118th CONGRESS 2d Session |
To require the Secretary of Commerce to produce a report that provides recommendations to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of Department of Commerce programs related to supply chain resilience and manufacturing and industrial innovation, and for other purposes.
June 7, 2024
Mr. Higgins of Louisiana introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
To require the Secretary of Commerce to produce a report that provides recommendations to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of Department of Commerce programs related to supply chain resilience and manufacturing and industrial innovation, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
This Act may be cited as the “Strengthening Support for American Manufacturing Act”.
SEC. 2. Report on Department of Commerce programs related to critical supply chain resilience and manufacturing and industrial innovation.
(a) In general.—Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall produce a report that—
(1) identifies offices and bureaus of the Department of Commerce with responsibilities related to—
(A) critical supply chain resilience; and
(B) manufacturing and industrial innovation;
(2) identifies the duties, responsibilities, programs, and expertise relevant to critical supply chain resilience and manufacturing and industrial innovation of each covered office and bureau;
(3) identifies and assesses the purpose, statutory authority, effectiveness, efficiency, and limitations of each covered office and bureau;
(4) identifies gaps between offices or bureaus with duplicative duties, responsibilities, programs, and expertise within the Department of Commerce that are implementing activities related to critical supply chain resilience and manufacturing and industrial innovation; and
(5) provides recommendations to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of each covered office and bureau, including recommendations to—
(A) optimize operations within or across covered offices and bureaus;
(B) improve coordination across covered offices and bureaus; and
(C) improve coordination with Federal agencies implementing similar activities related to critical supply chain resilience and manufacturing and industrial innovation.
(b) National Academy of Public Administration.—The Secretary shall contract with the National Academy of Public Administration in producing the report under subsection (a).
(c) Submission to Congress.—Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Secretary produces the report under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress—
(1) the report produced under subsection (a);
(2) recommendations for potential legislative action addressing recommendations in the report produced under subsection (a); and
(3) a response from the Secretary to the recommendations included in the report produced under subsection (a).
(d) Definitions.—In this section:
(1) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS.—The term “appropriate committees of Congress” means—
(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.
(2) COVERED OFFICES AND BUREAUS.—The term “covered offices and bureaus” means offices and bureaus of the Department of Commerce identified under subsection (a)(1).
(3) CRITICAL SUPPLY CHAIN.—The term “critical supply chain” means an end-to-end system that converts raw materials into finished products in critical sectors, including in—
(A) the defense industrial base;
(B) the public health and biological preparedness industrial base;
(C) the information and communications technology industrial base;
(D) the energy sector industrial base;
(E) the transportation industrial base; and
(F) agricultural supply chains.
(4) CRITICAL SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCE.—The term “critical supply chain resilience” means mitigating gaps and vulnerabilities in critical supply chains, including by—
(A) reducing risk of malicious sabotage or external or internal manipulation; and
(B) improving the ability to withstand supply chain interruptions such as logistical challenges and workforce, materials, equipment, or product shortages.
(5) MANUFACTURING AND INDUSTRIAL INNOVATION.—The term “manufacturing and industrial innovation” means—
(A) providing assistance, resources, or services to manufacturers or manufacturing workers in the United States;
(B) offering expertise, improvements, research and development, or other assistance in technological innovations or advanced manufacturing in partnership with or for use by manufacturers in the United States; or
(C) developing policy that substantially impacts the manufacturing sector in the United States.
(6) SECRETARY.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Commerce.