Sponsors (5)
The bill increases predictability and accountability for NIST actions and helps preserve MEP services and jobs when Congress funds them, but it depends on annual appropriations and may shift costs and operational strain onto taxpayers and NIST, creating funding uncertainty and potential resource or compliance problems.
Small manufacturers and small-business owners, and the state and local economies that support them (including rural communities), can retain access to MEP technical assistance and related center operations and jobs when Congress appropriates funds for the program.
Researchers, industry partners, and state programs gain clearer, more predictable implementation because NIST is required to carry out the activity in §278K(e)(1), improving planning and coordination for programs tied to that action.
Turning a discretionary NIST authority into an obligation increases accountability and reduces administrative uncertainty, enabling clearer oversight and enforcement of the required activity.
Small businesses, rural communities, and state programs face the risk of losing MEP support and related jobs if Congress does not appropriate funds in a given year, because continuation of centers is conditional on annual funding.
Requiring NIST to perform the specified activity may increase workload and administrative burden without additional funding, potentially diverting staff, delaying other projects, and reducing NIST's flexibility to prioritize higher‑priority work.
Taxpayers could bear continued federal spending to support MEP centers if Congress appropriates funds each year.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Continues the MEP program and requires NIST to competitively award and maintain centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico when Congress provides appropriations, making one duty mandatory.
Introduced April 10, 2025 by Sharice Davids · Last progress April 10, 2025
Continues the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program starting in fiscal year 2025 and each year thereafter, but only if Congress provides annual appropriations. Requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), through its director, to competitively award, renew, and maintain MEP centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico when funds are provided, and changes one provision from permissive to mandatory so that NIST must carry out that duty when appropriations are available.