United States Code
USC most recently checked for updates: Feb 11, 2025
The term “agency head” means the head of any Executive agency (as defined in section 105 of title 5), other than the Department of Defense.
The term “regional innovation initiative” has the meaning given such term in section 3722(f)(1) of this title.
The Secretary shall establish within the Institute a program to be known as the “Manufacturing United States of America Program” or the “Manufacturing USA Program” (referred to in this section as the “Program”).
The Secretary shall carry out the Program through the Director.
As part of the Program, the Secretary shall establish a network of Manufacturing USA institutes.
The network established under paragraph (1) shall be known as the “Manufacturing United States of America Network” or the “Manufacturing USA Network” (referred to in this section as the “Network”).
In addition to the activities set forth under subparagraph (A), a Manufacturing USA institute may carry out such other activities as may be consistent with the purposes set forth under subsection (b)(2).
Except as provided in subparagraph (C), the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute and other manufacturing institutes formally recognized as Manufacturing USA institutes pursuant to Federal law or executive actions, or under pending interagency review for such recognition as of
Except as provided in subparagraph (C), an institute that is substantially similar to an institute described by paragraphs (1) and (2) but does not meet every element of such description and does not receive financial assistance under subsection (e) may, upon request of the institute, be recognized as a Manufacturing USA institute by the Secretary for purposes of participation in the Network.
Under the Program, the Secretary and the Secretary of Energy shall, and every other agency head may, award financial assistance to a person or group of persons to assist the person or group of persons in planning, establishing, or supporting a Manufacturing USA institute.
An award of financial assistance under paragraph (1) shall be awarded for an initial period of not less than 5 years and not more than 7 years.
An award of financial assistance under paragraph (1) may be renewed for additional periods, with each period not to exceed the duration of the initial period of the award, subject to a rigorous merit review.
In carrying out a rigorous merit review under clause (i) for renewal of an award under such clause for a Manufacturing USA institute, an agency head shall consider the extent to which the institute has made progress in meeting the standards of performance established pursuant to paragraph (5)(C).
A person or group of persons seeking financial assistance under paragraph (1) shall submit to an agency head an application therefor at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the agency head may require.
The review required by subparagraph (A)(i) may not include a review by a group of individuals that includes a political appointee.
For purposes of this subparagraph, the term “political appointee” has the meaning given such term in section 714(h) of title 38.
In awarding financial assistance under paragraph (1), an agency head, in coordination with the National Program Office, as the agency head considers appropriate, may collaborate with Federal departments and agencies whose missions contribute to or are affected by advanced manufacturing, including, as the agency head considers appropriate, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Defense, the Department of Education, the Department of Energy, the Department of Labor, the Food and Drug Administration, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Science Foundation.
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), an agency head may not, with respect to a Manufacturing USA institute, award financial assistance under paragraph (1) or renew an award of financial assistance under paragraph (2) unless the agency head determines that non-Federal funding comprises 50 percent or more of the total amount of funding made available for the operation and support of the institute.
An agency head awarding financial assistance under paragraph (1) with respect to a Manufacturing USA institute may waive the requirements of subparagraph (A) in the case of satellite centers, large capital facilities, equipment purchases, workforce development, or general operations.
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.
The Secretary shall exercise authority under paragraph (1) in a manner and with requirements consistent with paragraphs (3) through (8) of subsection (e).
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 18971 of title 42.
The Secretary shall establish, within the Institute, the National Office of the Manufacturing USA Network (referred to in this section as the “National Program Office”), which shall oversee and carry out the Program.
In developing and updating the strategic plan under paragraph (2)(C), the Secretary shall solicit recommendations and advice from a wide range of stakeholders, including industry, small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises, research universities, community colleges, State, Tribal, and local governments, and other relevant organizations and institutions on an ongoing basis.
Upon completion, the Secretary shall transmit the strategic plan required under paragraph (2)(C) to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives.
Any Federal Government employee may be detailed to the National Program Office without reimbursement. Such detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege.
The National Program Office shall establish or designate a council of heads of any Manufacturing USA institute receiving Federal funding at any time to foster collaboration between Manufacturing USA institutes.
The council established or designated pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall meet not less frequently than twice each year.
The council established pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall assist the National Program Office in carrying out the functions of the National Program Office under paragraph (2).
Not less frequently than once each year until
Not less frequently than once every 3 years, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress an assessment of the operation of the Program during the most recent 3-year period, including an assessment of the progress made towards achieving the goals specified in the national strategic plan for advanced manufacturing required under section 6622(b)(7) of title 42.
No later than
The Secretary may appoint such personnel and enter into such contracts, financial assistance agreements, and other agreements as the Secretary considers necessary or appropriate to carry out the Program, including support for research and development activities involving a Manufacturing USA institute.
Of amounts available under the authority provided by subsection (g), the Secretary may transfer to other Federal agencies such sums as the Secretary considers necessary or appropriate to carry out the Program. No funds so transferred may be used to reimburse or otherwise pay for the costs of financial assistance incurred or commitments of financial assistance made prior to
In the event that the Secretary exercises the authority to transfer funds to another agency under paragraph (2), such agency may accept such funds to award and administer, under the same conditions and constraints applicable to the Secretary, all aspects of financial assistance awards under this section.
In furtherance of the purposes of the Program, the Secretary may use, with the consent of a covered entity and with or without reimbursement, the land, services, equipment, personnel, and facilities of such covered entity.
In addition to amounts appropriated to carry out the Program, the Secretary may accept funds, services, equipment, personnel, and facilities from any covered entity to carry out the Program, subject to the same conditions and constraints otherwise applicable to the Secretary under this section and such funds may only be obligated to the extent provided for in advance by appropriations Acts.
For purposes of this subsection, a covered entity is any Federal department, Federal agency, instrumentality of the United States, State, local government, Tribal government, territory, or possession of the United States, or of any political subdivision thereof, or international organization, or any public or private entity or individual.
Chapter 18 of title 35 shall apply to any funding agreement (as defined in section 201 of that title) awarded to new or existing Manufacturing USA institutes with respect to which financial assistance is awarded under subsection (e).
Any reference in law, regulation, map, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the “Network for Manufacturing Innovation Program”, the “Network for Manufacturing Innovation”, “National Office of the Network for Manufacturing Innovation Program”, or a “center for manufacturing innovation” shall be considered to be a reference to the Manufacturing USA Program, the Manufacturing USA Network, the National Office of the Manufacturing USA Network, or a Manufacturing USA institute, respectively.