| 3.23.22

Revitalizing American Manufacturing (H.R. 2996)

Do you support or oppose this bill?

What is H.R. 2996?

(Updated July 18, 2017)

This bill directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a Network for Manufacturing Innovation Program (NMIP). This program, dictated within the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST), would be for:

Improving the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturing and boosting domestic production.
Stimulating U.S. leadership in advanced manufacturing research, innovation, and technology.
Accelerating the development of an advanced manufacturing workforce.

The Secretary would be required to set up a network of centers of technology innovation, and award financial assistance to help with planning, establishing, or supporting such centers.

H.R. 2996 would also establish a national NMIP office to:

Oversee the Program, and bring stakeholders together.
Build formal relationships with other federal agencies whose missions contribute to or are affected by advanced manufacturing.
Develop and periodically update a strategic plan for the program.
Establish procedures to maximize cooperation & coordination with other federal agencies.
Create a clearinghouse of public information related to NMIP activities.

The Secretary would also be required to incorporate the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership into NMIP planning to ensure the Program includes & bolsters small and medium-sized businesses. This bill will establish a fund in the Treasury to support the NMIP.

Argument in favor

There is a skills gap holding back American manufacturing, and a new government program aimed at eliminating it will make a positive impact.

Argument opposed

The federal government has funded similar programs in the past. Innovation in advanced manufacturing comes from the private sector.

Impact

Workers in the manufacturing industry, participants in the NMIP & NIST, related federal agencies, the Secretary of Commerce, and Department of Commerce.

Cost of H.R. 2996

A CBO analysis of this bill’s companion in the Senate (S.1468) estimates that implementing this bill would cost $265 million between 2015-2019. It could affect direct spending and increase this number, but the effects of this are projected to be insignificant.

Additional Info

In-Depth:

According to the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the manufacturing industry contributed $2.08 trillion to the U.S. economy in 2013 — up $50 billion from the prior year. The NAM also reported that for every $1.00 spent on manufacturing, $1.32 is added to economic output. Based on that ratio of growth, the $265 million of spending this bill authorizes between 2015-2019 it would add about $70 million per year to the U.S. economy.