I 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1912 
To direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a Make It in America 
Block Grant Program, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 13, 2011 
Mr. CICILLINE (for himself, Mr. CARNAHAN, Mr. CARSON of Indiana, Mr. 
CLARKE of Michigan, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. CRITZ, Ms. FUDGE, Mr. 
GARAMENDI, Ms. HANABUSA, Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas, Mr. JACKSON 
of Illinois, Mr. KEATING, Mr. KILDEE, Mr. KUCINICH, Mr. LANGEVIN, 
Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. MURPHY
of Connecticut, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. 
PIERLUISI, Mr. RYAN of Ohio, Mr. SIRES, Ms. WILSON of Florida, and 
Mr. TONKO) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Edu-
cation and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by 
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall with-
in the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a Make 
It in America Block Grant Program, 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 ‘‘Make It in America 
Block Grant Program Act of 2011’’. 
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SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF MAKE IT IN AMERICA BLOCK 
GRANT PROGRAM. 
Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall establish a 
Make It in America Block Grant Program (in this Act 
referred to as the ‘‘program’’), under which the Secretary 
is authorized to make grants to support the manufac-
turing industry. 
SEC. 3. GRANTS. 
(a) GRANT USES.—A grant made by the Secretary 
of Commerce under the program shall be used by the re-
cipient of the grant to assist, through grants made to third 
parties, any of the following activities: 
(1) Retooling or retrofitting a small- or me-
dium-sized manufacturer, including with respect to 
equipment, facilities, infrastructure, or capital. 
(2) Diversifying the business plan of a small- or 
medium-sized manufacturer to advance the produc-
tion of clean energy technology products or compo-
nents, energy efficient products or components, high- 
technology products or components, or other ad-
vanced products (as defined by the Secretary). 
(3) Improving the energy efficiency of a manu-
facturing facility of a small- or medium-sized manu-
facturer. 
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(4) Retraining the employees of a small- or me-
dium-sized manufacturer to— 
(A) provide skills necessary to operate new 
or advanced manufacturing equipment; or 
(B) sustain or improve the processes of 
that manufacturer. 
(5) Training new employees of a small- or me-
dium-sized manufacturer, including through on-the- 
job training. 
(6) Providing capital and technical expertise to 
a small- or medium-sized manufacturer to expand 
the export opportunities of that manufacturer. 
(7) Any other project that the Secretary deter-
mines is appropriate to support the manufacturing 
industry, including the establishment of a revolving 
loan fund to provide loans to small- or medium-sized 
manufacturers to finance the costs of activities de-
scribed in paragraphs (1) through (6). 
(b) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The following entities are el-
igible to receive a grant under the program: 
(A) A State meeting the requirements of 
paragraph (2). 
(B) A covered unit of local government 
meeting the requirements of paragraph (2). 
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government may not receive a grant under the program 
if located within a State that has received a grant under 
the program. 
SEC. 4. REQUIREMENTS FOR GRANT RECIPIENTS. 
(a) APPLICATION PROCESS.—To receive a grant 
under the program, an entity eligible for a grant under 
section 3(b) shall submit to the Secretary of Commerce 
an application at such time, in such manner, and con-
taining such information as the Secretary may require, 
but which shall include at least the plan of that entity 
to carry out, through grants made to third parties, an ac-
tivity described in section 3(a). 
