National Manufacturing Advisory Council for the 21st Century Act
Bill: S.1044 | Sponsor: Sen. Peters, Gary C. (D-MI)
Policy area: Commerce

Summary:
National Manufacturing Advisory Council for the 21st Century Act
This bill establishes through September 30, 2025, the National Manufacturing Advisory Council within the Department of Commerce to support the U.S. manufacturing sector.
The duties of the council shall include (1) providing advice and recommendations to Commerce regarding issues that involve U.S. manufacturing; (2) conveying input from key industry, labor, academic, defense, governmental, and other stakeholders to aid in the development of a national strategic plan for U.S. manufacturing; (3) monitoring global manufacturing trends and global threats to the U.S. manufacturing sector; and (4) providing input and improvements to the manufacturing.gov website.

To establish the National Manufacturing Advisory Council within the 
            Department of Commerce, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Manufacturing Advisory 
Council for the 21st Century Act''.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL MANUFACTURING ADVISORY COUNCIL.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Advisory council.--The term ``Advisory Council'' means 
        the National Manufacturing Advisory Council established under 
        subsection (b).
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Commerce.
    (b) Establishment.--There is established in the Department of 
Commerce the National Manufacturing Advisory Council.
    (c) Mission.--The mission of the Advisory Council shall be to--
            (1) ensure regular communication between the Federal 
        Government and the manufacturing sector in the United States;
            (2) advise the Secretary regarding policies and programs of 
        the Federal Government that affect United States manufacturing;
            (3) provide a forum for discussing and proposing solutions 
        to problems relating to the manufacturing industry in the 
        United States; and
            (4) ensure that the United States remains the preeminent 
        destination throughout the world for investment in 
        manufacturing.
    (d) Duties.--The duties of the Advisory Council shall include--
            (1) meeting from time to time to provide independent advice 
        and recommendations to the Secretary regarding issues involving 
        United States manufacturing;
            (2) completing specific tasks requested by the Secretary;
            (3) conveying input from key industry, labor, academic, 
        defense, governmental, and other stakeholders to aid in the 
        development of a national strategic plan for manufacturing in 
        the United States;
            (4) monitoring the status of technological developments, 
        critical production capacity, skill availability, investment 
        patterns, emerging defense needs, and other key indicators of 
        manufacturing competitiveness to provide foresight for periodic 
        updates to the national strategic plan for manufacturing 
        developed under paragraph (3);
            (5) soliciting input from the public and private sectors 
        and academia regarding emerging trends in manufacturing, the 
        responsiveness of Federal programming with respect to 
        manufacturing, and suggestions for areas of increased Federal 
        attention with respect to manufacturing;
            (6) monitoring global manufacturing trends and global 
        threats to manufacturing sectors in the United States; and
            (7) with respect to the manufacturing.gov website, 
        providing input and improvements in order to--
                    (A) make that website more user-friendly so as to 
                enhance the ability of that website to--
                            (i) provide information to manufacturers; 
                        and
                            (ii) receive feedback from manufacturers;
                    (B) assist that website in becoming the principal 
                place of interaction between manufacturers in the 
                United States and Federal programs relating to 
                manufacturing; and
                    (C) permit that website to provide assistance to 
                manufacturers relating to--
                            (i) international trade and investment 
                        matters;
                            (ii) research and technology development 
                        opportunities;
                            (iii) workforce development and training 
                        programs and opportunities;
                            (iv) small and medium manufacturer needs; 
                        and
                            (v) industrial commons and supply chain 
                        needs.
    (e) Membership.--
            (1) In general.--The Advisory Council shall--
                    (A) consist of individuals, appointed by the 
                Secretary, with a balance of backgrounds, experiences, 
                and viewpoints; and
                    (B) include individuals with manufacturing 
                experience who directly represent private industry, 
                academia, and labor.
            (2) Public participation.--The Secretary shall, to the 
        maximum extent practicable, accept recommendations from the 
        public regarding the appointment of individuals under paragraph 
        (1).
    (f) Inapplicability of Federal Advisory Committee Act.--The Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply with respect to 
the Advisory Council or the activities of the Advisory Council.
    (g) Transfer of Functions.--
            (1) In general.--All functions of the United States 
        Manufacturing Council of the International Trade Administration 
        of the Department of Commerce, including the personnel, assets, 
        and obligations of the United States Manufacturing Council of 
        the International Trade Administration of the Department of 
        Commerce, as in existence on the day before the date of 
        enactment of this Act, shall be transferred to the Office of 
        the Secretary.
            (2) Deeming of name.--Any reference in law, regulation, 
        document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
        United States Manufacturing Council of the International Trade 
        Administration of the Department of Commerce shall be deemed a 
        reference to the Advisory Council.
            (3) Unexpended balances.--Unexpended balances of 
        appropriations, authorization, allocations, or other funds 
        related to the United States Manufacturing Council of the 
        International Trade Administration of the Department of 
        Commerce shall be available for use by the Secretary for which 
        the appropriations, authorizations, allocations, or other funds 
        were originally made available.
    (h) Sunset.--The Advisory Council shall terminate on September 30, 
2025.
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