SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Manufacturing Advisory Council 
Establishment Act of 2004''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Manufacturing is a critical component of the economy of 
        the United States.
            (2) A strong manufacturing sector is important to 
        maintaining a desirable standard of living for all United 
        States citizens.
            (3) United States manufacturers can compete globally as 
        long as they are not subjected to anti-competitive trade 
        practices.
            (4) The United States manufacturing industry is presently 
        facing many challenges, both domestic and international.
            (5) The President would benefit from regular, informed 
        advice from a variety of sources within the Unites States 
        manufacturing sector, including representatives of small and 
        mid-sized businesses, on policies that affect manufacturing.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT.

    There is established a council to be known as the ``President's 
Council of Advisors on Manufacturing''.

SEC. 4. DUTIES.

    The duties of the Council shall be--
            (1) to advise the President on policy matters affecting the 
        domestic manufacturing sector;
            (2) to assist in the development of policies that will--
                    (A) reduce production costs within the 
                manufacturing sector,
                    (B) promote the competitiveness of products 
                manufactured in the United States in international 
                markets,
                    (C) encourage innovation, investment, and 
                productivity in the manufacturing sector, and
                    (D) ensure an adequate supply of skilled workers in 
                the manufacturing sector; and
            (3) to assist the Secretary of Commerce in securing private 
        sector involvement for Department of Commerce activities.

SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP.

    (a) Number and Appointment.--The Council shall be composed of 25 
members appointed by the President as follows:
            (1) 1 member shall be an officer or employee of the Federal 
        Government.
            (2) 24 members shall be individuals who--
                    (A) are not officers or employees of the Federal 
                Government;
                    (B) have expertise in manufacturing; and
                    (C) represent businesses of various sizes and 
                industries within the manufacturing sector.
    (b) Continuation of Membership.--If a member was appointed to the 
Council as an officer or employee of the Federal Government and the 
member ceases to be an officer or employee of the Federal Government, 
or was appointed to the Council because the member was not an officer 
or employee of the Federal Government and later becomes an officer or 
employee of the Federal Government, that member may continue as a 
member for not longer than the 90-day period beginning on the date that 
the member ceases to be an officer or employee of the Federal 
Government, or becomes such an officer or employee, as the case may be.
    (c) Terms.--
            (1) In general.--Each member shall be appointed for a term 
        of 2 years, except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3).
            (2) Terms of initial appointees.--As designated by the 
        President at the time of appointment, of the members first 
        appointed--
                    (A) 8 shall be appointed for terms of 4 years;
                    (B) 8 shall be appointed for terms of 3 years;
                    (C) 8 shall be appointed for terms of 2 years; and
                    (D) the member appointed under subsection (a)(1) 
                shall be appointed for a term of 2 years.
            (3) Vacancies.--Any member appointed to fill a vacancy 
        occurring before the expiration of the term for which the 
        member's predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only for 
        the remainder of that term. A member may serve after the 
        expiration of that member's term until a successor has taken 
        office.
    (d) Deadline for Appointment.--The appointments of the members of 
the Council shall be made no later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.
    (e) Co-chairs.--The co-chairs of the Council shall be the member 
appointed under subsection (a)(1) and one member appointed under 
subsection (a)(2) who is designated by the President at the time of 
appointment.
    (f) Meetings.--
            (1) First meeting.--The Council shall hold its first 
        meeting on a date designated by the co-chairs which is not 
        later than 30 days after the date on which all members have 
        been appointed.
            (2) Subsequent meetings.--After the first meeting, the 
        Council shall meet at least semi-annually upon the call of the 
        co-chairs.
    (g) No Compensation for Service.--The members shall serve on the 
Council without compensation.
    (h) Travel Expenses.--Each member shall receive travel expenses, 
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with 
applicable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, 
United States Code.

SEC. 6. POWERS OF THE COUNCIL.

    (a) Information and Advice.--As the Council finds appropriate, the 
Council may seek information and advice from persons who are not 
members of the Council.
    (b) Obtaining Official Data.--The Council may secure directly from 
any agency of the United States information necessary to enable it to 
carry out this Act. Upon the request of either co-chair, the head of 
that department or agency shall furnish that information to the 
Council.
    (c) Mails.--The Council may use the United States mails in the same 
manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies 
of the United States.

SEC. 7. ADMINISTRATION.

    (a) Expenses.--Any expenses incurred by the Council shall be paid 
from the funds available to the Assistant Secretary of Commerce 
responsible for manufacturing and services, as determined by the 
Secretary of Commerce.
    (b) Administrative Services.--The Assistant Secretary of Commerce 
responsible for manufacturing and services, as determined by the 
Secretary of Commerce, shall provide any administrative support 
services required by the Council.

SEC. 8. NO TERMINATION.

    Section 14(a)(2)(B) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
App.; relating to the termination of advisory committees) shall not 
apply to the Council.
Manufacturing Advisory Council Establishment Act of 2004 - Establishes the President's Council of Advisors on Manufacturing to: (1) advise the President on policy matters affecting the domestic manufacturing sector; (2) develop policies that will reduce manufacturing production costs, promote the international competitiveness of U.S.-manufactured products, encourage innovation, investment and productivity in the manufacturing sector, and ensure an adequate supply of skilled manufacturing workers; and (3) assist the Secretary of Commerce in securing private sector involvement for Department of Commerce activities.

States that provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act relating to the termination of advisory committees shall not apply to the Council.
{"src": "billsum_test", "title": "To establish the President's Council of Advisors on Manufacturing."}