Sec. 201 Manufacturing assistance program for small- and medium-sized manufacturers in the United States
Definitions— In this section:
Secretary— The term Secretary means the Secretary of Commerce.
Small- and medium-sized domestic manufacturers— The term small- and medium-sized domestic manufacturers means businesses—
with not more than 500 employees; and
with facilities located in the United States that mechanically, physically, or chemically transform materials, substances, or components into new goods, including component parts.
Establishment— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a manufacturing assistance program for small- and medium-sized domestic manufacturers for the purposes of promoting the manufacturing of goods in the United States and enabling those manufacturers to be competitive in the global economy by—
identifying and reducing regulatory burdens on those manufacturers under subsection (c); and
providing those manufacturers with information and other assistance under subsection (d).
Reduction of regulatory burdens— The Secretary shall—
identify any regulatory requirements applicable to small- and medium-sized domestic manufacturers that—
impose an unnecessary burden on those manufacturers; and
may be eliminated or reduced in order to promote the manufacture of goods in the United States;
take appropriate action to eliminate or reduce the regulatory requirements identified under paragraph (1); and
not later than 1 year after the date on which the Secretary establishes the program required by subsection (b), submit to Congress a report that makes recommendations with respect to action by Congress that may be necessary to eliminate or reduce the regulatory requirements identified under paragraph (1).
Assistance— The Secretary shall assist small- and medium-sized domestic manufacturers by providing those manufacturers with information with respect to—
how small- and medium-sized domestic manufacturers can comply efficiently with regulations applicable to those manufacturers;
recently proposed and recently prescribed regulations likely to have an effect on small- and medium-sized domestic manufacturers; and
how small- and medium-sized domestic manufacturers can express their views and provide input with respect to any policy developments relating to the manufacture of goods in the United States.
Report on effectiveness of program— Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall submit to Congress a report on the program established under subsection (b) that includes—
an assessment of the extent to which the program has been effective—
in identifying and reducing regulatory burdens on small- and medium-sized domestic manufacturers under subsection (c);
in providing information and other assistance to small- and medium-sized domestic manufacturers under subsection (d); and
in promoting the manufacturing of goods in the United States and enabling small- and medium-sized domestic manufacturers to be competitive in the global economy;
detailed information with respect to the nature, location, and duration of any jobs created as a result of the program established under subsection (b) and a description of the methodology used to compile that information; and
any recommendations with respect to continuing or improving the program established under subsection (b).
Authorization of appropriations— There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $15,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2017 through 2021 to carry out the program established under subsection (b).