,i #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #adba ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,april #i1 #bjac ,ms4 ,eddie ,bernice ,johnson of ,texas 7for herself1 ,ms4 ,wilson of ,florida1 ,ms4 ,bonamici1 ,mr4 ,mc,nerney1 ,ms4 ,edwards1 ,mr4 ,lipinski1 ,ms4 ,lofgren1 ,mr4 ,ben ,ray ,lujn of ,new ,mexico1 and ,mr4 ,ryan of ,ohio7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology ,a ,,bill ,to accelerate research1 development1 and innovation in advanced manufacturing1 to improve the competitiveness of ,american manufacturers1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,advancing ,innovative ,manufacturing ,act of #bjac4 #b4 ,advanced manufacturing technology consortia ,section #cc of the ,national ,institute of ,standards and ,technology ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #bghr7 is amended to read as follows3 #cc4 ,advanced manufacturing technology consortia 7a7 ,authority 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,director shall carry out a program to facilitate the development of and provide support to industry-led consortia that will identify1 prioritize1 and address long-term1 precompetitive industrial research needs in the area of advanced manufacturing4 7#b7 ,program objectives ,the objectives of the program established under this section include the following3 7,a7 ,to promote collective public-private efforts to develop key technology platforms and infrastructure for advanced manufacturing4 7,b7 ,to enable the prioritization of public research portfolios to be more responsive to the long-term technology development needs of industry4 7,c7 ,to leverage ,federal investment in advanced manufacturing with shared investment by the private sector4 7,d7 ,to increase industrial research and development investment in precompetitive technology platforms and infrastructure4 7,e7 ,to accelerate technological innovation in advanced manufacturing4 7,f7 ,to foster broad participation by industry1 the ,federal ,government1 institutions of higher education1 and ,state1 local1 and tribal governments in advanced manufacturing research and development4 7b7 ,activities ,as part of the program established under this section1 the ,director shall-- 7#a7 support the formation of industry-led consortia composed of representatives from industry 7including small and medium-sized manufacturers71 institutions of higher education1 the ,federal ,government1 ,state1 local1 and tribal governments1 and other entities1 as appropriate2 7#b7 collaborate with consortia participants in the development of technology roadmaps that identify research needs in the area of advanced manufacturing2 7#c7 support precompetitive research directed at meeting the research needs identified in the roadmaps developed under paragraph 7#b72 7#d7 promote the transfer of precompetitive technology platforms and infrastructure resulting from consortia research to the private sector and facilitate open access to the intellectual property underpinning those platforms and technology2 and 7#e7 facilitate the development of new technologies into commercial products4 7c7 ,selection criteria ,in selecting applications for awards under this section1 the ,director shall consider1 at a minimum-- 7#a7 the degree to which the activities proposed under the consortia will broadly impact manufacturing and increase the productivity and economic competitiveness of the ,united ,states2 7#b7 the level of technical risk to be addressed by the consortia2 7#c7 the potential to produce fundamental new knowledge2 and 7#d7 the likelihood that the consortia will become self sustaining1 if appropriate4 7d7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated for carrying out this section #abj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjad through #bjah4 4 #c4 ,small manufacturer innovation program ,the ,national ,institute of ,standards and ,technology ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #bga et seq47 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating section #cd as section #ce2 and 7#b7 by inserting after section #cc the following3 #cd4 ,small manufacturer innovation program 7a7 ,in general ,the ,director shall carry out a pilot program to enhance the innovative capabilities and competitiveness of small and medium-sized manufacturers through support for research and development that will promote the field of advanced manufacturing and lead to the commercialization of new products1 processes1 or technologies for use in advanced manufacturing4 7b7 ,objectives ,the objectives of the program under this section are-- 7#a7 to accelerate the development of processes and1 as appropriate1 incremental innovations that will improve how goods are designed1 produced1 or distributed2 7#b7 to advance the development and commercialization of novel products and technologies for use in advanced manufacturing2 7#c7 to reduce the technical and economic risks associated with developing new products1 processes1 or technologies for use in advanced manufacturing2 7#d7 to foster cooperative research and development between small and medium-sized manufacturers and research institutions2 and 7#e7 to promote research and development collaboration among small and medium-sized manufacturers facing similar technical challenges or obstacles1 including collaboration along a supply chain4 7c7 ,program 7#a7 ,award phases ,the ,director shall award competitive1 merit-reviewed grants1 cooperative agreements1 or contracts to small or medium-sized manufacturers in the ,united ,states through a uniform process having-- 7,a7 a first phase for determining1 insofar as possible1 the scientific and technical merit and feasibility of a proposal2 and 7,b7 a second phase to further develop proposals1 including the development of prototypes1 for which scientific and technical merit and feasibility was demonstrated in the first phase4 7#b7 ,applications ,a small or medium-sized manufacturer seeking an award under this section shall submit an application to the ,director at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,director may require4 7d7 ,stakeholder input ,in carrying out the program under this section1 the ,director shall solicit stakeholder input on how best to carry out the program4 7e7 ,coordination and nonduplication ,to the maximum extent practicable1 the ,director shall ensure that the activities carried out under this section are coordinated with1 and do not duplicate the efforts of1 other programs within the ,federal ,government4 7f7 ,report ,not later than #d years after the date of enactment of the ,advancing ,innovative ,manufacturing ,act of #bjac1 the ,director shall transmit a report to ,congress assessing the program established under this section4 ,the report shall include-- 7#a7 a summary of the activities carried out under the program2 7#b7 an assessment of whether the program is achieving its goals1 including a description of the metrics used to determine progress in meeting such goals2 7#c7 any recommendations on how the program may be improved2 and 7#d7 a recommendation as to whether such program should be continued or terminated4 7g7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to the ,director to carry