cre-
ate well-paid, stable jobs, enable innovation and investment, 
and support national security. 
SEC. 3. MANUFACTURING COMPETITIVENESS BOARD. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—On the first day of each of the two 
Presidential terms following the date of enactment of this 
Act, there is established within the Department of Com-
merce an American Manufacturing Competitiveness Board. 
(b) MEMBERS.—Members of the Board shall be ap-
pointed as follows: 
(1) PUBLIC SECTOR MEMBERS.—The President 
shall appoint to the Board— 
(A) the Secretary of Commerce; 
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(B) Governors of two States, from different 
political parties, after consulting with the Na-
tional Governors Association; and 
(C) two other members who are current or 
former officials of the executive branch of govern-
ment. 
(2) PRIVATE SECTOR MEMBERS.— 
(A) CRITERIA.—Ten individuals from the 
private sector shall be appointed to the Board in 
accordance with subparagraph (B) from among 
individuals with experience in the areas of— 
(i) managing manufacturing compa-
nies, including businesses with fewer than 
100 employees; 
(ii) managing supply chain providers; 
(iii) managing labor organizations; 
(iv) workforce development; 
(v) finance; 
(vi) analyzing manufacturing policy 
and competitiveness; 
(vii) conducting manufacturing-related 
research and development; and 
(viii) the defense industrial base. 
(B) APPOINTMENT.—The Speaker of the 
House of Representatives and the majority leader 
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of the Senate shall each appoint 3 members to 
the Board. The minority leader of the House of 
Representatives and the minority leader of the 
Senate shall each appoint 2 members to the 
Board. 
(c) TERMINATION.—The Board shall terminate 60 
days after submitting its final report pursuant to section 
4(c)(3). 
(d) CO-CHAIRMEN.—The co-chairmen of the Board 
shall be the Secretary of Commerce (or the designee of the 
Secretary) and a member elected by the private sector mem-
bers of the Board appointed pursuant to subsection (b)(2). 
(e) SUBGROUPS.—The Board may convene subgroups 
to address particular industries, policy topics, or other mat-
ters and to take advantage of the expertise of other individ-
uals and entities in matters to be addressed by the Board. 
Such subgroups may include members representing any of 
the following: 
(1) Other Federal agencies, as the co-chairmen 
determine appropriate. 
(2) State, tribal, and local governments. 
(3) The private sector. 
(f) QUORUM.—Ten members of the Board shall con-
stitute a quorum for the transaction of business but a lesser 
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number may hold hearings with the agreement of the co- 
chairmen. 
(g) MEETINGS AND HEARINGS.— 
(1) TIMING AND FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS.—The 
Board shall meet at the call of the co-chairmen, and 
not fewer than 2 times. 
(2) PUBLIC HEARINGS REQUIRED.—The Board 
shall convene public hearings to solicit views on the 
Nation’s manufacturing sector and recommendations 
for the national manufacturing competitiveness strat-
egy. 
(3) LOCATIONS OF PUBLIC HEARINGS.—The loca-
tions of public hearings convened under paragraph 
(2) shall ensure the inclusion of multiple regions and 
industries of the manufacturing sector. 
(h) APPLICATION OF FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE 
ACT.—The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
App.), other than section 14 of such Act, shall apply to the 
Board, including any subgroups established pursuant to 
subsection (e). 
SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE BOARD. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Board shall— 
(1) advise the President on issues affecting the 
Nation’s manufacturing sector; 
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(2) conduct a comprehensive analysis in accord-
ance with subsection (b); and 
(3) develop a national manufacturing competi-
tiveness strategy in accordance with subsection (c). 
