I 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 516 
To establish a strategy to encourage manufacturing in the United States 
and for the repatriation of manufacturing jobs off-shored to other coun-
tries, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 26, 2011 
Mr. WOLF (for himself, Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky, Mr. WITTMAN, Mr. AUS-
TRIA, 
Mr. 
MCKINLEY, 
Mr. 
LIPINSKI, 
Ms. 
KAPTUR, 
Mr. 
RUPPERSBERGER, and Mr. FORBES) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition 
to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, Financial Serv-
ices, the Judiciary, Ways and Means, and Science, Space, and Tech-
nology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To establish a strategy to encourage manufacturing in the 
United States and for the repatriation of manufacturing 
jobs off-shored to other countries, 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, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Bring Jobs Back to 
America Act’’. 
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vey, including longitudinal trends in American man-
ufacturing and the repatriation of jobs. 
(4) PENALTY.—Any firm described in para-
graph (1) that chooses not to participate in the sur-
vey shall not be eligible to receive Federal contracts 
or to renew existing Federal contracts. 
SEC. 3. REPATRIATION TASK FORCES. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish 
such task forces as the Secretary considers necessary to 
accomplish the established targets for job repatriation and 
manufacturing growth established under section 2(a)(3). 
(b) APPOINTMENT.—Each task force established 
under subsection (a) shall be appointed by the Secretary 
and include the following members: 
(1) At least one representative of each of the 
following components of the Department of Com-
merce: 
(A) Office of the Secretary of Commerce. 
(B) Economic Development Administra-
tion. 
(C) International Trade Administration. 
(D) United States Patent and Trademark 
Office. 
(E) National Institute of Standards and 
Technology. 
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(F) Bureau of Industry and Security. 
(2) At least one representative of the private 
sector. 
(c) DUTIES.—Each task force established under sub-
section (a) shall— 
(1) identify United States firms interested in 
repatriating production or services to the United 
States; 
(2) identify the unique needs of each firm nec-
essary to facilitate repatriation; 
(3) advise and assist firms and State and local 
governments to promote and facilitate repatriation 
opportunities; 
(4) act as an impartial advocate for all State 
and local governments choosing to compete for a re-
patriating firm’s facility or jobs; 
(5) to the maximum extent practicable, work 
with Federal agencies to provide the technical assist-
ance necessary to firms and State and local govern-
ments to facilitate the repatriation of facilities or 
jobs to the United States; and 
(6) educate firms and State and local govern-
ments on the National Manufacturing Strategy es-
tablished under section (2)(a), the task forces estab-
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lished under subsection (a), and all Federal assist-
ance available to facilitate repatriation. 
SEC. 4. AMERICAN ECONOMIC SECURITY COMMISSION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is hereby established a 
commission to be known as the ‘‘American Economic Se-
curity Commission’’. 
(b) DUTIES.—The Commission shall carry out the 
following duties: 
(1) PROGRAM
FOR
AMERICAN
COMPETITIVE-
NESS.—The Commission shall establish and carry 
out a program to improve the competitiveness of the 
United States in the global economy through tech-
nology-based planning. Under the program, the 
Commission shall, on an ongoing basis— 
(A) assess the competitiveness of the 
United States in sectors of the global economy 
including the manufacturing, aerospace, com-
munications, information technology, energy, 
and biotechnology sectors; 
(B) identify, including through use of the 
Technology Database and Mapping Program 
developed under paragraph (2)— 
(i) markets (including anticipated 
markets) for new and developing tech-
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nologies in such sectors of the global econ-
omy; and 
(ii) new and developing technologies, 
including manufacturing technologies, that 
may be used to gain a competitive advan-
tage in such sectors of the global economy; 
and 
(C) identify measures to take advantage of 
the markets and technologies identified under 
clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (B), respec-
tively, to give the United States a competitive 
advantage in such sectors of the global econ-
omy, including, as appropriate, measures to en-
courage and facilitate the development, acquisi-
tion, and use of technologies described in such 
clauses. 
(2) TECHNOLOGY
DATABASE
AND
MAPPING 
PROGRAM.—The Commission shall develop a de-
tailed, accurate, and comprehensive computer pro-
gram, to be known as the ‘‘Technology Database 
and Mapping Program’’, to identify and keep track 
of new and developing technologies described in 
clauses (i) and (ii) of paragraph (1)(B). 
(c) MEMBERSHIP.— 
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(1) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Com-
mission shall be composed of 12 members appointed 
as follows: 
(A) Three members appointed by the ma-
jority leader of the Senate. 
(B) Three members appointed by the mi-
nority leader of the Senate. 
(C) Three members appointed by the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
(D) Three members appointed by the mi-
nority leader of the House of Representatives. 
(2) 
DEADLINE
FOR
APPOINTMENT.—Each 
member of the Commission shall be appointed not 
later than 180 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
(3) TERMS.—Each member of the Commission 
shall be appointed for a term of 2 years, and may 
serve no more than 3 terms. 
(4) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission 
shall be filled in the same manner in which the origi-
nal appointment was made. 
(5) SERVICE WITHOUT PAY.—The members of 
the Commission shall serve without pay. 
(6) TRAVEL
EXPENSES.—Each member shall 
receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
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subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions 
under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United 
States Code. 
