H.R. 6676

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6676 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6676

To provide financial assistance to States and Indian Tribes for the 
development, implementation, improvement, or expansion of a flex-tech 
energy program to enhance manufacturing competitiveness, and for other 
purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 11, 2025

Mr. Tonko introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To provide financial assistance to States and Indian Tribes for the 
development, implementation, improvement, or expansion of a flex-tech 
energy program to enhance manufacturing competitiveness, and for other 
purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``State Industrial Competitiveness Act 
of 2025''.

SEC. 2. STATE FLEX-TECH ENERGY PROGRAM.

(a) In General.--Part D of title III of the Energy Policy and 
Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6321 et seq.) is amended by adding at the 
end the following:

``SEC. 367. FLEX-TECH ENERGY PROGRAM TO ENHANCE MANUFACTURING 
COMPETITIVENESS.

``(a) Financial Assistance.--Subject to the availability of 
appropriations, upon request from the State energy agency of a State 
that has in effect an approved State energy conservation plan under 
this part, or an Indian Tribe, the Secretary shall provide financial 
assistance to such State energy agency or Indian Tribe to be used for 
the development, implementation, improvement, or expansion of a flex-
tech energy program described in subsection (b) to enhance 
manufacturing competitiveness.
``(b) Flex-Tech Energy Program Elements.--
``(1) In general.--A flex-tech energy program may include--
``(A) provision of technical and administrative 
assistance to manufacturers through qualified 
engineering firms, as determined by the State energy 
agency or Indian Tribe;
``(B) provision of financial assistance to 
manufacturers--
``(i) for energy studies of manufacturing 
facilities that are conducted by qualified 
engineering firms; and
``(ii) to support the implementation of the 
measures and recommendations identified in 
energy studies conducted pursuant to clause 
(i), including the design, acquisition, 
installation, testing, operation, maintenance, 
and repair of energy- and water-using systems, 
resiliency-related measures, emissions 
reduction-related measures, utility cost 
savings measures, and measures related to 
advanced manufacturing technologies and 
artificial intelligence; and
``(C) reporting on monitoring, tracking, and 
success metrics of the program.
``(2) Studies.--An energy study of a manufacturing facility 
conducted pursuant to paragraph (1)(B) may include--
``(A) an evaluation of the energy-using systems of 
the facility, including evaluation of the performance 
of such systems relative to design intent, operational 
needs of the facility and its occupants, and operation 
and maintenance procedures;
``(B) an evaluation of emissions related to the 
facility, including greenhouse gas emissions, and 
recommendations on sustainability planning and 
practices;
``(C) an evaluation of potential energy efficiency, 
water efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions mitigation, 
and load reduction measures for the facility;
``(D) an evaluation of potential on-site energy 
measures, including grid-interactive efficiency 
systems, combined heat and power, industrial heat 
pumps, efficient compressed air systems, energy 
storage, energy management systems, renewable thermal 
systems, and electrification or other forms of fuel 
switching;
``(E) recommendations on the use of new 
technologies by the applicable manufacturer; and
``(F) detailed estimates of potential 
implementation costs, operating cost savings, energy 
savings, emissions reductions, and simple payback 
periods, for measures and recommendations identified in 
such study.
``(3) Qualified engineering firms.--A State energy agency 
or Indian Tribe administering a flex-tech energy program shall 
maintain and regularly update a publicly available list of 
qualified engineering firms that are approved by the State 
energy agency or Indian Tribe to provide assistance to 
manufacturers pursuant to this section.
``(c) Funding.--
``(1) Allocation.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), to 
the extent practicable, the Secretary shall allocate funding 
made available to carry out this section in accordance with the 
formula used for distribution of Federal financial assistance 
provided pursuant to this part to States that have in effect an 
approved State energy conservation plan under this part.
``(2) Indian tribes.--The Secretary shall set aside and 
distribute not less than 5 percent of amounts made available 
for each fiscal year to carry out this section to provide 
financial assistance--
``(A) to Indian Tribes; or
``(B) directly to manufacturers located in Indian 
Country or, in the case of Alaska, an Alaska Native 
Village Statistical Area, as identified by the U.S. 
Census Bureau, for energy studies and implementation of 
the measures and recommendations identified in such 
energy studies, as described in subsection (b)(1)(B).
``(3) Use of funds.--
``(A) Energy studies; administrative expenses.--A 
State energy agency or Indian Tribe that receives 
financial assistance pursuant to this section for a 
fiscal year may not--
``(i) use more than 50 percent of such 
financial assistance for energy studies;
``(ii) use more than 50 percent of such 
financial assistance to support the 
implementation of recommendations from such 
energy studies; and
``(iii) use more than 10 percent of such 
financial assistance for administrative 
expenses, including for outreach and technical 
assistance.
``(B) Individual manufacturing facility.--A State 
energy agency that receives financial assistance 
pursuant to this section for a fiscal year may not use 
more than the greater of $100,000 or 5 percent of such 
financial assistance with respect to an individual 
manufacturing facility.
``(4) Supplement.--Financial assistance provided to a State 
energy agency or Indian Tribe pursuant to this section shall be 
used to supplement, not supplant, any Federal, State, or other 
funds otherwise made available to such State under this part.
``(5) Financing.--To the extent practicable, a State energy 
agency or Indian Tribe shall implement a flex-tech energy 
program described in subsection (b) using funding provided 
under this Act, public financing, private financing, or any 
other sources of funds.
``(d) Technical Assistance.--
``(1) In general.--Upon request of a State energy agency or 
Indian Tribe, the Secretary shall provide information and 
technical assistance in the development, implementation, 
improvement, or expansion of a flex-tech energy program 
described in subsection (b).
``(2) Inclusions.--Technical assistance provided pursuant 
to paragraph (1) may include program design options to, with 
respect to manufacturers that employ fewer than 500 full-time 
equivalent employees at a manufacturing facility--
``(A) meet the needs of such manufacturers; and
``(B) encourage the use of advanced manufacturing 
processes by such manufacturers, including use of 
additive manufacturing, advanced sensors and controls, 
techniques to reduce embedded emissions, and advanced 
composite materials.
``(e) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Indian country.--The term `Indian Country' means--
``(A) all land within the limits of any Indian 
reservation under the jurisdiction of the United States 
Government, notwithstanding the issuance of any patent, 
and, including rights-of-way running through the 
reservation;
``(B) all dependent Indian communities within the 
borders of the United States whether within the 
original or subsequently acquired territory thereof, 
and whether within or without the limits of a State; 
and
``(C) all Indian allotments, the Indian titles to 
which have not been extinguished, including rights-of-
way running through the same.
``(2) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian Tribe' has the 
meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
``(3) State energy agency.--The term `State energy agency' 
has the meaning given such term in section 391(10).''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents for the Energy 
Policy and Conservation Act is amended by adding after the item related 
to section 366 the following:

``Sec. 367. Flex-tech energy program to enhance manufacturing 
competitiveness.''.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 365(f) of the Energy 
Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6325(f)) is amended by adding at 
the end the following:
``(3) Flex-tech energy program.--In addition to the 
authorization of appropriations under paragraph (1), for the 
purposes of carrying out section 367, there are authorized to 
be appropriated $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 
through 2030.''.
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