,,ii #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #bhig ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #ah1 #bjad,mr4 ,coons 7for himself and ,ms4 ,ayotte7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to establish a program that promotes reforms in workforce education and skill training for manufacturing in ,states and metropolitan areas1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,manufacturing ,skills ,act of #bjad4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means a ,state or a metropolitan area4 7#b7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education means each of the following3 7,a7 ,an institution of higher education1 as defined in section #aja7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja7;a774 7,b7 ,a postsecondary vocational institution1 as defined in section #ajb7;c7 of such ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajjb7;c774 7#c7 ,manufacturing sector ,the term manufacturing sector means a manufacturing sector classified in code #ca1 #cb1 or #cc of the most recent version of the ,north ,american ,industry ,classification ,system developed under the direction of the ,office of ,management and ,budget4 7#d7 ,metropolitan area ,the term metropolitan area means a standard metropolitan statistical area1 as designated by the ,director of the ,office of ,management and ,budget4 7#e7 ,partnership ,the term ,partnership means the ,manufacturing ,skills ,partnership established in section #aja7;a74 7#f7 ,state ,the term ,state means each of the several ,states of the ,united ,states1 the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 the ,district of ,columbia1 ,guam1 ,american ,samoa1 the ,united ,states ,virgin ,islands1 and the ,commonwealth of the ,northern ,mariana ,islands4 ,i ,manufacturing ,skills program #aja4 ,manufacturing ,skills program 7a7 ,manufacturing ,skills ,partnership ,the ,secretary of ,commerce1 ,secretary of ,labor1 ,secretary of ,education1 ,secretary of the ,department of ,defense1 and ,director of the ,national ,science ,foundation shall jointly establish a ,manufacturing ,skills ,partnership consisting of the ,secretaries and the ,director1 or their representatives4 ,the ,partnership shall-- 7#a7 administer and carry out the program established under this title2 7#b7 establish and publish guidelines for the review of applications1 and the criteria for selection1 for grants under this title2 and 7#c7 submit an annual report to ,congress on-- 7,a7 the eligible entities that receive grants under this title2 and 7,b7 the progress such eligible entities have made in achieving the milestones identified in accordance with section #ajb7;b77#b77;,h74 7b7 ,program authorized 7#a7 ,in general ,from amounts appropriated to carry out this title1 the ,partnership shall award grants1 on a competitive basis1 to eligible entities to enable the eligible entities to carry out their proposals submitted in the application under section #ajb7;b77#b71 in order to promote reforms in workforce education and skill training for manufacturing in the eligible entities4 7#b7 ,grant duration ,a grant awarded under paragraph 7#a7 shall be for a #c-year period1 with grant funds under such grant distributed annually in accordance with subsection 7c77#b74 7#c7 ,second grants ,if amounts are made available to award grants under this title for subsequent grant periods1 the ,partnership may award a grant to an eligible entity that previously received a grant under this title after such first grant period expires4 ,the ,partnership shall evaluate the performance of the eligible entity under the first grant in determining whether to award the eligible entity a second grant under this title4 #ajb4 ,application and award process 7a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity that desires to receive a grant under this title shall-- 7#a7 establish a task force1 consisting of leaders from the public1 nonprofit1 and manufacturing sectors1 representatives of labor organizations1 representatives of elementary schools and secondary schools1 and representatives of institutions of higher education1 to apply for and carry out a grant under this title2 and 7#b7 submit an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,partnership may require4 7b7 ,application contents ,the application described in subsection 7a77#b7 shall include-- 7#a7 a description of the task force that the eligible entity has assembled to design the proposal described in paragraph 7#b72 7#b7 a proposal that-- 7,a7 identifies1 as of the date of the application-- 7i7 the current strengths of the ,state or metropolitan area represented by the eligible entity in manufacturing2 and 7ii7 areas for new growth opportunities in manufacturing2 7,b7 identifies1 as of the date of the application1 manufacturing workforce and skills challenges preventing the eligible entity from expanding in the areas identified under subparagraph 7,a77ii71 such as-- 7i7 a lack of availability of-- 7,i7 strong career and technical education2 7,,ii7 educational programs in science1 technology1 engineering1 or mathematics2 or 7,,iii7 a skills training system2 or 7ii7 an absence of customized training for existing industrial businesses and sectors2 7,c7 identifies challenges faced within the manufacturing sector by underrepresented and disadvantaged workers1 including veterans1 in the ,state or metropolitan area represented by the eligible entity2 7,d7 provides strategies1 designed by the eligible entity1 to address challenges identified in