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A Senate panel on Wednesday backed legislation that would create a network of research centers that seek to improve the competitiveness of the U.S. manufacturing industry.

The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee approved the bill (S 1468) by voice vote.

“With this bill, we can bridge the gap from basic research to manufacturing that has doomed so many promising inventions before they’re able to reach the market,” panel Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., said.

Before approving the measure, the panel adopted by voice vote a substitute amendment by Roy Blunt , R-Mo., that would cut the program’s authorization level in half, to $300 million from the bill’s original $600 million.

The measure, sponsored by Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, is a centerpiece of the Senate Democrats’ manufacturing agenda. However the bill has some bipartisan backing in the House as well. A House companion bill (HR 2996) is sponsored by Rep. Tom Reed, R-N.Y.

The bill would establish a program within the National Institute of Standards and Technology that works with universities and community colleges to develop innovation hubs aimed at fostering new manufacturing strategies and techniques. The centers would create workforce education and training programs.

While panel Republicans expressed their approval of the bill’s goal, they indicated their ultimate support would hinge on finding a way to pay for it.

“It is critical that this legislation have an offset that would cover the full cost of the bill before floor consideration,” ranking Republican John Thune said.

According to the last week’s Department of Labor report, the manufacturing industry has added 72,000 jobs in the past year to a factory workforce of 12.1 million.

The committee also gave voice vote approval to a measure (S 2022) that would establish a national forensic science research program and require NIST to develop standards that increase the reliability of forensic science activities.

Additionally the panel approved by voice vote a House-passed bill (HR 2052) that would require the Commerce Department to study the United States’ competitiveness in attracting direct foreign investment and develop recommendations on how to boost such investments.

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