METRIC CONVERSION ACT OF 1975

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85-00988R000400060017-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 12, 2000
• Sequence Number: 17
• Publication Date: December 23, 1975
• Content Type: REGULATION

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PUBLIC LAW 94-168 [H.R. 86741; Dec. 23, 1975
METRIC CONVERSION ACT OF 1975
For Legislative History of Act, see p. 3811
Ar. Act to declare a national policy of coordinating the increasing use of
the metric system in the United States, and to establish a United
States Metric Board to coordinate the voluntary conversion to the
metric system.
Be it enacted by the Senate and house of Representatives of the
United States of America ; Congress assembled, That this Act may Metric Con-
be cited as the "Metric Conversion Act of 1975". version Act
SEc. 2. The Congress finds as follows: of 1975.
(1) The United States was an original signatory party to the 15 USC 205a
1875 Treaty of the. Meter (20 Stat. 709), which established the note.
General Conference of Weights and Measures, the International 15 USC 2055,
Committee of Weights and :Measures and the International Bureau
of Weights and Measures.
(2) Although the use of metric measurement standards in the
United States has been authorized by law since 1866 (Act of
July 28, 1866; 14 Stat. 339), this 'Nation today is the only
industrially developed nat ion which has not established a national
policy of comtnittuig itself and taking steps to facilitate con-
version to the metric, system.
Si-.,c. 3. It is therefore declared that the policy of the United States 15 USC 205b.
shall be to coordinate and plan tile, increasing use of the metric system'
in the United States and to establish a United States Metric Board
to coordinate the voluntary conversion to the metric system.
S
EC. It. As used in this Act, the term- Definitions.
(1) "Board" means the United States Metric Board, established 15 USC 205c.
under section 5 of this Act;
(2) "engineering standard" means a standard which prescribes
(A.) a concise set of conditions and requirements that must be
satisfied by a material, -product, process, procedure, convention,
or test method; and (13) the physical, functional, performance
and/or Coll forniance characteristics thereof; _
(3) "international standard or recommendation" means an
engineering standru d or recommendation which is (A) formu-
lated and promulgated by an international organization and (B)
recommended for adoption by individual nations as a national
standard; and
(4) "metric system of measurement" means the International
System of Units as established by the General Conference of
111'einhts and Measures in 1960 and as interpreted or modified for
the [7nited States b
the Secretary of Commerce
y
SEC. 5. (a) There is established, in accordance with t . his section, an United States
independent instrumentality to be known as a United, States Metric Metric Board.
Board. Establishment.
(b) The Board shill consist of 17 individuals, as follows: i5 USC 205d.
(1) the Chairman, it qualified individual who shall be appointed Membership.
by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate;
(2) sixteen members who shall be appointed by the President,
by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, on the follow-
ing basis-
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pprovec "o?Wed
 P.L. 94-168
LAWS OF 94th CONG.-lst SESS. Dec. 23
(A) one to be selected from lists of qualified individuals
recommended by engineers and organizations representative
of engineering interests;
(B) one to be selected from lists of qualified individuals
recommended by scientists, the scientific; and technical coni-
mu nity, and organizations representative of scientists and
technicians;
(C) one to be. selected from a list of qualified individuals
recommended by the National Association of Manufacturers
or its successor;
(D) one to be selected from lists of qualified individuals
recommended by the United States Chamfer of Connnerce,
or its successor, retailers, and other commercial organizations;
(E) two to be selected from lists of qualified individuals
recommended by the American Federation of Labor and Con-
gress of Industrial organizations or its successor, who are
representative of workers directly affected by metric con-
version, and by other organizations representing labor;
(F) one, to he selected from it list of qualified individuals
recommended by the. National Governors Conference, the
National Council of State, Legislatures, and organizations
representative of State and local government
(G) two to be selected from lists of qualified individuals tee-
omtneuded by organizations representative of small business;
(II) one to be selected front lists of qualified individuals
representative of the construction industry;
(1) one to be selected from a list of qualified individuals
recommended by the National Conference on Weights and
Measures and standards making organizations;
(J) one to be selected front lists of qualified individuals
recommended by educators, the educational community, and
organizations representative of educational interests; and
(K) four at-large members to represent consumers and
other interests deemed suitable by the President and who
ualified individuals.