subparagraphs 7,b7 and 7,c7 through tangible projects and investments1 with the deep and sustainable involvement of manufacturing businesses2 7,e7 identifies and leverages innovative and effective career and technical education or skills training programs in the field of manufacturing that are available in the eligible entity2 7,f7 leverages other ,federal funds in support of such strategies2 7,g7 reforms ,state or local policies and governance1 as applicable1 in support of such strategies2 and 7,h7 holds the eligible entity accountable1 on a regular basis1 through a set of transparent performance measures1 including a timeline for the grant period describing when specific milestones and reforms will be achieved2 and 7#c7 a description of the source of the matching funds required under subsection 7d7 that the eligible entity will use if selected for a grant under this title4 7c7 ,award basis 7#a7 ,selection basis and maximum number of grants 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,partnership shall award grants under this title1 by not earlier than ,january #a1 #bjae1 and not later than ,march #ca1 #bjae1 to the eligible entities that submit the strongest and most comprehensive proposals under subsection 7b77#b74 7,b7 ,maximum number of grants ,for any grant period1 the ,partnership shall award not more than #e grants under this title to eligible entities representing ,states and not more than #e grants to eligible entities representing metropolitan areas4 7#b7 ,amount of grants 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,partnership shall award grants under this title in an amount that averages1 for all grants issued for a #c-year grant period1 #aj1jjj1jjj for each year1 subject to subparagraph 7,c7 and paragraph 7#c74 7,b7 ,amount ,in determining the amount of each grant for an eligible entity1 the ,partnership shall take into consideration the size of the industrial base of the eligible entity4 7,c7 ,insufficient appropriations ,for any grant period for which the amounts available to carry out this title are insufficient to award grants in the amount described in subparagraph 7,a71 the ,partnership shall award grants in amounts determined appropriate by the ,partnership4 7#c7 ,funding contingent on performance ,in order for an eligible entity to receive funds under a grant under this title for the second or third year of the grant period1 the eligible entity shall demonstrate to the ,partnership that the eligible entity has achieved the specific reforms and milestones required under the timeline included in the eligible entity's proposal under subsection 7b77#b77;,h74 7#d7 ,consultation with policy experts ,the ,partnership shall assemble a panel of manufacturing policy experts and manufacturing leaders from the private sector to serve in an advisory capacity in helping to oversee the competition and review the competition's effectiveness4 7d7 ,matching funds ,an eligible entity receiving a grant under this title shall provide matching funds toward the grant in an amount of not less than #ej percent of the costs of the activities carried out under the grant4 ,matching funds under this subsection shall be from non-,federal sources and shall be in cash or in-kind4 #ajc4 ,authorization of appropriations 7a7 ,in general ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year #bjae4 7b7 ,availability ,funds appropriated under this section shall remain available until expended4 ,,ii ,audit of ,federal education and skills training #bja4 ,audit of ,federal education and skills training 7a7 ,audit ,by not later than ,march #ca1 #bjae1 the ,director of the ,national ,institute of ,standards and ,technology1 acting through the ,advanced ,manufacturing ,national ,program ,office1 shall conduct an audit of all ,federal education and skills training programs related to manufacturing to ensure that ,states and metropolitan areas are able to align ,federal resources to the greatest extent possible with the labor demands of their primary manufacturing industries4 ,in carrying out the audit1 the ,director shall work with ,states and metropolitan areas to determine how ,federal funds can be more tailored to meet their different needs4 7b7 ,report and recommendations ,by not later than ,march #ca1 #bjaf1 the ,director of the ,national ,institute of ,standards and ,technology shall prepare and submit a report to ,congress that includes-- 7#a7 a summary of the findings from the audit conducted under subsection 7a72 and 7#b7 recommendations for such legislative and administrative actions to reform the existing funding for ,federal education and skills training programs related to manufacturing as the ,director determines appropriate4 ,,iii ,offset #cja4 ,rescission of ,department of ,labor funds 7a7 ,rescission of funds ,notwithstanding any other provision of law1 an amount equal to the amount of funds made available to carry out title ,i for a fiscal year shall be rescinded1 in accordance with subsection 7b71 from the unobligated discretionary funds available to the ,secretary from prior fiscal years4 7b7 ,return of funds ,notwithstanding any other provision of law1 by not later than #ae days after funds are appropriated or made available to carry out title ,i1 the ,director of the ,office of ,management and ,budget shall-- 7#a7 identify from which appropriations accounts available to the ,secretary of ,labor the rescission described in subsection 7a7 shall apply2 and 7#b7 determine the amount of the rescission that shall apply to each account4