Global Leadership in Advanced Manufacturing Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1427
Sponsor: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2019-05-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Aviation and airports
Computer security and identity theft
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Electric power generation and transmission
Employment and training programs
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Food industry and services
Government studies and investigations
Manufacturing
Materials
Performance measurement
Small business
Technology transfer and commercialization
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-13
text: 

Global Leadership in Advanced Manufacturing Act of 2019

 
This bill expands the scope of the Network for Manufacturing Innovation program, makes changes to the funding design for the centers for manufacturing innovation, and directs interagency collaboration to develop national certifications for advanced manufacturing workforce skills.
 
The Network for Manufacturing Innovation program established a nationwide network of centers for manufacturing innovation, each of which has a unique technological concentration. The bill expands the definition of a 
center for manufacturing innovation
 to make eligible for inclusion in the program a center that has a predominant focus on innovative sectors (e.g., food manufacturing, superconductors, and quantum information science).
 
The bill also strikes provisions that progressively decrease the amount of financial assistance provided to a center over a term of years and subsequently cut the center's funding entirely after seven years, replacing them with a continuing five-year, metrics-based review of a center. Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Commerce to collaborate with relevant federal departments and agencies when awarding financial assistance.
 
The bill also authorizes Commerce to collaborate with stakeholders for the development of national certifications for advanced manufacturing workforce skills in the respective technology area of each center. 

action_date: 2020-11-16
text: 

Global Leadership in Advanced Manufacturing Act of 2019

 
This bill expands the scope of the Network for Manufacturing Innovation program, makes changes to the funding design for the centers for manufacturing innovation, and directs interagency collaboration to develop national certifications for advanced manufacturing workforce skills.
 
The Network for Manufacturing Innovation program established a nationwide network of centers for manufacturing innovation, each of which has a unique technological concentration. The bill expands the definition of a 
center for manufacturing innovation
 to make eligible for inclusion in the program a center that has a predominant focus on innovative sectors (e.g., food manufacturing, superconductors, and quantum information science).
 
Further, the Department of Commerce must establish a regional innovation program to encourage and support the development of regional innovation strategies designed to increase innovation-driven economic opportunity within their respective regions.
 
The bill also strikes provisions that progressively decrease the amount of financial assistance provided to a center over a term of years and subsequently cut the center's funding entirely after seven years, replacing them with a continuing five-year, metrics-based review of a center.
 
Additionally, the bill (1) directs Commerce to collaborate with relevant federal departments and agencies when awarding financial assistance, and (2) authorizes Commerce to collaborate with stakeholders for the development of national certifications for advanced manufacturing workforce skills in the respective technology area of each center.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-11-16
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 584.
action_date: 2020-11-16
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Wicker with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 116-291.
action_date: 2020-11-16
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Wicker with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 116-291.
action_date: 2019-07-10
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2019-05-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2019-05-13
text: Introduced in Senate