-1 -11 be
q
Term of As used in this subsection. each "list" shall include the names of at,
office, least three individuals for each applicable vacancy. The terms of office
of the members of the Board first taking office shall expire as desig-
nated by the President at the tithe of nomination; five at. the end of
the 2d year, five at, the end of the 4th year, and six at the end of the
6th year. The term of office of the Chairman of such Board shall be
0 years. Members, including the Chairman, may be appointed to an
additional term of (i years, in the same manner as the original appoint-
ment. Successors to ntcntbers of such Boned shall be appointed in the
same manner as the original members and shall have terms of office.
expiring 6 years front the date of expiration of the terms for which
their predecessors were appointed. Arty individual appointed to fill ti
vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of any term of office shall ht,
?tontm, appointed for the remainder of that term. Beginnin4a days after
the (late of incorporation of the Board. six members-of such Boa rtl
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any function of the
Board.
(c) Unless otherwise provided by the Congress. the Board shall hat('
no compulsory powers.
(d) The Board shall cease to exist, when the Congress. by lath'.
determines (hat its mission has been accomplished.
Policy sm.. (i. It shall be the function of the Board to devise and carry out
implementation. a broad program of planning, coordimt.tioa. and public education, c'on'
15 USC 205e.
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89 STAT. 1008
Approved For Release 2001/08/09 : CIA-RDP85-00988R000400060017-5
 ndividnals
resentative
endividuals
m ical Conn-
?ntists and
individuals
uufacturers
individuals
ContinerC(,
yanizatiotls;
individuals
for and Con-
or, who are
metric con-
labor;
individuals
:fe.rence, the
r ganizations
lividuals rec-
udi business;
1 individuals
;1 individuals
1Veights and
tl~ilidiv1duals
nulunity, and
rests; and
nnsumers and
lent and who
e Haloes of at,
terms of office
(pire as desig-
at, the end of
the end of the
RToard shall be
)pointed to an
iginal appoint-
,poilited in the
terms of office
,rills for which
jointed to fill it
if office shall N.
-13 days after
of such Board
fiuwction of the
3oard shall have
ingress, by law,
;e and carry out
education, c011-
(1) consult with and take Into account: III(` Interests, %1e11A,
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 coordinat-
ing organizations; 11101-le 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 Act. The Board shall take into account activities under-
way in the private and public. sectors, to as not to duplicate Un-
necessarily such activities;
(2) provide for appropriate procedures whereby various
groups, under the auspices of the. Board, may formulate, and rec-
ommend or suggest, to the. Board specific programs for coordinat-
ing 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 he consistent with (A) the needs, interests,
and capabilities of manufacturers (large situ small), suppliers,
labor, consumers, educators, and other interested groups, and (B)
the national interest;
(3) publicize, in an appropriate manner, proposed programs Comments
and provide au opportuluty for interested groups or individuals and hearings.
to submit couummnts on such programs. At the request of inter-
ested 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 lurasnrenlent basis and to take advantage of oppor-
tunities to promote (A) rationalization or siniplitication of rela-
tionships, (II) improvements of design, (C) reduction of size
variations, (1)) 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 conven-
tions that lure internationally accepted or that embody superior
technology;
(6) consult and cooperate with foreigii governments, and inter- Consultation
governmental organizations, in collaboration with the Department and coop-
of State, and, through appropriate (member bodies, with private eration.
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 cnstoimaty units, usually
by way of dual dimensions, in international standards or
recoinmeudations;
(7) assist the public through information and education Public
programms, to become familiar with the meaning and applicability information
of metric ternis and measures in daily life. Such programs shall and educa-?
include- lion programs.
Dec. 23 METRIC CONVERSION ACT OF 1975
sistent with other national policy and interests, with the aini of imple-
menting the policy set forth in this Act. In carrying out this program,
Approved: or Release 2001108/09 : CIA-RDP85-00988R000400060017-5
 P.L. 94-168 LAWS OF 94th CONG.-1st SESS. Dec. 23
(A) public information programs conducted by the
Board, through the use of newspapers, magazines, radio,
television, and other media, and through talks before appro-
priate citizens' groups, and trade and public organizations;
(B) counseling and consultation by the Secretary of Health,
Education, and Welfare; the Secretary of Labor; the Admin-
istrator of the Small Business Administration; and the Direc-
tor of the National Science Foundation, with educational
associations, State and local educational agencies, labor edu-
cation committees, apprentice training committees, and other
interested groups, in order to assure (i) that the metric sys-
tem 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
t ci ght ,nd measures laws: and
o