out this section-- 7#a7 #ae1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjad2 7#b7 #be1ejj1jjj for fiscal year #bjae2 7#c7 #ci1gej1jjj for fiscal year #bjaf2 7#d7 #db1bej1jjj for fiscal year #bjag2 and 7#e7 #ej1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjah4 4 #d4 ,innovation voucher pilot program ,section #be of the ,stevenson-,wydler ,technology ,innovation ,act of #aihj 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #cgbj7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7d7 ,innovation voucher pilot program 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,office of ,innovation and ,entrepreneurship and in conjunction with the ,states1 shall establish an innovation voucher pilot program to accelerate innovative activities and enhance the competitiveness of small and medium-sized manufacturers in the ,united ,states4 ,the pilot program shall-- 7,a7 foster collaborations between small and medium-sized manufacturers and research institutions2 and 7,b7 enable small and medium-sized manufacturers to access technical expertise and capabilities that will lead to the development of innovative products or manufacturing processes1 including through-- 7i7 research and development1 including proof of concept1 technical development1 and compliance testing activities2 7ii7 early-stage product development1 including engineering design services2 and 7iii7 technology transfer and related activities4 7#b7 ,award size ,the ,secretary shall competitively award vouchers worth up to #bj1jjj to small and medium-sized manufacturers for use at eligible research institutions to acquire the services described in paragraph 7#a77;,b74 7#c7 ,streamlined procedures ,the ,secretary shall streamline and simplify the application1 administrative1 and reporting procedures for vouchers administered under the program4 7#d7 ,regulations ,prior to awarding any vouchers under the program1 the ,secretary shall promulgate regulations-- 7,a7 establishing criteria for the selection of recipients of awards under this subsection2 7,b7 establishing procedures regarding financial reporting and auditing-- 7i7 to ensure that awards are used for the purposes of the program2 and 7ii7 that are in accordance with sound accounting practices2 and 7,c7 describing any other policies1 procedures1 or information necessary to implement this subsection1 including those intended to streamline and simplify the program in accordance with paragraph 7#c74 7#e7 ,transfer authority ,the ,secretary may transfer funds appropriated to the ,department of ,commerce to other ,federal agencies for the performance of services authorized under this subsection4 7#f7 ,administrative costs ,all of the amounts appropriated to carry out this subsection for a fiscal year shall be used for vouchers awarded under this subsection1 except that an eligible research institution performing the services described in paragraph 7#a77;,b7 may retain a percentage of any amount received from the ,secretary under this subsection to defray administrative costs associated with the services4 ,the ,secretary shall establish a single1 fixed percentage for such purposes that will apply to all eligible research institutions4 7#g7 ,outreach ,the ,secretary may use centers established under section #be of the ,national ,institute of ,standards and ,technology ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #bghk7 to provide information about the program established under this subsection and to conduct outreach to potential applicants1 as appropriate4 7#h7 ,reports to ,congress 7,a7 ,plan ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this subsection1 the ,secretary shall transmit to ,congress a plan that will serve as a guide for the activities of the program4 ,the plan shall include a description of the specific objectives of the program and the metrics that will be used in assessing progress toward those objectives4 7,b7 ,outcomes ,not later than #c years after the date of enactment of this subsection1 the ,secretary shall transmit to ,congress a report containing-- 7i7 a summary of the activities carried out under this subsection2 7ii7 an assessment of the impact of such activities on the innovative capacity of small and medium-sized manufacturers receiving assistance under the pilot program2 and 7iii7 any recommendations for administrative and legislative action that could optimize the effectiveness of the pilot program4 7#i7 ,coordination and nonduplication ,to the maximum extent practicable1 the ,secretary shall ensure that the activities carried out under this subsection are coordinated with1 and do not duplicate the efforts of1 other programs within the ,federal ,government4 7#aj7 ,eligible research institutions defined ,for the purposes of this subsection1 the term eligible research institution means-- 7,a7 an institution of higher education1 as such term is defined in section #aja7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja7;a772 7,b7 a ,federal laboratory2 7,c7 a federally funded research and development center2 or 7,d7 a ,hollings ,manufacturing ,extension ,center established under section #be of the ,national ,institute of ,standards and ,technology ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #bghk74 7#aa7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary to carry out the pilot program in this subsection #e1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjad through #bjah4 4 #e4 ,advanced manufacturing education ,section #ejf7;b7 of the ,america ,,competes ,reauthorization ,act of #bjaj 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ahfbp-#a7;b77 is amended to read as follows3 7b7 ,advanced manufacturing education ,the ,director shall award grants1 on a competitive1 merit-reviewed basis1 to community colleges for the development and implementation of innovative advanced manufacturing education reforms to ensure an adequate and well-trained advanced manufacturing workforce4 ,activities supported by grants under this subsection may include-- 7#a7 the development or expansion of educational materials1 courses1 curricula1 strategies1 and methods that will lead to improved advanced manufacturing degree or certification programs1 including the integration of industry standards and workplace competencies into the curriculum2 7#b7 the development and implementation of faculty professional development programs that enhance a faculty member's capabilities and teaching skills in advanced manufacturing1 including efforts to understand current advanced manufacturing technologies and practices2 7#c7 the establishment of centers that provide models and leadership in advanced manufacturing education and serve as regional or national clearinghouses for educational materials and methods2 7#d7 activities to enhance the recruitment and retention of students into certification and degree programs in advanced manufacturing1 including the provision of improved mentoring and internship opportunities2 7#e7 the establishment of partnerships with private sector entities to ensure the development of an advanced manufacturing workforce with the skills necessary to meet regional economic needs2 and 7#f7 other activities as determined appropriate by the ,director4 4