(7) QUORUM.—Eight members of the Commis-
sion shall constitute a quorum, except that if a ma-
jority of members in the quorum have been ap-
pointed by a leader of the same political party, the 
quorum shall include no fewer than 3 members ap-
pointed by a leader of the other political party. 
(8) CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.—The Commission 
shall elect a Chair and Vice Chair from among its 
members. The term of office of the Chair and vice 
Chair shall be 2 years. 
(9) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at 
least once each month at the call of the Chair or a 
majority of its members. The Commission shall hold 
at least one meeting in person in each of 6 months 
per year. 
(d) DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF COMMISSION.— 
(1) DIRECTOR.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph 
(3) and to the extent provided in advance in ap-
propriation Acts, the Commission shall appoint 
and fix the compensation of a director. 
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(B) DUTIES.—The director of the Commis-
sion shall be responsible for the administration 
and coordination of the duties of the Commis-
sion and shall perform such other duties as the 
Commission may direct. 
(2) STAFF.—In accordance with rules agreed 
upon by the Commission, subject to paragraph (3), 
and to the extent provided in advance in appropria-
tion Acts, the director may appoint and fix the com-
pensation of such additional personnel as may be 
necessary to enable the Commission to carry out its 
duties. 
(3) APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN CIVIL SERVICE 
LAWS.—The director and staff of the Commission 
may be appointed without regard to the provisions 
of title 5, United States Code, governing appoint-
ments in the competitive service, and may be com-
pensated without regard to the provisions of chapter 
51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title re-
lating to classification and General Schedule pay 
rates, except that compensation fixed under para-
graph (1)(A) may not exceed $150,000 per year, 
and compensation fixed under paragraph (2) may 
not exceed a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the 
annual rate of basic pay for level V of the Executive 
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Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United 
States Code. 
(4) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—In accord-
ance with rules agreed upon by the Commission and 
to the extent provided in advance in appropriation 
Acts, the director may procure the services of ex-
perts and consultants under section 3109(b) of title 
5, United States Code, but at rates for individuals 
not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate 
of basic pay for level V of the Executive Schedule 
under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code. 
(5) STAFF OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Upon re-
quest of the Commission, the head of any Federal 
department or agency may detail, without reim-
bursement from the Commission, any of the per-
sonnel of that department or agency to the Commis-
sion to assist it in carrying out its duties under this 
section. Such detailee shall retain the rights, status, 
and privileges of their regular employment without 
interruption. 
(e) POWERS OF COMMISSION.— 
(1) HEARINGS AND EVIDENCE.—The Commis-
sion may, for the purpose of carrying out this sec-
tion, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, 
take testimony, and receive evidence as the Commis-
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sion considers appropriate. The Commission may ad-
minister oaths or affirmations to witnesses appear-
ing before it. 
(2) POWERS OF MEMBERS AND AGENTS.—Any 
member or agent of the Commission may, if author-
ized by the Commission, take any action which the 
Commission is authorized to take under this section. 
(3) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—The Commis-
sion may secure directly from any department or 
agency of the United States information necessary 
to enable it to carry out this Act. Upon request of 
the Chair of the Commission, the head of that de-
partment or agency shall, to the extent authorized 
by law, furnish such information to the Commission. 
(4) GIFTS, BEQUESTS, AND
DEVISES.—The 
Commission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts, 
bequests, or devises of services or property, both real 
and personal, for the purpose of aiding or facili-
tating the work of the Commission. Gifts, bequests, 
or devises of money and proceeds from sales of other 
property received as gifts, bequests, or devises shall 
be deposited in the Treasury and shall be available 
for disbursement upon order of the Chair of the 
Commission. 
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(5) MAILS.—The Commission may use the 
United States mails in the same manner and under 
the same conditions as other departments and agen-
cies of the United States. 
(6) ADMINISTRATIVE
SUPPORT
SERVICES.— 
Upon the request of the Commission, the Adminis-
trator of General Services shall provide to the Com-
mission, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative 
support services necessary for the Commission to 
carry out its responsibilities under this section. 
(7) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.—To the extent or 
in the amounts provided in advance in appropriation 
Acts, the Commission may contract with and com-
pensate government and private agencies or persons 
to enable the Commission to discharge its duties 
under this Act. 
(f) REPORTS.—The Commission shall issue to Con-
gress periodic reports on the following, as the Commission 
considers appropriate: 
(1) The assessment of the competitiveness of 
the United States under subsection (b)(1)(A). 
(2) The markets and technologies identified 
under subsection (b)(1)(B). 
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(3) The measures identified under subsection 
(b)(1)(C), and any factors affecting the implementa-
tion of such measures, including— 
(A) proposed trade agreements and the en-
forcement of existing trade agreements; 
(B) taxation; 
(C) cybersecurity; 
(D) the United States patent system; 
(E) intellectual property laws and the en-
forcement of such laws; 
(F) education, including vocational train-
ing; 
(G) research and development programs; 
and 
(H) infrastructure. 
(4) Such other reports as are requested by 
members of Congress or congressional committees. 
(g) TERMINATION.—The authority for the Commis-
sion provided in this section shall terminate and the Com-
mission shall be dissolved on September 30, 2016. 
(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$1,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2012 through 
2016. No amount is authorized to carry out this section 
for a fiscal year unless the appropriation for the Economic 
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