	Mission

The U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is the "lead national laboratory for providing the measurements, calibrations, and quality assurance techniques which underpin United States commerce, technological progress, improved product reliability and manufacturing processes, and public safety." In addition to its long-standing work in standards and metrology, NIST was directed to offer support to the private sector for the development of precompetitive generic technologies and the diffusion of government-developed innovation to users in all segments of the U.S. economy. The authorization levels for NIST were part of a larger effort to double funding for selected accounts—all of the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy Office of Science, and the NIST laboratory and construction accounts—that support physical sciences and engineering research. As specified in the act, the purpose of the NMI is to improve the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturing and to increase the production of goods manufactured predominantly within the United States; to stimulate U.S. leadership in advanced manufacturing research, innovation, and technology; to facilitate the transition of innovative technologies into scalable, cost-effective, and high-performing manufacturing capabilities; to facilitate access by manufacturing enterprises to capital-intensive infrastructure, including high-performance electronics and computing, and the supply chains that enable these technologies; to accelerate the development of an advanced manufacturing workforce; to facilitate peer exchange and the documentation of best practices in addressing advanced manufacturing challenges; to leverage nonfederal sources of support to promote a stable and sustainable business model without the need for long-term federal funding; and to create and preserve jobs. The explanatory statement accompanying the act directs NIST to "follow the direction of the Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act of 2014 in requiring open competition to select the technological focus areas of industry-driven manufacturing institutes." Congress continues to use the term National Network for Manufacturing Innovation in appropriations reports. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 ( P.L. 115-141 ) provides $15 million to NIST for the NNMI for FY2018, to include funding for center establishment and up to $5 million for coordination activities. In December 2015, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 ( P.L. NIST FY2019 Appropriations

President Trump requested a total of $629.1 million for NIST in FY2019, $569.4 million (47.5%) below the FY2018 enacted level of $1,198.5 million. In the absence of a year-long appropriation act for FY2019, NIST was funded under two continuing resolutions, first through December 7, 2018 (under P.L. 115-245 ), then through December 21, 2018 (under P.L. NIST has been without appropriations since December 22, 2018. Following the start of the 116 th Congress, the House passed H.R. 21 , which would provide funding for each of the NIST accounts at the same levels as the Senate committee-passed bill from the 115 th Congress ( S. 3072 ). For FY2018, President Trump requested $6.0 million for the MEP program to provide "for the orderly wind down of federal funding for the program"; however, Congress appropriated $140.0 million. No funding has been requested for TIP since FY2012. Actual appropriations, however, did not keep pace with the America COMPETES Act authorization levels. Beginning with the 104 th Congress, many Members expressed skepticism over a "technology policy" based on providing federal funds to industry for development of precompetitive generic technologies. This philosophical shift from previous Congresses, coupled with pressures to balance the federal budget, led to significant reductions in funding for NIST's external programs. The Advanced Technology Program and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, which accounted for over 50% of the FY1995 NIST budget, were proposed for elimination. In December 2014, Congress enacted the Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation (RAMI) Act of 2014 as Title VII of Division B of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 ( P.L. 113-235 ), establishing a Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NMI). As of the date of this report, 14 NNMI institutes have been established—8 by DOD, 5 by DOE, and 1 by the Department of Commerce. Requested and Enacted Discretionary Appropriations for NIST Accounts
Appendix B.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a laboratory of the Department of Commerce, is mandated to provide technical services to facilitate the competitiveness of U.S. industry. NIST is directed to offer support to the private sector for the development of precompetitive generic technologies and the diffusion of government-developed innovation to users in all segments of the American economy. Laboratory research is to provide measurement, calibration, and quality assurance techniques that underpin U.S. commerce, technological progress, improved product reliability, manufacturing processes, and public safety.
President Trump requested $725.0 million in discretionary funding for NIST in FY2018. In March 2018, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (P.L. 115-141) was enacted, providing $1,198.5 million in funding for NIST for FY2018. President Trump requested $629.1 million in discretionary funding for NIST in FY2019, $569.4 million (47.5%) below the FY2018 enacted level. The House-reported appropriations level for FY2019 is $985.0 million; the Senate-reported level is $1,037.5 million. In the absence of a year-long appropriation act for FY2019, NIST was funded under two continuing resolutions, first through December 7, 2018 (under P.L. 115-245), then through December 21, 2018 (under P.L. 115-298). NIST has been without appropriations since December 22, 2018. Following the start of the 116th Congress, the House passed H.R. 21, which would provide funding for each of the NIST accounts at the same levels as the Senate committee-passed bill from the 115th Congress (S. 3072).
Concerns about the adequacy of federal funding for physical science and engineering research led to efforts by successive Presidents and Congresses to double funding for the NIST laboratory and construction accounts, together with the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy Office of Science. However, appropriations did not keep pace with authorization levels or presidential requests. In addition, the appropriations authorizations for the accounts targeted for doubling lapsed at the end of FY2013. Appropriations for the targeted NIST accounts increased by 42.3% from FY2006 to FY2016.
Funding for NIST extramural programs directed toward increased private sector commercialization has been a topic of congressional debate. Some Members of Congress have expressed skepticism over a "technology policy" based on providing federal funds to industry for development of precompetitive generic technologies. This approach, coupled with pressures to balance the federal budget, led to significant reductions in funding for NIST. The Advanced Technology Program (ATP) and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), which accounted for over 50% of the FY1995 NIST budget, were subsequently proposed for elimination. In 2007, ATP was terminated and replaced by the Technology Innovation Program (TIP). TIP was subsequently defunded in the FY2012 appropriations legislation. President Trump has proposed the elimination of funding for the MEP program in FY2019.
In December 2014, Congress enacted the Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act of 2014 (Title VII of Division B of P.L. 113-235), establishing a Network for Manufacturing Innovation (also referred to as the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation or NNMI). The explanatory statement accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (P.L. 114-113) directed NIST to use an open competition to select the technological focus areas of industry-driven manufacturing institutes. Upon completion of its first competition, NIST announced its selection of the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL) in December 2016. Congress appropriated $15 million in FY2018 funding for NIST to continue its support for NIIMBL and to coordinate network activities. In total, 14 NNMI institutes have been established by the Department of Defense (8), Department of Energy (5), and Department of Commerce (1).