MEP Crisis Response Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3520
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2020-03-18
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations

Appropriations

Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Department of Commerce

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Executive agency funding and structure

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Manufacturing

Technology transfer and commercialization
Latest action: action_date: 2020-03-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-03-18
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>MEP Crisis Response Act of 2020</b></p> <p>This bill waives for one year the cost sharing requirement for manufacturing extension centers established under the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership program. </p> <p>Such requirement prohibits the Department of Commerce from providing more than 50% of the capital and annual operating and maintenance funds required to establish and support a center. </p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3520 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 18, 2020 Mr. Coons (for himself, Mr. Gardner , Mr. Kaine , Mrs. Shaheen , Ms. Hassan , and Mr. Peters ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To waive, for 1 year, the cost sharing requirements of the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the MEP Crisis Response Act of 2020 . 2. One-year waiver of cost sharing requirements of Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (a) Definition of Center In this section, the term Center has the meaning given such term in section 25(a) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act ( 15 U.S.C. 278k(a) ). (b) Temporary waiver (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, paragraph (2) of section 25(e) of such Act ( 15 U.S.C. 278k(e) ) shall not apply during the 1-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) Exception Paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not apply to the extent that a Center receives funding from a State that is conditioned upon the application of a Federal cost sharing requirement to the Center. (c) Authorization of appropriations (1) In general There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce $146,000,000 for fiscal year 2020 to support Centers. (2) Supplement not supplant Amounts appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) shall supplement and not supplant amounts already appropriated or otherwise made available to support Centers in fiscal year 2020. (d) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that— (1) the centers of the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership are front-line resources for manufacturers to improve supply chain resilience, workforce readiness, and technological expertise; and (2) such Centers are positioned to mitigate damage and accelerate recovery from the National public health and economic crisis caused by COVID–19.