[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3340 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3340
To create jobs, increase energy efficiency, and promote technology
transfer, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 11, 2010
Mr. Udall of New Mexico introduced the following bill; which was read
twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To create jobs, increase energy efficiency, and promote technology
transfer, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``NIST Grants for Energy Efficiency,
New Job Opportunities, and Business Solutions Act of 2010'' or the
``NIST GREEN JOBS Act of 2010''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Over its 20-year existence, the Hollings Manufacturing
Extension Partnership Program has proven its value to
manufacturers as demonstrated by the resulting impact on jobs
and the economies of all 50 States and the Nation as a whole.
(2) The Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Program has helped thousands of companies reinvest in
themselves through process improvement and business growth
initiatives leading to more sales, new markets, and the
adoption of technology to deliver new products and services.
(3) Manufacturing is an increasingly important part of the
construction sector as the industry moves to the use of more
components and factory built sub-assemblies.
(4) Construction practices must become more efficient and
precise if the United States is to construct and renovate its
building stock to reduce related carbon emissions to levels
that are consistent with combating global warming.
(5) Many companies involved in construction are small,
without access to innovative manufacturing techniques, and
could benefit from the type of training and business analysis
activities that the Manufacturing Extension Partnership
routinely provides to the Nation's manufacturers and their
supply chains.
(6) Broadening the competitiveness grant program under
section 25(f) of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k(f)) could help develop and
diffuse knowledge necessary to capture a large portion of the
estimated $100 billion dollars or more in energy savings if
buildings in the United States met the level and quality of
energy efficiency now found in buildings in certain other
countries.
(7) It is therefore in the national interest to expand the
capabilities of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership to be
supportive of the construction and green energy industries.
SEC. 3. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY COMPETITIVE
GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 25(f)(3) of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k(f)(3)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``to develop'' in the first sentence and
inserting ``to add capabilities to the MEP program, including
the development of''; and
(2) by striking the last sentence and inserting ``These
themes--
``(A) shall be related to projects designed to
increase the viability both of traditional
manufacturing sectors and other sectors, such as
construction, that increasingly rely on manufacturing
through the use of manufactured components and
manufacturing techniques, including supply chain
integration and quality management;
``(B) shall be related to projects related to the
transfer of technology based on the technological needs
of manufacturers and available technologies from
institutions of higher education, laboratories, and
other technology producing entities; and
``(C) may extend beyond these traditional areas to
include projects related to construction industry
modernization.''.
(b) Selection.--Section 25(f)(5) of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k(f)(5)) is amended to read
as follows:
``(5) Selection.--Awards under this section shall be peer
reviewed and competitively awarded. The Director shall endeavor
to select at least one proposal in each of the 9 statistical
divisions of the United States (as designated by the Bureau of
the Census). The Director shall select proposals to receive
awards that will--
``(A) create jobs or train newly hired employees;
``(B) promote technology transfer and
commercialization of environmentally focused materials,
products, and processes;
``(C) increase energy efficiency; and
``(D) improve the competitiveness of industries in
the region in which the Center or Centers are
located.''.
(c) Other Modifications.--Section 25(f) of the National Institute
of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k(f)) is amended--
(1) by adding at the end the following:
``(7) Duration.--Awards under this section shall last no
longer than 3 years.
``(8) Eligible participants.--In addition to manufacturing
firms eligible to participate in the Centers program, awards
under this subsection may be used by the Centers to assist
small or medium-sized construction firms.
``(9) Authorization of appropriations.--In addition to any
amounts otherwise authorized or appropriated to carry out this
section, there are authorized to be appropriated to the
Secretary of Commerce $7,000,000 for each of the fiscal years
2011 through 2014 to carry out this subsection.''.
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