# Representatives Introduce MEP Funding Bill

On November 10, 2026, Representative Sharice Davids and bipartisan co-sponsors introduced the Defend American Manufacturing Act 2.0, legislation aimed at preserving federal funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), whose centers support small and midsized manufacturers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. The bill would establish timelines and standards for center reviews and replacement operators, and add oversight controls; it has been introduced but is not described as enacted.

- MEP center operators and contractors serving the program should track the bill’s progress and assess how its proposed funding, review, and operator-transition provisions could affect program continuity.
- The proposal could provide greater predictability for MEP-supported services if enacted, but the signal gives no funding amount or implementation timeline.
- Manufacturers and service providers connected to MEP centers may wish to evaluate how potential changes to center operations could affect their support arrangements.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Topics:** Grants & Funding
**Published:** November 10, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Congress (Congress)
- U.S. House of Representatives (House)
- House Manufacturing Caucus
- House Science, Space, and Technology Committee

### Key Quotes
> This bipartisan bill builds on that work by helping to keep MEP centers open and establishing clear, consistent standards for how they are evaluated and funded.
> — Sarah McBride, Representative

> They just want reliable support so they can hire workers, lower costs, and compete.
> — Sharice Davids, Representative

### Sources
- [Davids Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Protect American Manufacturing Jobs After Threatened Program Elimination | Representative Sharice Davids](https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases/davids-introduces-bipartisan-legislation-protect-american-manufacturing-jobs) - Davids