(b) PROPOSED
MANUFACTURING
ENHANCEMENT 
STRATEGY.—Not later than 6 months after the date on 
which an entity eligible for a grant under section 3(b) re-
ceives notice that it has been awarded a grant under the 
program, the entity shall submit to the Secretary a pro-
posed manufacturing enhancement strategy, which shall 
include— 
(1) a description of the plans of the entity to 
make grants to third parties with grant funds; 
(2) a description of the goals with respect to 
such grants, including— 
(A) the number of jobs to be created or re-
tained by third-party grant recipients; 
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(B) the sales to be increased or retained by 
third-party grant recipients; 
(C) the cost savings to be achieved by 
third-party grant recipients due to energy effi-
ciency savings; and 
(D) the workforce training investments to 
be made by third-party grant recipients, includ-
ing— 
(i) the number of training hours to be 
provided; 
(ii) the professional certifications to 
be obtained; and 
(iii) other industry standards to be 
met that demonstrate the attainment of 
proficiency with respect to a skill or proce-
dure; 
(3) a written assurance that the entity intends 
to establish a Make It in America Partnership 
Board— 
(A) to make grants to third parties; and 
(B) which shall be comprised of, to the ex-
tent practicable, representatives of— 
(i) economic development organiza-
tions and agencies; 
(ii) departments of labor; 
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(iii) workforce investment boards and 
agencies; 
(iv) institutions of higher education, 
including community colleges run by a 
State; and 
(v) the manufacturing extension part-
nership program of the National Institute 
of Standards and Technology; and 
(4) a description of the plans of the entity to 
foster, through the Make It in America Partnership 
Board, collaboration between State and local eco-
nomic development organizations and agencies, State 
and local workforce development organizations and 
agencies, small- or medium-sized manufacturers, and 
institutions of higher education (including commu-
nity colleges run by a State) to— 
(A) improve resource allocation, including 
through identification of— 
(i) opportunities to leverage public 
and private funding; and 
(ii) Federal funding and programs 
available to small- or medium-sized manu-
facturers; and 
(B) ensure comprehensive counseling, tech-
nical assistance, workforce development, and ex-
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port assistance are provided to small- or me-
dium-sized manufacturers. 
(c) APPROVAL OF PROPOSED MANUFACTURING EN-
HANCEMENT STRATEGIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall approve 
or disapprove a proposed manufacturing enhance-
ment strategy submitted under subsection (b) not 
later than 90 days after the date on which the Sec-
retary receives such strategy. 
(2) DISBURSEMENT OF GRANT FUNDS PROHIB-
ITED WITHOUT APPROVAL.—The Secretary shall not 
disburse to an entity awarded a grant under the pro-
gram the grant funds relating to that grant until the 
proposed manufacturing enhancement strategy of 
that entity has been approved by the Secretary. 
(3) OPPORTUNITY FOR RESUBMISSION.—If the 
Secretary does not approve a proposed manufac-
turing enhancement strategy submitted under sub-
section (b), the Secretary shall provide to the entity 
that submitted the strategy— 
(A) the reasons for disapproval; and 
(B) an opportunity to revise and resubmit 
the strategy until such strategy is approved. 
(d) LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.—In developing a pro-
posed manufacturing enhancement strategy under sub-
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section (b), a covered unit of local government shall share 
information relating to potential grant activities with the 
State that includes that government to ensure the maxi-
mization of resources made available to small- or medium- 
sized manufacturers. 
(e) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—With respect to a 
grant, a grant recipient may use for the administrative 
expenses of the recipient an amount that is not more than 
the greater of— 
(1) 10 percent of the grant amount received; or 
(2) $75,000. 
(f) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Not later than one year after 
the date on which grant funds are received by a grant 
recipient under the program, and annually thereafter, the 
grant recipient shall submit to the Secretary a report de-
scribing— 
(1) grants made by the grant recipient to third 
parties with grant funds; and 
(2) achievements with respect to the goals iden-
tified in the proposed manufacturing enhancement 
strategy of the grant recipient. 
SEC. 5. STATE AND LOCAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 
The Secretary of Commerce shall establish an advi-
sory committee to advise the Secretary with respect to im-
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plementing and evaluating the program, which shall be 
comprised of— 
(1) individuals representing State and local en-
tities; 
(2) the Secretary of Labor; and 
(3) other individuals determined appropriate for 
inclusion by the Secretary. 
SEC. 6. REVIEW AND EVALUATION. 
(a) GRANT RECIPIENTS.—The Secretary of Com-
merce may review and evaluate the performance of a grant 
recipient under the program as the Secretary determines 
appropriate. 
