§ 271. — Findings and purposes.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 15USC271]
TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 7--NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
Sec. 271. Findings and purposes
(a) The Congress finds and declares the following:
(1) The future well-being of the United States economy depends
on a strong manufacturing base and requires continual improvements
in manufacturing technology, quality control, and techniques for
ensuring product reliability and cost-effectiveness.
(2) Precise measurements, calibrations, and standards help
United States industry and manufacturing concerns compete strongly
in world markets.
(3) Improvements in manufacturing and product technology depend
on fundamental scientific and engineering research to develop (A)
the precise and accurate measurement methods and measurement
standards needed to improve quality and reliability, and (B) new
technological processes by which such improved methods may be used
in practice to improve manufacturing and to assist industry to
transfer important laboratory discoveries into commercial products.
(4) Scientific progress, public safety, and product
compatibility and standardization also depend on the development of
precise measurement methods, standards, and related basic
technologies.
(5) The National Bureau of Standards since its establishment has
served as the Federal focal point in developing basic measurement
standards and related technologies, has taken a lead role in
stimulating cooperative work among private industrial organizations
in efforts to surmount technological hurdles, and otherwise has been
responsible for assisting in the improvement of industrial
technology.
(6) The Federal Government should maintain a national science,
engineering, and technology laboratory which provides measurement
methods, standards, and associated technologies and which aids
United States companies in using new technologies to improve
products and manufacturing processes.
(7) Such national laboratory also should serve industry, trade
associations, State technology programs, labor organizations,
professional societies, and educational institutions by
disseminating information on new basic technologies including
automated manufacturing processes.
(b) It is the purpose of this chapter--
(1) to rename the National Bureau of Standards as the National
Institute of Standards and Technology and to modernize and
restructure that agency to augment its unique ability to enhance the
competitiveness of American industry while maintaining its
traditional function as lead national laboratory for providing the
measurements, calibrations, and quality assurance techniques which
underpin United States commerce, technological progress, improved
product reliability and manufacturing processes, and public safety;
(2) to assist private sector initiatives to capitalize on
advanced technology;
(3) to advance, through cooperative efforts among industries,
universities, and government laboratories, promising research and
development projects, which can be optimized by the private sector
for commercial and industrial applications; and
(4) to promote shared risks, accelerated development, and
pooling of skills which will be necessary to strengthen America's
manufacturing industries.
(Mar. 3, 1901, ch. 872, Sec. 1, 31 Stat. 1449; Pub. L. 100-418, title V,
Sec. 5111, Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1427.)
References in Text
This chapter, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original ``this
Act'' meaning act Mar. 3, 1901, ch. 872, 31 Stat. 1449, as amended,
known as the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act, which
is classified generally to this chapter. For complete classification of
this Act to the Code, see Short Title note below and Tables.
Amendments
1988--Pub. L. 100-418 amended section generally. Prior to amendment,
section read as follows: ``The Office of Standard Weights and Measures
shall be known as the National Bureau of Standards.''
Change of Name; National Bureau of Standards Redesignated
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Section 5115(c) of Pub. L. 100-418 provided that: ``References in
any other Federal law to the National Bureau of Standards shall be
deemed to refer to the National Institute of Standards and Technology.''
Act Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 141, Sec. 1, 37 Stat. 736, created the
Department of Labor and renamed the Department of Commerce and Labor as
the Department of Commerce.
Short Title of 1998 Amendment
Pub. L. 105-309, Sec. 1, Oct. 30, 1998, 112 Stat. 2935, provided
that: ``This Act [enacting sections 278g-2a, 278p, and 1511e of this
title, amending sections 278k, 3704, and 3711a of this title, enacting
provisions set out as notes under sections 272 and 3711 of this title,
and amending provisions set out as a note under this section] may be
cited as the `Technology Administration Act of 1998'.''
Short Title of 1992 Amendment
Pub. L. 102-245, title II, Sec. 201(a), Feb. 14, 1992, 106 Stat. 15,
provided that: ``This title [amending sections 272 and 278n of this
title and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 278n of
this title] may be cited as the `Emerging Technologies and Advanced
Technology Program Amendments Act of 1991'.''
Short Title of 1988 Amendment
Section 5101 of Pub. L. 100-418 provided that: ``This part [part I
(Secs. 5101-5164) of subtitle B of title V of Pub. L. 100-418, enacting
sections 205j-1, 278i to 278o, 282a, 1532, 1533, 3704a, and 4632 of this
title, amending this section, sections 205a, 205b, 205k, 272 to 275,
278, 278b, 278d, 278e, 278g to 278g-4, 3703, 3706, 3708, 3710, 3710c,
and 3713 of this title, and section 5315 of Title 5, Government
Organization and Employees, repealing sections 280 to 282 of this title,
enacting provisions set out as notes under this section, sections 272,
272, 278l, and 278n of this title, and section 1803 of Title 30, Mineral
Lands and Mining, and amending provisions set out as a note under this
section] may be cited as the `Technology Competitiveness Act'.''
Short Title
Act Mar. 3, 1901, ch. 872, Sec. 32, formerly Sec. 23, as added Jan.
8, 1988, Pub. L. 100-235, Sec. 3(3), 101 Stat. 1728; renumbered Sec. 31
and amended Pub. L. 100-418, title V, Secs. 5114(1), 5115(a)(2), Aug.
23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1432, 1433; renumbered Sec. 32, Pub. L. 105-309,
Sec. 4(a), Oct. 30, 1998, 112 Stat. 2935, provided that: ``This Act
[enacting this chapter] may be cited as the National Institute of
Standards and Technology Act.''
[Another section 32 of act Mar. 3, 1901, ch. 872, is classified to
section 278q of this title.]
Savings Provision
Act Mar. 3, 1901, ch. 872, Sec. 29, as added Aug. 23, 1988, Pub. L.
100-418, title V, Sec. 5161, 102 Stat. 1449, provided that: ``All rules
and regulations, determinations, standards, contracts, certifications,
authorizations, delegations, results and findings of investigations, or
other actions duly issued, made, or taken by or pursuant to this Act
[enacting this chapter], or under the authority of any other statutes
which resulted in the assignment of functions or activities to the
Secretary, the Department, the Director, or the Institute, as are in
effect immediately before the date of enactment of this section [Aug.
23, 1988], and not suspended by the Secretary, the Director, the
Institute or the courts, shall continue in full force and effect after
the date of enactment of this section until modified or rescinded.''
