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TITLE VIII--ACQUISITION POLICY, ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT, AND RELATED MATTERS

Subtitle E—Provisions Relating to Supply Chain Security

P. L. 117-81

Joint Explanatory Statement

(a) Report Required.--Not later than March 1, 2023, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, in coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the Manufacturing Engineering Education Program established under section 2196 of title 10, United States Code (referred to in this section as the ``Program'').

(b) Elements.--The report required under subsection (a) shall include the following elements for the Program:

(1) A summary of activities conducted, and grants or awards made, during the previous fiscal year.

(2) The extent to which the Program can be modified to improve collaboration among institutions of higher education, career and technical education programs, workforce development boards, labor organizations, and organizations representing defense industrial base contractors to focus on career pathways for individuals seeking careers in manufacturing.

(3) An assessment of the benefits and costs of enhancing or expanding the Program to include individuals attending secondary schools and career and technical education programs not considered institutions of higher education.

(4) Recommendations for legislative changes or other incentives that could improve career pathways for individuals seeking careers in manufacturing, particularly in support of the defense industrial base.

(5) Other related matters the Secretary deems appropriate.

(c) Definitions.--In this section:

(1) The term ``career and technical education'' has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302).

(2) The term ``defense industrial base contractor'' means a prime contractor or subcontractor (at any tier) in the defense industrial base.

(3) The term ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given such term in section 1001 of title 20, United States Code.

(4) The term ``labor organization'' has the meaning given such term in section 2 of the National Labor Relations Act (29 14 U.S.C. 152).

(5) The term ``workforce development board'' means a State board or a local board, as such terms are defined in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).

The House bill contained a provision (sec. 844) that would require the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment to establish and manage a coalition of educational institutions, labor organizations, and organizations of defense industrial base contractors to encourage manufacturing career pathway development. The provision would also require the Under Secretary, not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and in coordination with the established coalition, to provide to the congressional defense committees a report to include: (1) The results of any current cooperative education programs of the Defense laboratories; (2) An assessment of whether such programs could be expanded; and (3) Whether incentive contracts are required to encourage the development of manufacturing career pathways.

The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.

The agreement includes the House provision with an amendment that would require the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, in coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, to submit a report to the congressional defense committees not later March 1, 2023, on the Manufacturing Engineering Education Program.

H. R. 4350--House Report 117-118

Section 844--Defense Industrial Base Coalition for Career Development

This section would require the establishment of a coalition among covered institutions of higher education, career and technical education programs, workforce development boards, labor organizations, and organizations representing defense industrial base contractors to focus on career pathways for individuals seeking careers in manufacturing as well as a report on current efforts and offer recommendations.