The "Defend American Manufacturing Act" ensures the continuation of the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership, providing support to manufacturers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
Sharice Davids
Representative
KS-3
The "Defend American Manufacturing Act" aims to bolster American manufacturing by mandating the Department of Commerce to support manufacturing extension centers in every state and Puerto Rico. This is achieved through the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership, contingent on congressional funding. The bill amends existing legislation to ensure the continuation of this program, reinforcing the commitment to supporting manufacturers nationwide.
Mandatory Manufacturing Help? New Bill Requires Support Centers Nationwide, But Congress Holds the Wallet
The Defend American Manufacturing Act locks in a government program designed to help US manufacturers. Starting in fiscal year 2025, it requires the Commerce Department, through the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), to keep the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) running by competing for, renewing, and awarding support centers in all 50 states plus Puerto Rico. Think of MEP as a network offering expertise to help local factories stay competitive.
The Big Switch: From 'Maybe' to 'Must-Do'
The key move here is changing one word in the existing law (Section 25(e)(1) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act): "may" becomes "shall." Sounds small, right? But it means running this program and setting up these centers isn't just allowed anymore; it's required by the Commerce Department via NIST. This signals a stronger federal commitment to providing this kind of manufacturing support consistently across the country, taking away some guesswork about if the program will continue year to year—assuming the money is there.
So, What Do These Centers Actually Do?
Imagine a small company making specialized parts or maybe a local food producer. MEP centers are designed to be like their on-call experts. They aim to help these businesses – often small or medium-sized – figure out how to improve processes, adopt new technology, train workers, or even reach new markets. Section 2 specifies these centers should operate under Section 25 of the NIST Act, which outlines their role in providing technical assistance. It's about giving manufacturers practical tools and advice to boost efficiency and competitiveness, which can ripple out into local jobs and economies.
The Catch: Show Me the Money
Here’s the reality check spelled out in Section 2: that mandatory requirement? It only kicks in if Congress actually appropriates funds for the MEP program each year under the Department of Commerce—National Institute of Standards and Technology—Industrial Technology Services heading. The bill makes the intent clear – keep this program going everywhere – but the action still depends entirely on annual budget decisions. So, while the law says "shall," the program's future and scale ultimately rest on whether Congress writes the check year after year.