American Technology and Competitiveness Act

American Technology and Competitiveness Act - Title I: General Provisions - Sets forth the purposes and goals of this Act.

Title II: Manufacturing - Manufacturing Technology and Extension Act of 1992 - Amends the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 to designate the Department of Commerce as the lead civilian Federal agency to work with U.S. industry, State and local governments, and private entities to enhance U.S. manufacturing capabilities.

Establishes the Nationwide Network of Manufacturing Outreach Centers to assist U.S. manufacturers, especially small and medium-sized firms, to expand the use of technology and modern manufacturing processes. Provides for a related communications infrastructure and information clearinghouse. Authorizes appropriations.

Establishes the Advanced Manufacturing Systems and Networking Projects program to create technology development programs to create advanced computer-integrated, electronically-networked manufacturing technologies and associated applications. Authorizes appropriations.

Requires the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to expand the Engineering Research Centers program with emphasis on advanced manufacturing. Authorizes the establishment of up to five new Centers for such purpose. Authorizes appropriations.

Title III: Critical Technologies - Subtitle A: Miscellaneous - Requires the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to report annually to the appropriate congressional committees regarding any executive branch international trade negotiations which might affect Federal research and development programs.

Subtitle B: Council on Technology and Competitiveness - Establishes within the Executive Office of the President a Council on Technology and Competitiveness. Authorizes appropriations.

Subtitle C: Advanced Technology Program - Directs the Secretary to submit to the Congress an expansion plan for the Advanced Technology program.

Requires the establishment of at least two new critical technologies consortia. Authorizes appropriations.

Subtitle D: Technology Commercialization Loans - Authorizes the Secretary to make technology commercialization loans. Authorizes appropriations.

Subtitle E: Critical Technologies Development-Part I: General Provisions - Critical Technologies Development Act of 1992 - Directs the Under Secretary of Commerce for Technology (Under Secretary) to establish a critical technologies development advisory committee.

Part II: Program Structure and Operation - Establishes a program of financing qualified business concerns through federally assisted licensees.

Part III: Enforcement - Provides for licensee enforcement.

Part IV: Miscellaneous - Authorizes the Under Secretary to issue and guarantee trust certificates for licensee preferred securities. Authorizes appropriations.

Title IV: International Standardization - Amends the American Technology Preeminence Act of 1991 to expand the standards pilot program to promote the dissemination of U.S. technical standards abroad. Authorizes appropriations.

Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress with regard to the appropriate Federal role in developing and promulgating domestic and global product and quality standards.

Title V: Miscellaneous Provisions - Authorizes appropriations for: (1) the Office of the Under Secretary; (2) technology policy; (3) Japanese technical literature; (4) National Technical Information Service modernization, including a facilities study; and (5) specified activities within the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Prohibits the fraudulent use of "Made in America" labels. Provides for compliance with the Buy American Act.

Prohibits the making of a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award within a category or subcategory if there are no qualifying enterprises in that category or subcategory.

Title VI: Competitiveness Research, Data Collection, and Evaluation - Directs the Secretary to conduct a competitiveness research program. Authorizes appropriations.

Title VII: Education and Workforce Training - Subtitle A: American Industrial Quality and Training - American Industrial Quality and Training Act of 1992 - Authorizes the Secretary to make grants for workforce quality training partnerships. Authorizes appropriations.

Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to make grants for youth technical apprenticeship programs. Directs such Secretary to establish a program information clearinghouse. Authorizes appropriations.

Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make grants for statewide systems of technical training. Authorizes appropriations.

Requires reports on U.S. industry worker training and on the applicability of total quality management to education. Authorizes appropriations.

Subtitle B: Scientific and Technical Education - Scientific and Technical Education Act of 1992 - Requires NSF to: (1) carry out a program to assist associate-degree-granting colleges to provide education in advanced technology fields, with emphasis on the needs of nontraditional students; (2) establish up to ten scientific and technical education centers of excellence; (3) make grants to eligible college partnerships to assist associate students in mathematics, science, engineering, or technology make the transition to bachelor-degree-granting institutions; and (4) make grants to strengthen the relationships between associate-degree-colleges and secondary schools. Authorizes appropriations.

