IIB 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2397 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
JULY 24, 2019 
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation 
AN ACT 
To amend the National Institute of Standards and Tech-
nology Act to make changes to the implementation of 
the Manufacturing USA Network, and for other pur-
poses. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘American Manufac-
turing Leadership Act’’. 
SEC. 2. CHANGES IN IMPLEMENTATION OF MANUFAC-
TURING USA. 
Section 34 of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278s) is amended— 
(1) in the section heading by striking ‘‘NET-
WORK FOR MANUFACTURING INNOVATION’’ and 
inserting ‘‘MANUFACTURING USA NETWORK’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘centers for manufacturing in-
novation’’ each place it appears in subsections 
(a)(3)(B), (b)(1), (d), (g), and (i) and inserting 
‘‘Manufacturing USA institutes’’; 
(3) by striking ‘‘center for manufacturing inno-
vation’’ each place it appears in subsections (d)(1), 
(d)(4)(E), (g), and (h)(1) and inserting ‘‘Manufac-
turing USA institute’’; 
(4) by striking ‘‘center’’ each place it appears 
in subsection (d)(2), (d)(4)(E), and (d)(5) and in-
serting ‘‘Manufacturing USA institute’’; 
(5) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking 
‘‘NETWORK FOR MANUFACTURING INNOVATION 
PROGRAM’’ and inserting ‘‘MANUFACTURING 
USA PROGRAM’’; 
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(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘ ‘Net-
work for Manufacturing Innovation Program’ ’’ 
and inserting ‘‘ ‘Manufacturing USA Pro-
gram’ ’’; 
(C) 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.’’; and 
(D) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking ‘‘Net-
work for Manufacturing Innovation’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘Manufacturing USA Network’’; 
(6) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking 
‘‘NETWORK
FOR
MANUFACTURING
INNOVA-
TION’’ and inserting ‘‘MANUFACTURING USA 
NETWORK’’; and 
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(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘ ‘Net-
work for Manufacturing Innovation’ ’’ and in-
serting ‘‘ ‘Manufacturing USA Network’ ’’; 
(7) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking 
‘‘CENTERS
FOR
MANUFACTURING
INNOVA-
TION’’ and inserting ‘‘MANUFACTURING USA 
INSTITUTES’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (A), by striking ‘‘ ‘center for manu-
facturing innovation’ is a center’’ and in-
serting ‘‘ ‘Manufacturing USA institute’ is 
an institute’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘Secretary’’ each place 
it appears in subparagraph (C) and (D) 
and inserting ‘‘agency head’’; 
(C) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (A), by striking ‘‘center for manu-
facturing innovation’’ and inserting ‘‘Man-
ufacturing USA institute’’; 
(ii) by striking subparagraph (E); 
(iii) by redesignating subparagraphs 
(A), (B), (C), and (D) as clauses (i), (ii), 
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(iii), and (iv), respectively, and moving the 
margins of such clauses (as so redesig-
nated) two ems to the right; 
(iv) in the matter preceding clause (i) 
(as so redesignated), by striking ‘‘Activities 
of a Manufacturing USA institute may in-
clude’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(A) REQUIRED ACTIVITIES.—Activities of 
a Manufacturing USA institute shall include’’; 
(v) in clause (i), as so redesignated, 
by striking ‘‘cost, time, and risk’’ and in-
serting ‘‘cost, time, or risk’’; 
(vi) 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, includ-
ing programs on applied engineering’’; 
(vii) in clause (iii), as so redesignated, 
by inserting before the period at the end 
the following: ‘‘, as appropriate’’; 
(viii) in clause (iv), as so redesig-
nated, by striking ‘‘women and minority 
owned’’ and inserting ‘‘women, minority, 
and veteran owned’’ 
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(ix) by inserting after clause (iv) (as 
so redesignated) the following: 
‘‘(v) Development of roadmaps or 
leveraging of existing roadmaps with re-
spect to technology areas being pursued by 
that Manufacturing USA institute that 
take into account the research and develop-
ment undertaken at other Manufacturing 
USA institutes and Federal agencies with 
respect to such areas.’’; and 
(x) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) PERMISSIBLE ACTIVITIES.—Activities 
of a Manufacturing USA institute may include 
such other activities as the agency head, in con-
sultation with Federal departments and agen-
cies whose missions contribute to, or are af-
fected by, advanced manufacturing, considers 
consistent with the purposes described in sub-
section (a)(2).’’; and 
(D) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘centers for manufacturing innovation’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Manufacturing USA insti-
tutes’’; 
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(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘center for manufacturing innovation’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Manufacturing USA institute’’; 
and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(C) APPLICATION.—Effective beginning 
on the date of the enactment of the American 
Manufacturing Leadership Act, an institute 
shall be subject to subsections (a)(2), (c), and 
(d) in the same manner and to the same extent 
as such provisions apply to a Manufacturing 
USA institute established pursuant to this sec-
tion if such institute— 
‘‘(i)(I) is, as of such date of enact-
ment, considered a Manufacturing USA in-
stitute under subparagraph (A) or recog-
nized as a Manufacturing USA institute 
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 
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‘‘(ii) is under pending agency review 
for such recognition as of such date of en-
actment.’’; 
(8) 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’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘Sec-
retary’’ each place it appears and inserting 
‘‘agency head’’; 
(C) by striking paragraph (3); 
(D) 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 
sectors; and 
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‘‘(ii) ensure that the technology focus 
of a Manufacturing USA institute does not 
substantially duplicate the technology focus 
of any other Manufacturing USA insti-
tute.’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (B)(i), by strik-
ing ‘‘Secretary’’ and inserting ‘‘agency 
head’’; 
(iii) by amending subparagraph (C) to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(C) 
PERFORMANCE
MEASUREMENT, 
TRANSPARENCY, AND
ACCOUNTABILITY.—For 
each award of financial assistance under para-
graph (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, including the effectiveness of Manu-
facturing USA institutes in advancing tech-
nology readiness levels or manufacturing readi-
ness levels.’’; 
(iv) in subparagraph (D), by striking 
‘‘the Secretary shall’’ and all that follows 
through ‘‘collaborate’’ and inserting the 
following: ‘‘the agency head, in coordina-
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tion with the National Program Office, as 
appropriate, shall collaborate’’; and 
(v) in subparagraph (E)— 
(I) in the matter preceding clause 
(i), by striking ‘‘Secretary’’ and in-
serting ‘‘agency head’’; and 
(II) in clause (x), by striking 
‘‘center for manufacturing’’ and in-
serting ‘‘Manufacturing USA insti-
tute’’; and 
(E) 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 Manufacturing 
USA institute may be renewed for an addi-
tional period not to exceed the duration of 
the original funding award, subject to a 
rigorous merit review. In awarding addi-
tional funds, the agency head shall con-
sider the extent to which the institute has 
made progress in achieving the purposes 
described in subsection (a) and carrying 
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out the activities specified in subsection 
(c)(2). 
