
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 15USC205e]

 
                      TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE
 
            CHAPTER 6--WEIGHTS AND MEASURES AND STANDARD TIME
 
                    SUBCHAPTER II--METRIC CONVERSION
 
Sec. 205e. Functions and powers of Board

    It shall be the function of the Board to devise and carry out a 
broad program of planning, coordination, and public education, 
consistent with other national policy and interests, with the aim of 
implementing the policy set forth in this subchapter. In carrying out 
this program, the Board shall--
        (1) consult with and take into account the interests, views, and 
    conversion costs of United States commerce and industry, including 
    small business; science; engineering; labor; education; consumers; 
    government agencies at the Federal, State, and local level; 
    nationally recognized standards developing and coordinating 
    organizations; metric conversion planning and coordinating groups; 
    and such other individuals or groups as are considered appropriate 
    by the Board to the carrying out of the purposes of this subchapter. 
    The Board shall take into account activities underway in the private 
    and public sectors, so as not to duplicate unnecessarily such 
    activities;
        (2) provide for appropriate procedures whereby various groups, 
    under the auspices of the Board, may formulate, and recommend or 
    suggest, to the Board specific programs for coordinating conversion 
    in each industry and segment thereof and specific dimensions and 
    configurations in the metric system and in other measurements for 
    general use. Such programs, dimensions, and configurations shall be 
    consistent with (A) the needs, interests, and capabilities of 
    manufacturers (large and small), suppliers, labor, consumers, 
    educators, and other interested groups, and (B) the national 
    interest;
        (3) publicize, in an appropriate manner, proposed programs and 
    provide an opportunity for interested groups or individuals to 
    submit comments on such programs. At the request of interested 
    parties, the Board, in its discretion, may hold hearings with regard 
    to such programs. Such comments and hearings may be considered by 
    the Board;
        (4) encourage activities of standardization organizations to 
    develop or revise, as rapidly as practicable, engineering standards 
    on a metric measurement basis, and to take advantage of 
    opportunities to promote (A) rationalization or simplification of 
    relationships, (B) improvements of design, (C) reduction of size 
    variations, (D) increases in economy, and (E) where feasible, the 
    efficient use of energy and the conservation of natural resources;
        (5) encourage the retention, in new metric language standards, 
    of those United States engineering designs, practices, and 
    conventions that are internationally accepted or that embody 
    superior technology;
        (6) consult and cooperate with foreign governments, and 
    intergovernmental organizations, in collaboration with the 
    Department of State, and, through appropriate member bodies, with 
    private international organizations, which are or become concerned 
    with the encouragement and coordination of increased use of metric 
    measurement units or engineering standards based on such units, or 
    both. Such consultation shall include efforts, where appropriate, to 
    gain international recognition for metric standards proposed by the 
    United States, and, during the United States conversion, to 
    encourage retention of equivalent customary units, usually by way of 
    dual dimensions, in international standards or recommendations;
        (7) assist the public through information and education 
    programs, to become familiar with the meaning and applicability of 
    metric terms and measures in daily life. Such programs shall 
    include--
            (A) public information programs conducted by the Board, 
        through the use of newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and 
        other media, and through talks before appropriate citizens' 
        groups, and trade and public organizations;
            (B) counseling and consultation by the Secretary of 
        Education; the Secretary of Labor; the Administrator of the 
        Small Business Administration; and the Director of the National 
        Science Foundation, with educational associations, State and 
        local educational agencies, labor education committees, 
        apprentice training committees, and other interested groups, in 
        order to assure (i) that the metric system of measurement is 
        included in the curriculum of the Nation's educational 
        institutions, and (ii) that teachers and other appropriate 
        personnel are properly trained to teach the metric system of 
        measurement;
            (C) consultation by the Secretary of Commerce with the 
        National Conference of Weights and Measures in order to assure 
        that State and local weights and measures officials are (i) 
        appropriately involved in metric conversion activities and (ii) 
        assisted in their efforts to bring about timely amendments to 
        weights and measures laws; and
            (D) such other public information activities, by any Federal 
        agency in support of this subchapter, as relate to the mission 
        of such agency;

        (8) collect, analyze, and publish information about the extent 
    of usage of metric measurements; evaluate the costs and benefits of 
    metric usage; and make efforts to minimize any adverse effects 
    resulting from increasing metric usage;
        (9) conduct research, including appropriate surveys; publish the 
    results of such research; and recommend to the Congress and to the 
    President such action as may be appropriate to deal with any 
    unresolved problems, issues, and questions associated with metric 
    conversion, or usage, such problems, issues, and questions may 
    include, but are not limited to, the impact on workers (such as 
    costs of tools and training) and on different occupations and 
    industries, possible increased costs to consumers, the impact on 
    society and the economy, effects on small business, the impact on 
    the international trade position of the United States, the 
    appropriateness of and methods for using procurement by the Federal 
    Government as a means to effect conversion to the metric system, the 
    proper conversion or transition period in particular sectors of 
    society, and consequences for national defense;
        (10) submit annually to the Congress and to the President a 
    report on its activities. Each such report shall include a status 
    report on the conversion process as well as projections for the 
    conversion process. Such report may include recommendations covering 
    any legislation or executive action needed to implement the the \1\ 
    programs of conversion accepted by the Board. The Board may also 
    submit such other reports and recommendations as it deems necessary; 
    and
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    \1\ So in original.
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        (11) submit to the Congress and to the President, not later than 
    1 year after the date of enactment of the Act making appropriations 
    for carrying out this subchapter, a report on the need to provide an 
    effective structural mechanism for converting customary units to 
    metric units in statutes, regulations, and other laws at all levels 
    of government, on a coordinated and timely basis, in response to 
    voluntary conversion programs adopted and implemented by various 
    sectors of society under the auspices and with the approval of the 
    Board. If the Board determines that such a need exists, such report 
    shall include recommendations as to appropriate and effective means 
    for establishing and implementing such a mechanism.

(Pub. L. 94-168, Sec. 6, Dec. 23, 1975, 89 Stat. 1008; Pub. L. 96-88, 
title III, Sec. 301, title V, Sec. 507, Oct. 17, 1979, 93 Stat. 677, 
692.)

                          Transfer of Functions

    ``Secretary of Education'' substituted for ``Secretary of Health, 
Education, and Welfare'' in par. (7)(B) pursuant to sections 301 and 507 
of Pub. L. 96-88, which are classified to sections 3441 and 3507 of 
Title 20, Education.


                  Termination of Reporting Requirements

    For termination, effective May 15, 2000, of provisions in par. (10) 
of this section relating to annual report to Congress, see section 3003 
of Pub. L. 104-66, as amended, set out as a note under section 1113 of 
Title 31, Money and Finance, and page 194 of House Document No. 103-7.
