Overview
Title
To improve the commercialization of Federal research by domestic manufacturers, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
The Invent Here, Make Here Act of 2024 wants to help more people in America make and sell cool things that come from new ideas. It asks important folks to make a list of companies they can work with and look at what's stopping these ideas from getting made.
Summary AI
The Invent Here, Make Here Act of 2024 is aimed at enhancing the commercialization of federal research by domestic manufacturers in the United States. The bill mandates the National Institute of Standards and Technology to collaborate with various federal agencies and create a publicly accessible database of American manufacturers. It also requires a comprehensive review of barriers hindering the commercialization process and provides recommendations to improve it. Additionally, the bill amends current laws to prioritize U.S. industry in the production of federally funded research products and sets conditions for waivers to this preference.
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AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The proposed legislation, known as the “Invent Here, Make Here Act of 2024,” seeks to enhance the commercialization of Federal research by domestic manufacturers in the United States. It proposes amendments to existing laws with the goal of ensuring that inventions resulting from federally funded research are largely produced within the country. By coordinating with various government agencies and creating infrastructure, such as a public database of manufacturers, the bill aims to stimulate economic activity and innovation within U.S. borders. Additionally, the bill includes mandates for studies on the barriers to commercialization, preferences for U.S.-based manufacturing, and amendments that emphasize domestic production all within a strategic federal framework.
Summary of Significant Issues
The bill presents several issues, both in terms of its language and potential implications:
Ambiguity and Broad Terminology: Terms such as "country of concern" and "manufactured substantially in the United States" are broad and lack clear definitions. This could potentially result in inconsistent application and legal challenges regarding what qualifies as substantial manufacturing or which countries are of concern.
Protectionist Policies: The emphasis on domestic production and manufacturing may be perceived as protectionist. This could affect international trade agreements and relationships, as well as limit more cost-effective manufacturing opportunities outside the U.S.
Lack of Clear Guidelines: The process for selecting domestic manufacturers and investors is not clearly defined, opening the door to potential favoritism or lack of transparency. This could lead to unfair advantages for certain companies.
Complex Waiver Procedures: The procedures for granting waivers to manufacturing requirements are intricate, involving multiple agencies and requiring Presidential approval in certain cases. This could lead to bureaucratic delays and inefficiencies.
Financial Concerns: The bill lacks a specified budget for some of its mandates, such as the comprehensive review of the commercialization process, which could result in cost overruns or inadequate execution.
Impact on the Public and Stakeholders
Broad Public Impact:
Economic Stimulus: By encouraging domestic manufacturing, the bill could potentially stimulate job creation and economic growth within the U.S. However, the economic benefits may be delayed due to the lengthy timelines proposed for studies and reviews.
Innovation Incentives: Enhanced commercialization efforts for federal research could lead to accelerated innovations benefiting various sectors, including healthcare, technology, and education.
Potential Cost Increases: Domestic manufacturing might lead to higher production costs compared to overseas alternatives, potentially resulting in higher prices for consumers.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders:
Domestic Manufacturers: U.S.-based manufacturers may benefit from increased demand for their services, stimulated by federal research commercialization. This could lead to growth opportunities and expanded business operations.
Small Businesses and Nonprofits: These groups could face significant hurdles due to the stringent manufacturing requirements and complex processes for waivers. Navigating these bureaucratic requirements might prove challenging without sufficient resources or expertise.
Federal Agencies: Agencies tasked with implementing the bill face increased responsibilities, potentially leading to resource strain and operational challenges, especially if they do not receive additional funding or guidance.
International Relations: The bill's emphasis on domestic production might strain international partnerships or collaborations, especially with countries that could be classified as "of concern," affecting transnational research and development efforts.
Overall, while the bill has the potential to strengthen the U.S. manufacturing sector and promote technological innovation, it also carries risks of inefficiency and international friction if its language and implementation are not carefully managed.
Issues
The sections regarding 'Preference for United States industry' in Sections 4 and 204 present potential legal and ethical issues due to the use of broad and potentially ambiguous terms such as 'country of concern' and 'manufactured substantially in the United States,' which could lead to inconsistent applications and might unintentionally favor certain companies over others (Sections 4, 204).
The amendments emphasizing domestic production in Sections 2 and 5 might raise political and ethical concerns as they suggest protectionist policies that could affect international trade relationships and possibly limit cost-effective manufacturing opportunities abroad (Sections 2, 5).
