To clarify the fiscal year 2004 funding level for a National Institute of Standards and Technology account.

SA 3355. Mr. REED (for himself and Mr. Kohl) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 2400, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2005 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Services, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

On page 280, after line 22, insert the following:

SEC. 1068. MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP FUNDING.

(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:

(1) More than 13 percent of Army and Navy aircraft are grounded at any one time due to problems in defense supply chains that prevent timely availability of parts necessary for the maintenance and repair of such aircraft.

(2) Problems in defense supply chains comprise the predominant cause of chronic shortages of parts needed for Navy aircraft.

(3) Because firms with fewer than 500 employees comprise more than 80 percent of the defense supply chains, programs that improve the performance of the defense supply chains can also improve the readiness of the Army and Navy to protect the national security interests of the United States.

(4) The Manufacturing Extension Partnership of the National Institute of Standards and Technology is active within United States defense supply chains to assist small sub-tier suppliers to reduce costs, boost productivity, and accelerate deliveries.

(5) Large suppliers have expressed reliance on the Manufacturing Extension Partnership to promote improvements in the cost and quality of products of the small manufacturing firms on which they rely for component parts and assemblies.

(b) Funding of MEP Centers and Offices.--The Secretary of Commerce shall use funds from the working capital fund established under section 301 of the Act of June 28, 1944 (58 Stat. 415; 15 U.S.C 1521) for rent, utilities, and information technology payments for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership centers and offices established under section 25 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k).

(c) Prohibition on Reimbursement.--The working capital fund referred to in subsection (b) may not be reimbursed from any source for amounts transferred or disbursed from the working capital fund under that subsection.

(d) Period of Applicability.--This section shall take effect as of October 1, 2003. The requirement under subsection (b) shall terminate at the end of September 30, 2004.

SEC. 1069. CLARIFICATION OF FISCAL YEAR 2004 FUNDING LEVEL FOR A NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY ACCOUNT.

For the purposes of applying sections 204 and 605 of the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004 (division B of Public Law 108-199) to matters in title II of such Act under the heading “National Institute of Standards and Technology” (118 Stat.69), in the account under the heading “industrial technology services”, the Secretary of Commerce shall make all determinations based on the Industrial Technology Services funding level of $218,782,000 for reprogramming and transferring of funds for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program and shall submit such a reprogramming or transfer, as the case may be, to the appropriate committees within 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.