HR 5639 RFS 
‘‘(5) REPORT.—The MEP Advisory Board shall 
transmit an annual report to the Secretary for 
transmittal to Congress within 30 days after the 
submission to Congress of the President’s annual 
budget request in each year. Such report shall ad-
dress the status of the program established pursuant 
to this section and comment on the relevant sections 
of the programmatic planning document and updates 
thereto transmitted to Congress by the Director 
under subsections (c) and (d) of section 23. 
‘‘(f) COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Director shall es-
tablish, within the Hollings Manufacturing Exten-
sion Partnership, under this section and section 26, 
a program of competitive awards among participants 
described in paragraph (2) for the purposes de-
scribed in paragraph (3). 
‘‘(2) 
PARTICIPANTS.—Participants 
receiving 
awards under this subsection shall be the Centers, or 
a consortium of such Centers. 
‘‘(3) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the program 
under this subsection is to add capabilities to the 
Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership, in-
cluding the development of projects to solve new or 
emerging manufacturing problems as determined by 
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the Director, in consultation with the Director of the 
Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership pro-
gram, the MEP Advisory Board, and small- and me-
dium-sized manufacturers. One or more themes for 
the competition may be identified, which may vary 
from year to year, depending on the needs of manu-
facturers and the success of previous competitions. 
Centers may be reimbursed for costs incurred under 
the program. 
‘‘(4) APPLICATIONS.—Applications for awards 
under this subsection shall be submitted in such 
manner, at such time, and containing such informa-
tion as the Director shall require, in consultation 
with the MEP Advisory Board. 
‘‘(5) SELECTION.—Awards under this sub-
section shall be peer reviewed and competitively 
awarded. The Director shall endeavor to have broad 
geographic diversity among selected proposals. The 
Director shall select proposals to receive awards that 
will— 
‘‘(A) improve the competitiveness of indus-
tries in the region in which the Center or Cen-
ters are located; 
‘‘(B) create jobs or train newly hired em-
ployees; and 
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‘‘(C) promote the transfer and commer-
cialization of research and technology from in-
stitutions of higher education, national labora-
tories, and nonprofit research institutes. 
‘‘(6) PROGRAM CONTRIBUTION.—Recipients of 
awards under this subsection shall not be required 
to provide a matching contribution. 
‘‘(7) GLOBAL
MARKETPLACE
PROJECTS.—In 
making awards under this subsection, the Director, 
in consultation with the MEP Advisory Board and 
the Secretary, may take into consideration whether 
an application has significant potential for enhanc-
ing the competitiveness of small- and medium-sized 
United States manufacturers in the global market-
place. 
‘‘(8) DURATION.—Awards under this subsection 
shall last no longer than 3 years. 
‘‘(g) EVALUATION OF OBSTACLES UNIQUE TO SMALL 
MANUFACTURERS.—The Director shall— 
‘‘(1) evaluate obstacles that are unique to small 
manufacturers that prevent such manufacturers 
from effectively competing in the global market; 
‘‘(2) implement a comprehensive plan to train 
the Centers to address such obstacles; and 
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‘‘(3) facilitate improved communication between 
the Centers to assist such manufacturers in imple-
menting appropriate, targeted solutions to such ob-
stacles. 
‘‘(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 
‘‘(1) the term ‘area career and technical edu-
cation school’ has the meaning given such term in 
section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Tech-
nical Education Improvement Act of 2006 (20 
U.S.C. 2302); and 
‘‘(2) the term ‘community college’ means an in-
stitution of higher education (as defined under sec-
tion 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1001(a))) at which the highest degree 
that is predominately awarded to students is an as-
sociate’s degree.’’. 
SEC. 9. ELIMINATION OF OBSOLETE REPORTS. 
Section 28 of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278n) is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (g); and 
(2) in subsection (k)— 
(A) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘and’’ 
after the semicolon at the end; 
(B) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking ‘‘; 
and’’ at the end and inserting a period; and 
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(C) by striking paragraph (5). 
SEC. 10. MODIFICATIONS TO GRANTS AND COOPERATIVE 
AGREEMENTS. 
Section 8(a) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology In-
novation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3706(a)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘The total amount of any such grant or coopera-
tive agreement may not exceed 75 percent of the total cost 
of the program.’’. 
SEC. 11. INFORMATION SYSTEMS STANDARDS CONSULTA-
TION. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Na-
tional Institute of Standards and Technology shall not 
consult with the Department of Defense and the National 
Security Agency in contravention of section 20(c)(1) of the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 
U.S.C. 278g–3(c)(1)). 
SEC. 12. UNITED STATES-ISRAELI COOPERATION. 
It is the Sense of Congress that— 
(1) partnerships that facilitate basic scientific 
research between the United States and Israel ad-
vance technology development, innovation, and com-
mercialization leading to growth in various sectors, 
including manufacturing, and creating benefits for 
both nations; 
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