S2318-119

What This Bill Does

The bill changes the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act so Manufacturing USA updates its program strategic plan on a four-year cycle that matches the National Strategy for Advanced Manufacturing. The intent is to make the network's technology-transfer, workforce, and institute priorities follow the national strategy rather than operating on a separate three-year planning calendar.

Who Benefits and How

Manufacturing USA program offices benefit because their program plan would sync with the federal advanced-manufacturing strategy they are expected to implement. Advanced manufacturing manufacturers benefit from more predictable alignment between federal institute priorities and national strategy updates. NIST manufacturing staff benefit from a planning cadence that reduces duplicative off-cycle updates. Workforce training partners benefit when Manufacturing USA priorities and national manufacturing strategy are updated together.

Who Bears the Burden and How

NIST program managers must revise statutory planning documents and cross-references for the Manufacturing USA program. Interagency manufacturing strategy offices must coordinate their four-year national strategy updates with Manufacturing USA planning. Congressional oversight committees must track the new update cadence when reviewing Manufacturing USA performance. Manufacturing USA institutes may need to adjust internal planning calendars to match the four-year federal strategy cycle.

Key Provisions

• Removes the requirement to update the Manufacturing USA strategic plan at least every three years.
• Requires updates at least every four years so they align with the National Strategy for Advanced Manufacturing.
• Amends related NIST Act cross-references so reports and assessments cover both the original plan and future updates.
• Provides a timing-only change while keeping the substantive Manufacturing USA program, institute network, and strategic-plan duties in place.