(b) COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS.—In developing a na-
tional manufacturing competitiveness strategy under sub-
section (c), the Board shall conduct a comprehensive anal-
ysis of the Nation’s manufacturing sector, taking into con-
sideration analyses, data, and other information previously 
compiled, as well as relevant reports, plans, or rec-
ommendations issued by Federal agencies, Federal advisory 
boards, and the private sector. Such analysis shall, to the 
extent feasible, address— 
(1) the value and role of manufacturing in the 
Nation’s economy, security, and global leadership; 
(2) the current domestic and international envi-
ronment for the Nation’s manufacturing sector, and 
any subsector identified by the Board as warranting 
special study for competitiveness or for comparison 
purposes; 
(3) Federal, State, tribal, and local policies, pro-
grams, and conditions that affect manufacturing; 
(4) a summary of the manufacturing policies 
and strategies of the Nation’s 10 largest trading part-
ners, to the extent known; 
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(5) new, emerging, or evolving markets, tech-
nologies, and products for which the Nation’s manu-
facturers could compete; 
(6) the identification of redundant or ineffective 
government programs related to manufacturing, as 
well as any programs that have improved manufac-
turing competitiveness; 
(7) the short- and long-term forecasts for the Na-
tion’s manufacturing sector, and forecasts of expected 
national and international trends and factors likely 
to affect such sector in the future; 
(8) the manner in which Federal agencies share 
information and views with respect to the effects of 
proposed or active regulations or other executive ac-
tions on the Nation’s manufacturing sector and its 
workforce; 
(9) the recommendations of the Department of 
Commerce Manufacturing Council, whether such rec-
ommendations have been implemented, and the effect 
of such recommendations; and 
(10) any other matters affecting the growth, sta-
bility, and sustainability of the Nation’s manufac-
turing sector or the competitiveness of the Nation’s 
manufacturing environment, particularly relative to 
that of other nations, including— 
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(A) workforce skills, gaps, and development; 
(B) productivity and the extent to which 
national economic statistics related to manufac-
turing accurately measure manufacturing output 
and productivity growth; 
(C) trade policy and balance; 
(D) energy policy, forecasts, and develop-
ments; 
(E) expenditures on basic and applied re-
search related to manufacturing technology; 
(F) programs to help small and mid-sized 
manufacturers become more competitive; 
(G) the impact of Federal statutes and regu-
lations; 
(H) the impact of domestic and inter-
national monetary policy; 
(I) the impact of taxation; 
(J) financing and investment, including 
challenges associated with commercialization and 
scaling up of production; 
(K) research and development; 
(L) job creation and employment dispari-
ties; 
(M) levels of domestic production; 
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(N) adequacy of the industrial base for 
maintaining national security; 
(O) protections for intellectual property and 
the related policies, procedures, and law on tech-
nology transfer; and 
(P) customs enforcement and counterfeiting. 
(c) NATIONAL
MANUFACTURING
COMPETITIVENESS 
STRATEGY.— 
(1) DEVELOPMENT.—The Board shall develop a 
national manufacturing competitiveness strategy, 
based on— 
(A) the results of the comprehensive analysis 
conducted under subsection (b); and 
(B) any other information, studies, or per-
spectives that the Board determines to be appro-
priate. 
(2) GOALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.— 
(A) GOALS.—The Board shall include in the 
national manufacturing competitiveness strategy 
short- and long-term goals for improving the 
competitiveness conditions of the Nation’s manu-
facturing environment, taking into account the 
matters addressed in the comprehensive analysis 
conducted under subsection (b). 
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(B) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The Board shall 
include in the national manufacturing competi-
tiveness strategy recommendations for achieving 
the goals provided under subparagraph (A). 
Such recommendations may propose— 
(i) actions to improve manufacturing 
competitiveness to be taken by the President, 
Congress, State and local governments, and 
the private sector; 
(ii) actions to improve government 
policies and coordination among entities de-
veloping such policies; 
(iii) the consolidation or elimination of 
government programs; 
(iv) actions to improve government 
interaction with the manufacturing sector 
and communication regarding the effects of 
proposed or active government regulations 
or other executive actions on the manufac-
turing sector and its workforce; 
(v) the reform or elimination of regula-
tions that place the United States manufac-
turing sector at a disadvantage relative to 
other nations; and 
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(vi) actions to reduce business uncer-
tainty, including, where appropriate, final-
ization of regulations applicable to manu-
facturers. 
