,i #aaeth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #didh ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,february #f1 #bjah,mr4 ,foster 7for himself and ,mr4 ,massie7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on the ,judiciary ,a ,,bill ,to provide a ,federal charter to the ,fab ,foundation for the ,national ,fab ,lab ,network1 a national network of local digital fabrication facilities providing universal access to advanced manufacturing tools for learning skills1 developing inventions1 creating businesses1 and producing personalized products1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,national ,fab ,lab ,network ,act of #bjah4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,scientific discoveries and technical innovations are critical to the economic and national security of the ,united ,states4 7#b7 ,maintaining the leadership of the ,united ,states in science1 technology1 engineering1 and mathematics will require a diverse population with the skills1 interest1 and access to tools required to advance these fields4 7#c7 ,just as earlier digital revolutions in communications and computation provided individuals with the ,internet and personal computers1 a digital revolution in fabrication will allow anyone to make almost anything1 anywhere4 7#d7 ,these creations include communications devices1 solar powered housing1 consumer products1 and new kinds of machines and tools for advanced manufacturing4 7#e7 ,the ,center for ,bits and ,atoms of the ,massachusetts ,institute of ,technology 7,,cba7 has contributed significantly to the advancement of these goals through its work in creating and advancing digital fabrication facilities1 or fab labs in the ,united ,states and abroad4 7#f7 ,maker,spaces1 ,tech,shops1 and other creative platforms also facilitate access to digital fabrication capabilities4 7#g7 ,the fab labs of the ,center for ,bits and ,atoms provide a model for a new kind of national laboratory that links local facilities for advanced manufacturing1 providing universal access1 and empowering communities4 7#h7 ,a coordinated national public-private partnership will be the most effective way to accelerate the provision of this universal infrastructure for learning skills1 developing inventions1 creating businesses1 and producing personalized products4 #c4 ,federal charter for ,national ,fab ,lab network 7a7 ,in general ,part ,b of subtitle ,,ii of title #cf1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following new chapter3 #beja ,national ,fab ,lab ,network ,,chapter #beja--,national ,fab ,lab ,network ,sec4 #bejaja4 ,definitions4 #bejajb4 ,organization4 #bejajc4 ,purposes and goals4 #bejajd4 ,membership and organization4 #bejaje4 ,governing body4 #bejajf4 ,powers4 #bejajg4 ,restrictions4 #bejajh4 ,records and inspection4 #bejaji4 ,duty to maintain tax exempt status4 #bejaaj4 ,liability for acts of officers and agents4 #bejaaa4 ,annual report4 #bejaja4 ,definitions ,in this chapter3 7#a7 ,corporation ,the term corporation means the ,national ,fab ,lab ,network4 7#b7 ,fab lab ,the term fab lab means a facility that is-- 7,a7 equipped with a standard integrated suite of fabrication tools that can convert digital designs into functional physical things2 7,b7 equipped with scanning tools to convert physical things into digital designs2 and 7,c7 made accessible to the general public1 allowing for necessary fees4 #bejajb4 ,organization 7a7 ,redesignation ,the ,fab ,foundation shall be known as the ,national ,fab ,lab ,network4 7b7 ,federal charter ,the ,national ,fab ,lab ,network is a federally chartered corporation4 7c7 ,perpetual existence ,except as otherwise provided1 the corporation shall have perpetual succession4 #bejajc4 ,purposes and goals ,the purposes and goals of the corporation are as follows3 7#a7 ,to create a national network of connected local fab labs to empower individuals and communities in the ,united ,states4 7#b7 ,to foster the use of distributed digital fabrication tools to promote science1 technology1 engineering and math skills1 increase invention and innovation1 create businesses and jobs1 and fulfill personal1 professional1 and community needs4 7#c7 ,to serve as a resource to assist stakeholders with the effective operation of fab labs4 7#d7 ,to provide a platform for education1 research1 and for catalyzing new methods in science1 technology1 engineering1 and mathematics education4 7#e7 ,to create new ways of educating the workforce that will enable workers to compete in a #bast century global marketplace4 7#f7 ,to seek to establish at least one fab lab per every #gjj1jjj individuals in the ,united ,states in the first #aj years of its operation1 corresponding to availability in