(b) INELIGIBILITY FOR FUTURE GRANTS.—The Sec-
retary may determine a grant recipient to be ineligible to 
receive additional grants under the program if the Sec-
retary determines that the grant recipient has failed to 
achieve compliance with— 
(1) any applicable guideline or regulation of the 
Secretary relating to the program, including with re-
spect to the misuse or misappropriation of funds 
provided under the program; or 
(2) the proposed manufacturing enhancement 
strategy of the grant recipient. 
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SEC. 7. GAO STUDY AND REPORT. 
(a) STUDY.—The Comptroller General shall conduct 
a study on the program, which shall include an analysis 
of— 
(1) grants made by the Secretary of Commerce 
under the program; 
(2) grants made to third parties by the recipi-
ents of grants made by the Secretary under the pro-
gram; 
(3) outcomes relating to proposed manufac-
turing enhancement strategies submitted to the Sec-
retary; 
(4) administrative costs relating to the pro-
gram; 
(5) activities of the Secretary, the recipients of 
grants made by the Secretary, and third party grant 
recipients under the program, including whether the 
activities of those entities are accomplishing the pur-
poses of this Act; and 
(6) other information determined appropriate 
by the Comptroller General for assessing the per-
formance and financial accountability of the pro-
gram. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date 
on which the Secretary makes the first grant under the 
program, and every 2 years thereafter, the Comptroller 
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General shall submit to Congress a report describing the 
results of the study conducted under subsection (a), which 
shall include any recommendations the Comptroller Gen-
eral determines are appropriate for modifying the pro-
gram. 
(c) ACCESS TO RECORDS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of conducting 
the study under subsection (a), the Comptroller Gen-
eral, and any duly authorized representative of the 
Comptroller General, shall be permitted to access, 
examine, and copy any documents, records, and 
other recorded information— 
(A) within the possession or control of— 
(i) the recipient of a grant made by 
the Secretary under the program; or 
(ii) the recipient of a grant made by 
an entity described in clause (i) with grant 
funds; and 
(B) determined by the Comptroller Gen-
eral, or the duly authorized representative of 
the Comptroller General, to be relevant to the 
study. 
(2) PROPRIETARY INFORMATION.—The Comp-
troller General may not make proprietary informa-
tion obtained under this section available to the pub-
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lic without the consent of the party to whom the in-
formation belongs. 
SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act, the following definitions apply: 
(1) COVERED UNIT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.— 
The term ‘‘covered unit of local government’’ means 
a unit of a government of— 
(A) a municipality— 
(i) with a population of at least 
50,000 individuals; or 
(ii) with a population that is less than 
50,000 individuals, but that is one of the 
10 largest municipalities by population in 
the State including that municipality; or 
(B) a county— 
(i) with a population of at least 
200,000 individuals; or 
(ii) with a population that is less than 
200,000 individuals, but that is one of the 
10 largest counties by population in the 
State including that county. 
(2) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian tribe’’ 
has the meaning given that term in section 4 of the 
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
Act (25 U.S.C. 450b). 
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(3) MANUFACTURER.—The term ‘‘manufac-
turer’’ shall be defined by the Secretary of Com-
merce in accordance with the North American In-
dustry Classification System. 
(4) SMALL- 
OR
MEDIUM-SIZED
MANUFAC-
TURER.—The term ‘‘small- or medium-sized manu-
facturer’’ means a manufacturer that, as determined 
by the Secretary of Commerce— 
(A) employs not more than 500 full-time 
equivalent employees at a manufacturing facil-
ity; and 
(B) is not owned or controlled by an auto-
mobile manufacturer or other large manufac-
turer. 
(5) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means each of 
the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and any ter-
ritory or possession of the United States. 
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to the Secretary of Commerce for making grants 
under the program such sums as may be necessary. 
(b) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—There are author-
ized to be appropriated to the Secretary for administrative 
expenses relating to the program such sums as may be 
necessary. 
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(c) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that amounts made available to carry out the pro-
gram should supplement and not replace other funding 
provided by Federal departments and agencies to support 
the manufacturing industry. 
Æ 
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