The lack of clear criteria or guidelines in Section 2 for identifying domestic manufacturers and investors could lead to favoritism or lack of transparency in the selection process, raising ethical and legal concerns (Section 2).
The procedures for granting waivers from the 'Preference for United States industry' requirements involve complex inter-agency processes and require Presidential authorization under certain circumstances, which could lead to delays and potential legal challenges (Section 4).
There is a potential financial issue in Section 3 as it lacks a specified budget or resources for conducting a comprehensive review of Federal research commercialization, which might lead to cost overruns or inadequate funding (Section 3).
The complexity and potential redundancy in coordination responsibilities described in Section 5 and others could result in bureaucratic inefficiencies and financial concerns due to overlapping tasks without clear directives on implementation (Sections 2, 5).
The timeline of 540 days for the completion of the study and comprehensive review outlined in Section 3 might result in significant delays in implementing necessary changes and improvements, affecting the public and private sectors financially and strategically (Section 3).
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section states that the name of the act is the “Invent Here, Make Here Act of 2023”.
2. Improvement of commercialization of Federal research by domestic manufacturers Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The amendment to the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act aims to boost the commercialization of Federal research by domestic manufacturers. It directs the Director to collaborate with various organizations and officials to identify and support manufacturers and investors who can turn Federal research into commercial products made in the United States.
3. Study and comprehensive review of commercialization of Federal research by domestic manufacturers Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The text describes a requirement for the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to study how U.S. manufacturers can better use federal research to improve manufacturing. The study will highlight existing barriers, the role of investments, and suggest changes to plans that support transferring federal research to manufacturers. A report will then be submitted to relevant Senate and House committees.
4. Preference for United States industry Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section amends a part of U.S. law to ensure that small businesses or nonprofits that own certain inventions agree to have products using those inventions manufactured mostly in the United States. It allows for exceptions if licensing efforts fail or domestic production isn't possible, as long as the waiver process follows specific guidelines and keeps sensitive information private. Waivers cannot be granted if the manufacturing would end up in countries that pose security concerns.
204. Preference for United States industry Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section establishes a preference that any products invented with U.S. government funding must be made mostly in the United States. If a small business or nonprofit cannot find someone to manufacture these inventions in the U.S., they can ask for a waiver, but the government will not allow the products to be made in countries that could pose a security threat, and each waiver decision must be reported to Congress annually.
5. Amendments to the Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The amendments to the Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships focus on ensuring that products developed through its research are manufactured in the United States. They aim to boost U.S. manufacturing capacity, support domestic production, and maximize the economic benefits by producing innovations locally for the global market.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section explains that the official name of the law is the "Invent Here, Make Here Act of 2024."
2. Improvement of commercialization of Federal research by domestic manufacturers Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section amends the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act to enhance the commercialization of Federal research by U.S. manufacturers. It directs the Director to coordinate with government and industry leaders to identify suitable manufacturers and investors, and to maintain a public database of manufacturers capable of bringing federally funded research to market.
3. Study and comprehensive review of commercialization of Federal research by domestic manufacturers Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section mandates that the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology conduct a thorough study on how domestic manufacturers can better commercialize research funded by the federal government. This includes identifying existing barriers, evaluating the role of investors, and providing recommendations to improve the process. The findings must be reported to specific Senate and House committees.
4. Preference for United States industry Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The text proposes an amendment to U.S. Code ensuring that small businesses and nonprofits that receive an invention under federal funding prioritize manufacturing in the U.S. It allows waivers in specific conditions but requires presidential approval for waivers that lead to manufacturing in certain foreign countries, and mandates annual reports to Congress about waiver requests and manufacturing plans.
204. Preference for United States industry Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section establishes a preference for manufacturing products based on certain inventions in the United States, requiring that small businesses or nonprofit organizations seek to have such products made in the U.S. before granting exclusive rights. Federal agencies can waive this requirement if domestic manufacturing isn't feasible, but they need presidential approval if the manufacturing would occur significantly in countries of concern. An annual report to specific congressional committees is also mandated, ensuring confidentiality of sensitive information.
5. Amendments to the Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The amendments to the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act ensure that products developed with government-funded research are encouraged to be manufactured in the United States, with the aim of boosting domestic production and economic benefits. The changes specify that the development of industrial capacity and innovations should focus on competitiveness and production within the U.S. for the global market.