Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Manufacturing Partnership Improvement Act”.
Manufacturing Partnership Improvement Act
A BILL
To amend the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act relating to the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership to provide for enhanced representation on the Advisory Board, better assist United States-based small manufacturers and exporters, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory Board; small manufacturers and exporters
In general— Section 25 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k) is amended—
in subsection (m)(2)(A)(ii)—
in subclause (II), by striking “and” after the semicolon;
in subclause (III), by striking the period and inserting “; and”; and
by adding at the end the following new subclause:
“(IV) at least 1 member shall represent 1 or more labor organizations (as such term is defined in section 2 of the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 152))—
“(aa) that is a national or international labor organization subject to section 401(a) of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (29 U.S.C. 481(a)) with members who are direct production employees in manufacturing establishments, as determined by the Director; or
“(bb) that participates in 1 or more training programs registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (popularly known as the “National Apprenticeship Act”; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.), for a highly skilled trade in manufacturing, as determined by the Director.”
in subsection (n)(1)—
in subparagraph (B), by striking “and” after the semicolon;
in subparagraph (C), by striking the period and inserting “; and”; and
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
“(D) to the greatest extent practicable, establish partnerships between each Center and the nearest—
“(i) regional or district offices of the Small Business Administration to provide training and guidance with respect to the application process for loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration;
“(ii) regional or district offices of the Economic Development Administration of the Department of Commerce to provide guidance in accessing relevant Federal assistance for manufacturing;
“(iii) regional offices of the Department of Labor to assist in workforce development for manufacturing; or
“(iv) U.S. Export Assistance Center established by the United States and Foreign Commercial Service of the Department of Commerce pursuant to section 2301(b)(8) of the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 (enacted as part of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 4721(b)(8))).”
Technical amendments— The National Institute of Standards and Technology Act is amended—
in section 25 (15 U.S.C. 278k)—
in subsection (a)—
by redesignating the second paragraph (7) (relating to the definition of the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership or Program), and paragraphs (8) through (11), as paragraph (8), and paragraphs (9) through (12), respectively; and
in paragraph (8), as so redesignated, by striking “established under subsection (n)” and inserting “established under subsection (m)”;
in subsection (f)(2)—
in subparagraph (D), by striking “and” after the semicolon; and
in subparagraph (E), by striking the period and inserting a semicolon; and
in subsection (m)(5)(B), by striking “and describe” through “section 23 (15 U.S.C. 278i)”; and
in section 34 (15 U.S.C. 278s)—
in subsection (e)(2)(B)(iv)(I), by inserting “a” before “renewed”; and
in subsection (j)(7)—
in subparagraph (I), by inserting “and” after the semicolon;
in subparagraph (J)—
by inserting “that are” before “additional programs”; and
by striking “; and” and inserting a period; and
by striking subparagraph (K).