all #dce ,congressional districts and to provide guidelines for their sustainable operation4 #bejajd4 ,membership and organization ,except as provided in this chapter1 eligibility for membership in the corporation and the rights and privileges of members are as provided in the constitution and bylaws of the corporation4 #bejaje4 ,governing body ,directors1 officers1 and other staff of the corporation1 and their powers and duties are as provided in the bylaws of the corporation4 #bejajf4 ,powers ,the corporation may-- 7#a7 coordinate the creation of a national network of local fab labs in the ,united ,states2 7#b7 issue guidelines for the sustainable operation of fab labs2 7#c7 serve as a resource for organizations and communities seeking to create fab labs by providing information1 assessing suitability1 advising on the lab lifecycle1 and maintaining descriptions of prospective and operating sites2 7#d7 accept funds from private individuals1 organizations1 government agencies1 or other organizations2 7#e7 distribute funds to other nonprofit organizations to establish and operate fab labs as members of the corporation2 7#f7 facilitate communication between other nonprofit organizations seeking to join the corporation with operational entities that can source and install fab labs1 provide training1 assist with operations1 account for spending1 and assess impact2 7#g7 communicate the benefits available through membership in the corporation to communities and the public2 7#h7 facilitate and participate in synergistic programs1 including workforce training1 job creation1 researching the broader impacts of such programs1 and the production of civic infrastructure2 7#i7 amend a constitution and bylaws for the management of its property and the regulation of its affairs2 7#aj7 choose directors1 officers1 trustees1 managers1 employees1 and agents as the activities of the corporation require2 7#aa7 make contracts2 7#ab7 acquire1 own1 lease1 encumber1 and transfer property as necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes of the corporation2 7#ac7 borrow money1 issue instruments of indebtedness1 and secure its obligations by granting security interests in its property2 7#ad7 charge and collect membership dues and subscription fees2 and 7#ae7 sue and be sued4 #bejajg4 ,restrictions 7a7 ,stock and dividends ,the corporation may not issue securities of any kind or declare or pay a dividend4 7b7 ,distribution of income or assets ,the income or assets of the corporation may not inure to the benefit of1 or be distributed to1 a director1 officer1 or member during the life of the charter of the corporation under this chapter4 ,this subsection does not prevent the payment of reasonable compensation to an officer or reimbursement for actual necessary expenses in amounts approved by the board of directors4 7c7 ,loans ,the corporation may not make a loan to a director1 officer1 or employee4 7d7 ,claim of governmental approval or authority ,the corporation may not claim congressional approval or the authority of the ,united ,states ,government for any of its activities4 #bejajh4 ,records and inspection 7a7 ,records ,the corporation shall keep-- 7#a7 correct and complete records of account2 7#b7 minutes of the proceedings of its members1 board of directors1 and committees having any of the authority of its board of directors2 and 7#c7 at its principal office1 a record of the names and addresses of its members entitled to vote4 7b7 ,inspections ,a member entitled to vote1 or an agent or attorney of the member1 may inspect the records of the corporation for any proper purpose1 at any reasonable time4 #bejaji4 ,duty to maintain tax exempt status ,the corporation shall maintain its status as an organization exempt from taxation under the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf 7#bf ,u4,s4,c4 #a et seq474 #bejaaj4 ,liability for acts of officers and agents ,the corporation is liable for the acts of its officers and agents acting within the scope of their authority4 #bejaaa4 ,annual report ,not less frequently than once each year1 the corporation shall submit to ,congress1 including specifically to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology of the ,house of ,representatives1 a report on the activities of the corporation during the prior fiscal year4 ,the report shall be submitted at the same time as the report of the audit required by section #ajaja of this title4 ,the report may not be printed as a public document4 4 7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of chapters at the beginning of subtitle ,,ii of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter #bdja the following new item3 #beja4 ,national ,fab ,lab ,network #bejaja 4