‘‘(ii) 
EXISTING
INSTITUTES.—Not-
withstanding clause (i), an institute al-
ready in existence or undergoing a renewal 
process on the date of enactment of the 
American Manufacturing 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 institute; and 
‘‘(II) shall be eligible for renewal 
of that funding pursuant to clause 
(i).’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘Secretary’’ each place it appears and in-
serting ‘‘agency head’’; and 
(iii) by striking subparagraph (C); 
(9) by amending subsection (e) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(e) GRANT PROGRAM FOR PUBLIC SERVICE ACTIVI-
TIES FOR MANUFACTURING USA INSTITUTES WITHOUT 
FEDERAL FUNDING.—The Secretary may award grants 
on a competitive basis to Manufacturing USA institutes 
that are no longer recognized as such under subsection 
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wide performance goals with measurable targets 
and timelines; 
‘‘(I) to help develop pilot programs that 
may be implemented by the Manufacturing 
USA institutes 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 Manufacturing USA institutes and fur-
ther enhance collaboration among Manufac-
turing USA institutes in developing and imple-
menting such practices.’’; and 
(C) 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 Manufacturing USA insti-
tutes across the entirety of the manufacturing 
supply chain; and 
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‘‘(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 
assistance, as appropriate, in deploying those 
technologies.’’; 
(11) 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 in-
stitutes considered to be Manufacturing 
USA institutes pursuant to subsection 
(c)(3) to annually submit to the appro-
priate agency head a report’’; and 
(ii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: ‘‘Each agency head shall submit 
such reports to the Secretary.’’; and 
(B) by amending paragraph (3) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(3) ASSESSMENTS BY GAO.— 
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‘‘(A) ASSESSMENTS.—Not less frequently 
than once every 3 years, the Comptroller Gen-
eral shall submit to Congress an assessment of 
the operation of the Program during the most 
recent 3-year period, including an assessment of 
the progress made towards achieving the goals 
specified in the national strategic plan for ad-
vanced manufacturing required under section 
102(b)(7) of the America COMPETES Reau-
thorization 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 
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made by the Comptroller General have 
been implemented or adopted.’’; 
(12) 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: 
‘‘(7) COLLABORATIONS WITH OTHER FEDERAL 
AGENCIES.—The Secretary shall collaborate with 
Federal agencies whose missions contribute to, or 
are affected by, advanced manufacturing to identify 
and leverage existing resources at such Federal 
agencies to assist Manufacturing USA institutes in 
carrying out the purposes of the program specified 
in subsection (a)(2). Such existing resources may in-
clude programs— 
‘‘(A) at the Department of Labor relating 
to labor and apprenticeships; 
‘‘(B) at the Economic Development Ad-
ministration relating to regional innovation, 
such as the Regional Innovation Strategies pro-
gram; 
‘‘(C) at the Department of Education re-
lating to workforce development, education, 
training, and retraining; 
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‘‘(D) at the Department of Defense relat-
ing to procurement and other authorities of the 
Department of Defense; 
‘‘(E) at the Food and Drug Administration 
relating to biopharmaceutical manufacturing; 
‘‘(F) at the National Science Foundation, 
including the Advanced Technological Edu-
cation program; 
‘‘(G) at the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration relating to procurement, 
workforce development, education, training, and 
retraining; and 
‘‘(H) additional programs that the Sec-
retary determines are appropriate to support 
the activities of existing Manufacturing USA 
institutes.’’; and 
(13) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(j) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) AGENCY HEAD.—The term ‘agency head’ 
means the head of any Executive agency (as defined 
in section 105 of title 5, United States Code), ex-
cluding the Department of Defense, that is providing 
financial assistance for a Manufacturing USA insti-
tute, including the Secretary of Commerce and the 
Secretary of Energy. 
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‘‘(2) REGIONAL
INNOVATION
CLUSTER.—The 
term ‘regional innovation cluster’ has the meaning 
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 
available under paragraph (1) the Secretary shall re-
serve not less than $5,000,000 for the National Of-
fice of the Manufacturing USA Program established 
under subsection (f). 
‘‘(3) DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.—For Manufac-
turing USA institutes operated by the Department 
of Energy, there are authorized to be appropriated 
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.’’. 
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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’’. 
Passed the House of Representatives July 23, 2019. 
Attest: 
CHERYL L. JOHNSON, 
Clerk. 
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