(3) REPORT.— 
(A) DRAFT.—Not later than 150 days before 
the date on which the President is required to 
submit to Congress a report containing a na-
tional manufacturing competitiveness strategy 
under section 2, the Board shall publish in the 
Federal Register and on a public website a draft 
report containing a national manufacturing 
competitiveness strategy. At the same time, the 
Board shall make available to the public the 
comprehensive analysis required by subsection 
(b) and any underlying data or materials nec-
essary to an understanding of the conclusions 
reached. 
(B) PUBLIC COMMENT; REVIEW AND REVI-
SION.—A draft report published under subpara-
graph (A) shall remain available for public com-
ment for a period of not less than 30 days from 
the date of publication. The Board shall review 
any comments received regarding such draft re-
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port and may revise the draft report based upon 
those comments. 
(C) PUBLICATION.—Not later than 60 days 
before the date on which the President is required 
to submit to Congress a report containing a na-
tional manufacturing competitiveness strategy 
under section 2, the Board shall submit to the 
President for review and revision a final report 
containing a national manufacturing competi-
tiveness strategy, and shall publish such final re-
port on a public website. 
(D) CONTENTS OF REPORT.—The final re-
port submitted under subparagraph (C) shall, to 
the extent feasible, include— 
(i) an estimate of the short- and long- 
term Federal Government outlays and rev-
enue changes necessary to implement the 
national 
manufacturing 
competitiveness 
strategy and an estimate of savings that 
may be derived from implementation of the 
national 
manufacturing 
competitiveness 
strategy; 
(ii) a detailed explanation of the meth-
ods and analysis used to determine the esti-
mates included under clause (i); 
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(iii) recommendations regarding how 
to pay for the cost of implementation esti-
mated under clause (i); and 
(iv) a plan for how the recommenda-
tions included in the report will be imple-
mented and who is or should be responsible 
for the implementation. 
(d) CONSULTATION; NONDUPLICATION OF EFFORTS.— 
The Board shall consult with and not duplicate the efforts 
of the Defense Science Board, the President’s Council of Ad-
visors on Science and Technology, the Manufacturing Coun-
cil established by the Department of Commerce, the Eco-
nomic Security Commission, the Labor Advisory Committee 
for Trade Negotiations and Trade Policy, and other rel-
evant governmental entities conducting any activities re-
lated to manufacturing. 
SEC. 5. REQUIREMENT TO CONSIDER NATIONAL MANUFAC-
TURING 
COMPETITIVENESS 
STRATEGY 
IN 
BUDGET. 
In preparing the budget for each of the fiscal years 
from fiscal year 2016 through fiscal year 2022 under section 
1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, the President shall 
include information regarding the consistency of the budget 
with the goals and recommendations included in the na-
tional manufacturing competitiveness strategy. 
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SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) BOARD.—The term ‘‘Board’’ means— 
(A) during the first Presidential term that 
begins after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
American Manufacturing Competitiveness Board 
established by section 3(a) on the first day of 
such term; and 
(B) during the second Presidential term 
that begins after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the American Manufacturing Competitive-
ness Board established by section 3(a) on the 
first day of such term. 
(2) PRIVATE SECTOR.—The term ‘‘private sec-
tor’’ includes labor, industry, industry associations, 
academia, universities, trade associations, nonprofit 
organizations, and other appropriate nongovern-
mental groups. 
(3) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means each State 
of the United States, the District of Columbia, and 
each commonwealth, territory, or possession of the 
United States. 
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Union Calendar No. 477 
112TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5865 
[Report No. 112–659, Part I] 
A BILL 
To promote the growth and competitiveness of 
American manufacturing. 
SEPTEMBER 10, 2012 
Reported from the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
with an amendment 
SEPTEMBER 10, 2012 
The Committee on the Budget discharged; committed to 
the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the 
Union and ordered to be printed 
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