Authorizes NSF to make grants for technology education teacher training. Authorizes appropriations.

Subtitle C: Miscellaneous - Amends the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 to require the Secretary to report to the Congress on establishment of a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for educational institutions.

Directs the Secretary to establish in the Technology Administration the American Industrial Quality Foundation to further U.S. industrial competitiveness in the international marketplace. Authorizes appropriations.

Amends the Academic Research Facilities Modernization Act of 1988 to authorize appropriations for the Academic Research Facilities Modernization program.

Directs the Secretaries of Agriculture, of Defense, and of Energy, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Director of the National Institutes of Aeronautics and Space Health to each establish academic research facilities awards programs. Authorizes appropriations.

Authorizes NASA, NSF, and the Department of Energy to establish a joint awards program in support of science and technology instructional equipment and facilities. Authorizes appropriations.

Amends the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 to authorize NSF to foster the development of high performance computing.

Amends the Excellence in Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Act of 1990 to authorize appropriations for grants to educational agencies for systematic reform of mathematics and science education.

Title VIII: Tax and Investment Incentives - Investment Incentives Act of 1992 - Subtitle A: Tax and Investment Incentives - Part I: Research and Experimentation Tax Credit Made Permanent - Amends the Internal Revenue Service Code to make the research tax credit permanent.

Part II: Capital Gain Provisions - Provides for: (1) the indexing of certain assets acquired on or after February 1, 1992, for purposes of determining gain; and (2) a 50 percent exclusion for gain of individuals from certain small business stock.

Part III: Temporary Investment Incentives - Provides for: (1) a temporary expensing increase for small businesses; and (2) a special depreciation allowance for certain equipment acquired in 1992.

Subtitle B: Revenue Provisions - Makes the high-income personal exemption phaseout permanent.

Disallows the deduction for: (1) certain employee remuneration in excess of $1 million; and (2) club membership dues.

Requires specified identifying information with regard to certain seller-provided financing.

Extends temporarily the overall limitation on high-income taxpayer itemized deductions.

Sets forth a mark-to-market accounting method for securities dealers.

Increases the base tax rate on ozone-depleting chemicals.

Title IX: National Security Reinvestment - Subtitle A: Advanced Manufacturing Equipment Leasing Corporations - Provides for the establishment of a pilot Advanced Manufacturing Equipment Leasing Corporation which shall: (1) expand the commercial market for advanced manufacturing equipment produced by eligible Department of Defense (DOD) contractors; and (2) provide such equipment through lease or sale to small and medium commercial businesses at less than market rates. Authorizes appropriations.

Subtitle B: Science and Mathematics Educational Reinstatement - Directs NSF to establish and administer a fellowship program for teaching certification in science and mathematics for qualifying displaced or retiring military and defense support personnel. Funds the program through DOD. Authorizes appropriations.

Subtitle C: National Security Retraining Fellowships - Directs NSF to establish and administer a fellowship program for retraining qualifying displaced or nonretiring military and defense support personnel with specialized defense-related expertise in science or engineering. Funds the program through DOD. Provides for the establishment of a related Engineer Reinvestment Panel. Authorizes appropriations.

Subtitle D: Multiprogram Laboratory Conversion - Requires that within five years of enactment of this Act, ten percent of all Federal funding for research and development at (the Department of Energy) multiprogram laboratories shall be used for joint projects with private industry, including specified priority projects.

Subtitle E: Research and Development Spending - Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) any budget reductions in DOD research and development should be balanced by equal increases in civilian research and development spending; and (2) defense and civilian research and development spending should be made approximately equal as soon as practicable.

Subtitle F: Manufacturing Extension and Critical Technologies - Authorizes DOD appropriations for: (1) manufacturing extension programs; and (2) critical technology application centers.