S.Amdt. 5675

SA 5675. Mr. COONS (for himself and Mr. Tillis) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 5499 submitted by Mr. Reed (for himself and Mr. Inhofe) and intended to be proposed to the bill H.R. 7900, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2023 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the appropriate place in title X, insert the following:

SEC. ___. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR CONSTRUCTION OF TEST BEDS AND SPECIALIZED FACILITIES.

Section 34 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278s) is amended--

(1) by redesignating subsections (f) through (l) as subsections (g) through (m), respectively; and

(2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following:

“(f) Authority to Award Financial Assistance for Construction of Test Beds and Specialized Facilities.--

“(1) In general.--The Secretary may, acting through the Director, award financial assistance for the construction of test beds and specialized facilities by Manufacturing USA institutes established or supported under subsection (e) as the Secretary considers appropriate to carry out the purposes of the Program.

“(2) Requirements.--The Secretary shall exercise authority under paragraph (1) in a manner and with requirements consistent with paragraphs (3) through (6) and paragraph (8) of subsection (e).

“(3) Priority.--The Secretary shall establish preferences in selection criteria for proposals for financial assistance under this subsection from Manufacturing USA institutes that integrate as active members one or more covered entities as described in section 10262 of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (Public Law 117-167).”.