,,ii #aae? ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #cabf ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,! ,,unit$ ,,/ates ,june #be1 #bjah ,mr4 ,:iteh\se introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,comm]ce1 ,sci5ce1 & ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to all[ ,/ate manufactur+ ext5sion p>tn]%ips to aw>d grants to small & m$ium siz$ manufactur]s = ! purpose ( tra9+ new work]s to replace dep>t+ exp]i5c$ work]s4 #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,reta9 ,innovation & ,manufactur+ ,excell5ce 7,,rime7 ,act ( #bjah4 #b4 ,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3 7#a7 ,c5t] ,! t]m ,c5t] has ! mean+ giv5 ! t]m 9 section #be7;a7 ( ! ,national ,in/itute ( ,/&>ds & ,te*nology ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #bghk7a774 7#b7 ,eligible manufactur]s ,! t]m eligible manufactur] means a manufactur] t-- 7,a7 is a small bus9ess conc]n1 z t t]m is def9$ "u section #c ( ! ,small ,bus9ess ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fcb72 & 7,b7 has an exi/+ relation%ip ) a ,c5t]4 #c4 ,pilot program 7a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y ( ,comm]ce %all e/abli% a pilot program to aw>d ,national ,in/itute ( ,/&>ds & ,te*nology ,manufactur+ ,ext5sion ,p>tn]%ip 7,,mep7 grants to help ensure an adequately tra9$ manufactur+ work=ce4 ,"u ! program1 eligible ,c5t]s may aw>d ,,mep grants to eligible manufactur]s to reta9 retir+ employees = up to #ij days = ! purpose ( transf]r+ job-specific skills & tra9+ to exi/+ or new employees4 ,! l5g? ( ea* grant %all be det]m9$ ?r\gh negotiations betwe5 ! ,c5t] & ! eligible manufactur]4 7b7 ,eligibility ,9 ord] to be eligible to receive fund+ & aw>d grants "u ! program1 a ,c5t]-- 7#a7 mu/ be able to docum5t evid5ce ( an ag+ work=ce )9 manufactur+ firms t are seek+ assi/ance ) reta9+ skills & k ( _! op]ations2 & 7#b7 %all e/abli% a transp>5t application process = eligible manufactur+ firms t may include "o or m ( ! foll[+ pref]5ces3 7,a7 ,a pref]5ce = manufactur]s t employ vet]ans dis*>g$ or releas$ "u honorable conditions4 7,b7 ,a pref]5ce = manufactur+ firms f indu/ry sectors t are mo/ 9 ne$ ( assi/ance z det]m9$ by ! local ,,mep4 7,c7 ,a pref]5ce = manufactur+ firms ) a facility 9 ! ,/ate or region = an ext5d$ p]iod ( "t be=e ! application is submitt$ 7z det]m9$ by ! ,c5t]74 7,d7 ,a pref]5ce = manufactur+ firms t h an exi/+ relation%ip ) ! local ,,mep4 7c7 ,co/ %>+ ,/ate & local ag5cies %all provide #ej p]c5t ( ! funds aw>d$ z "p ( a grant "u ! pilot program "u ?is section4 7d7 ,numb] & size ( aw>ds 7#a7 ,numb] ,! ,secret>y may aw>d up to #bj grants to ,c5t]s "u ! pilot program4 7#b7 ,size ,ea* aw>d "u ! program %all be = n less ?an #ejj1jjj4 7e7 ,au?orization ( appropriations ,!re is au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ to ! ,national ,in/itute ( ,/&>ds & ,te*nology #bj1jjj1jjj to c>ry out ! pilot program4