1. LATEST POLICY
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Signed in to law: Inapplicability of Requirement to Review and Justify Certain Contracts
Sens. Blunt and Coons added an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) clarifying conflicting guidance for small manufacturers from the Small Business Administration (SBA) and Department of Defense. Occasionally, conflicting rules from each agency apply to a small manufacturer contracting with the federal government. The provision makes it easier for small manufacturers to comply with these rules by dictating that when both sets of rules apply to a contract, only the SBA rule will be enforced. The President signed NDAA into law on Dec. 26.
More: Blunt NDAA press release| Coons NDAA press release
Introduced: Skills Gap Strategy Act
Sens. Donnelly (D-IN) and Heller (R-NV) introduced the Skills Gap Strategy Act, bipartisan legislation that would help employers identify, train, and hire workers with the skills to fill existing job openings. The Skills Gap Strategy Act directs the Secretary of Labor to develop a strategy to help close the “skills gap” by increasing on-the-job training and apprenticeship opportunities.
More: Donnelly press release | Heller press release
Introduced: Consortia-Led Energy and Advanced Manufacturing Networks Act
Sen. Markey introduced a bill to create six or more local innovation hubs to help American inventors, investors, professors, and producers bridge the last hurdles between innovation and manufacturing. The bill will open up $100 million in matching funds, with rigorous costshare requirements to ensure taxpayers are only partnering on the best ideas, in which the private sector also has significant capital committed.
More: Markey press release
Introduced: Innovators Job Creation Act
Sens. Roberts (R-KS) and Coons (D-DE) introduced bipartisan legislation to enhance incentives for private firms to invest in research and development. The bill helps start-ups and other small companies take advantage of R&D tax credits by allowing the R&D Credit to be claimed against the Alternative Minimum Tax, permitting the Alternative Simplified Credit on Amended Returns, and allowing startups to claim the R&D credit against their employment taxes.
More: Roberts press release| Coons press release
This update is provided by the Office of U.S. Senator Chris Coons on behalf of the Manufacturing Jobs for America initiative. For more information, visit coons.senate.gov/manufacturing or email jj_singh@coons.senate.gov.
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