text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Work Force Enhancement for 
  Technology Transfer Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDING AND PURPOSE.
  
      (a) Findings.--Congress finds and declares the following:
              (1) Skilled American workers are as essential to the 
          Nation's productivity and long-term competitiveness as are new 
          technologies. As technologies become more sophisticated and 
          computer controlled, managers and other workers in 
          manufacturing firms who are skilled in the effective 
          utilization and operation of those advanced and modern 
          technologies will become increasingly important to the Nation's 
          international competitiveness, standard of living, and national 
          security.
              (2) When United States manufacturing firms invest in 
          advanced and modern technologies, they can increase their 
          productivity and competitiveness by simultaneously investing in 
          targeted worker training for the effective utilization and 
          operation of those specific technologies.
              (3) United States manufacturing firms, particularly smaller 
          firms, are increasingly turning to the expanding technology 
          extension activities of the Department of Commerce's National 
          Institute of Standards and Technology for technical and 
          managerial assistance in order to identify and install the best 
          and most appropriate advanced and modern technologies.
              (4) With its extensive knowledge of the best available 
          technologies, the National Institute of Standards and 
          Technology, with its associated Regional Centers for the 
          Transfer of Manufacturing Technology and, when established, its 
          Manufacturing Outreach Centers, can provide training in the 
          effective utilization and operation of these technologies, can 
          promote the development of effective training materials for 
          these technologies, and can serve as a clearinghouse for 
          information on the best available training materials.
      (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to enhance the 
  international competitiveness, standard of living, and national 
  security of the United States by expanding the current technology 
  extension activities of the Department of Commerce's National Institute 
  of Standards and Technology (hereafter in this Act referred to as the 
  ``Institute'') to include worker training in the effective utilization 
  and operation of specific advanced and modern technologies.
  
  SEC. 3. WORKER TRAINING ACTIVITIES.
  
      In addition to existing responsibilities and authorities prescribed 
  by law, the Secretary of Commerce (hereafter in this Act referred to as 
  the ``Secretary''), through the Director of the Institute (hereafter in 
  this Act referred to as the ``Director''), shall direct Regional 
  Centers for the Transfer of Manufacturing Technology and, when 
  established, Manufacturing Outreach Centers, to utilize, when 
  appropriate, their expertise and capability to assist managers and 
  other workers in United States manufacturing firms in effectively 
  utilizing and operating advanced and modern technologies--
              (1) by making available assessments of the needs of United 
          States manufacturing firms for worker training in the effective 
          utilization and operation of specific technologies the firms 
          have adopted or are planning to adopt;
              (2) by making available to United States manufacturing 
          firms information on commercially and publicly provided worker 
          training services, including those provided by United States 
          sources of technologies, in the effective utilization and 
          operation of specific technologies the firms have adopted or 
          are planning to adopt; and
              (3) by making available to United States manufacturing 
          firms accessible and affordable training services for the 
          effective utilization and operation of specific technologies 
          the firms have adopted or are planning to adopt when such 
          training is not available from commercially or other publicly 
          provided training services.
  
  SEC. 4. WORKER TRAINING ANALYSIS AND INFORMATION DISSEMINATION.
  
      In addition to existing responsibilities and authorities prescribed 
  by law, the Secretary, through the Director and in consultation with 
  appropriate Federal officials and with leaders of industry and labor, 
  shall assist managers and other workers in United States manufacturing 
  firms in effectively utilizing and operating advanced and modern 
  technologies--
              (1) by establishing and managing a clearinghouse for 
          information, to be available through the National Technology 
          Transfer Center to the Regional Centers for the Transfer of 
          Manufacturing Technology, to the Manufacturing Outreach Centers 
          when they are established, to other technology training 
          entities, or directly to United States manufacturing firms, on 
          the best available training material and services for the 
          effective utilization and operation of specific advanced and 
          modern technologies;
              (2) by encouraging United States providers of advanced and 
          modern technologies for manufacturing firms to develop training 
          material specifically designed for the managers and other 
          workers responsible for utilizing and operating such 
          technologies; and
              (3) by establishing as an important criterion in the 
          assessment of advanced and modern technologies the availability 
          of training material specifically designed for the managers and 
          other workers responsible for utilizing and operating such 
          technologies.
  
  SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
  
      There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for the 
  establishment and management of a technology training clearinghouse 
  $2,000,000 for fiscal year 1994 and $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
  1995 and 1996.
target: Work Force Enhancement for Technology Transfer Act - Requires the Secretary of Commerce, through the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, to direct Regional Centers for the Transfer of Manufacturing Technology and, when established, Manufacturing Outreach Centers, to assist managers and other workers in U.S. manufacturing firms in using advanced and modern technologies, through needs assessments, information, and training services. 
  Requires the Secretary, through the Director, to assist such managers and other workers in such use by:  (1) establishing an information clearinghouse on the best available training material and services; (2) encouraging U.S. providers of such technologies for manufacturing firms to develop training material specifically designed for the managers and other workers responsible; and (3) establishing the availability of such specifically designed training material as an important criterion in assessing such technologies. 
  Authorizes appropriations for a technology training clearinghouse.
feat_title: Work Force Enhancement for Technology Transfer Act