National Manufacturing Advisory Council for the 21st Century Act

This bill creates a National Manufacturing Advisory Council inside the Department of Commerce. Its job is to bring the government, manufacturers, and workers together to talk regularly, spot problems like supply chain breaks, and suggest ways to keep U.S. manufacturing strong. The Council must be set up within 180 days, meet at least twice a year, and write a national plan for U.S. manufacturing every year .

Members will come from private industry (including small and medium-sized manufacturers), colleges and universities, and labor. They serve three-year terms, with possible renewals, and the public can suggest people to serve. The bill moves the work, staff, and funds of the current United States Manufacturing Council into this new Council to avoid duplication. An existing Commerce advisory group can be updated to serve as the new Council if it meets the bill’s requirements .

Key points

• Who is affected: manufacturers, manufacturing workers, community and technical colleges, workforce boards, labor groups, and communities facing job losses or economic distress.
• What changes: the Council will advise on training, worker participation in tech changes, connecting manufacturers to local training and apprenticeship programs, preventing job losses as new tech rolls out, and encouraging employee ownership where it fits .
• When: set up within 180 days of the law taking effect; first national plan due within 180 days after the first meeting, then every year; the Council ends after five years from its first meeting year .