Low-emissions concrete and low-emissions asphalt Manufacturing USA institutes

(a) Definitions In this section: (1) Manufacturing USA institute The term Manufacturing USA institute has the meaning given the term in section 34(d) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278s(d)). (2) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. (b) Purpose The purpose of this section is to support— (1) the development of standardized testing and technical validation of low-emissions cement, concrete, asphalt binder, and asphalt mixtures; (2) the expansion, reskilling, and upskilling of the manufacturing workforce to increase employment in fields relating to the domestic production and use of low-emissions cement, concrete, asphalt binder, and asphalt mixtures; and (3) the quantification of embodied greenhouse gas emissions to identify low-emissions cement, concrete, and asphalt materials. (c) Considerations In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall consider strategies for— (1) improving the durability and performance of cement, concrete, asphalt binder, and asphalt mixtures, including low-emissions cement, concrete, asphalt binder, and asphalt mixtures; (2) reducing the cost of low-emissions cement, concrete, asphalt binder, and asphalt mixtures; (3) supporting continuous innovation and emissions reductions in the production of low-emissions cement, concrete, asphalt binder, and asphalt mixtures; (4) increasing employment in fields relating to the domestic production and use of low-emissions cement, concrete, asphalt binder, and asphalt mixtures; and (5) providing information to satisfy the responsibilities of the Task Force. (d) Authority To establish or support the establishment of Manufacturing USA institutes focused on low-Emissions cement and concrete and low-Emissions asphalt binder and mixtures (1) In general Subject to subsection (g), the Secretary may, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Defense, and the Administrator of the General Services Administration, establish, or award financial assistance under section 34(e)(1) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278s(e)(1)) to plan, establish, or support, 2 Manufacturing USA institutes, 1 for low-emissions cement and concrete and 1 for low-emissions asphalt binder and mixtures that— (A) establish advanced testing capabilities for properties of low-emissions cement or concrete and low-emissions binder or mixtures, respectively, produced by an eligible entity; (B) provide centralized, publicly available data on the properties of low-emissions cement or concrete and low-emissions asphalt binder or mixtures, respectively; (C) support the development and implementation of education, training, and workforce recruitment courses, materials, and programs addressing workforce needs in fields related to the domestic production and use of low-emissions cement or concrete, and low-emissions asphalt binder or mixtures, respectively, through training and education programs at all appropriate education levels; (D) quantify embodied greenhouse gas emissions for low-emissions cement, concrete, asphalt binder, and mixtures; and (E) provide collected information to the Task Force. (2) Coordination In addition to subparagraphs (A) through (E) of paragraph (1), the Secretary shall require the Manufacturing USA institutes established, planned, or supported under such paragraph to coordinate with the research program established under section 3(b) to carry out activities focused on researching, developing, demonstrating, and deploying low-emissions cement, concrete, asphalt binder, and asphalt mixtures. (3) Support and assistance for States (A) In general The Manufacturing USA institutes established, planned, or supported under paragraph (1) shall, pursuant to a request from a State agency for testing support, guidance, or resources, provide the State agency with such testing support, guidance, or resources in the form of technical assistance or a grant. (B) Condition The Secretary shall require, as a condition on the receipt of a grant under subparagraph (A), that the recipient of the grant make publicly available all data collected by the recipient using amounts from the grant. (e) Selection of cement, concrete, asphalt binder, or asphalt mixtures for testing In selecting cement, concrete, asphalt binder, or asphalt mixtures from eligible entities for testing by the Manufacturing USA institutes established, planned, or supported under subsection (d)(1), the Manufacturing USA institutes shall— (1) seek to achieve regional diversity in the cement, concrete, asphalt binder, or asphalt mixtures from eligible entities selected for testing; (2) seek to achieve technological diversity in the cement, concrete, asphalt binder, or asphalt mixtures from eligible entities selected for testing; (3) prioritize cement, concrete, asphalt binder, or asphalt mixtures from eligible entities that leverage matching funds from non-Federal sources; and (4) prioritize projects that would have the greatest reduction in emissions on a lifecycle basis. (f) Alternatives The Secretary may carry out this section by— (1) leveraging resources of relevant existing Manufacturing USA institutes; (2) leveraging resources of relevant agencies, such as the Cement and Concrete Center of Excellence of the Department of Energy; (3) integrating program activities into a relevant existing Manufacturing USA institute; or (4) establishing new Manufacturing USA institutes in accordance with subsection (d). (g) Funding The Secretary shall carry out this section using amounts otherwise available to the Secretary.