Bill > HR2832

This bill directs the Secretary of Commerce to continue operating the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), a program that supports manufacturing businesses across the United States, in fiscal year 2025 and subsequent years. Specifically, the bill requires the Secretary, through the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), to competitively renew and award MEP centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, provided that Congress appropriates funding for the program. The bill also makes a technical amendment to the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act, changing the language from "may" to "shall" in a key section, which strengthens the mandate for the program's implementation. The Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership is a federal program designed to help small and mid-sized manufacturers improve their competitiveness by providing technical assistance, technology acceleration, and business transformation services. By ensuring the program's continued operation, the bill aims to support American manufacturing businesses and enhance their ability to innovate and grow.

Business and Industry

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2832/all-info