Defend American Manufacturing Act
The Defend American Manufacturing Act would require the Department of Commerce, through the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), to continue operating the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) and to ensure centers are competitively renewed and awarded in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. The bill ties this ongoing operation to annual appropriations under the specific NIST Industrial Technology Services heading; if Congress does not appropriate for a given fiscal year, the requirement does not apply for that year. Additionally, the bill changes the relevant statute to remove discretionary language, replacing a “may” with a mandatory “shall,” thereby creating a statutory obligation to continue the MEP. The overall aim is to bolster domestic manufacturing competitiveness by ensuring consistent access to MEP services nationwide.
Key Points
- 1Continuation and expansion: Requires the Secretary of Commerce (via NIST) to compete, renew, and award Hollings MEP centers in every state and Puerto Rico each fiscal year, so long as appropriations are enacted.
- 2Funding linkage: The ongoing operation is contingent on yearly appropriations under the Department of Commerce—NIST—Industrial Technology Services heading for the Hollings MEP.
- 3Competitive process for centers: Centers must be selected and renewed under section 25 of the NIST Act, consistent with that statutory framework.
- 4Statutory change: Amends 15 U.S.C. 278K(e)(1) to replace “may” with “shall,” creating a mandatory obligation to operate the MEP.
- 5Policy intent: Part of broader efforts to defend and strengthen American manufacturing by ensuring sustained access to technical and business assistance for small- to medium-sized manufacturers.