mingle like fasteners from different lots in the same con-
tainer, except that such manufacturer, importer, or private
label distributor may commingle like fasteners of the same
type, grade, and dimension from not more than two tested
and certified lots in the same container during repackaging
and plating operations. Any container which contains fas-
teners from two lots shall be conspicuously marked with the
lot identification numbers of both lots.
‘‘(f) SUBSEQUENT PURCHASER.—If a person who pur-
chases fasteners for any purpose so requests either prior to
the sale or at the time of sale, the seller shall conspicuously
mark the container of the fasteners with the lot number from
which such fasteners were taken.’’.
(g) SECTION 9 AMENDMENT.—Section 9 of the Fas-
tener Quality Act (15 U.S.C. 5408) is amended by adding
at the end the following new subsection:
‘‘(d) ENFORCEMENT.—The Secretary may designate
officers or employees of the Department of Commerce to con-
duct investigations pursuant to this Act. In conducting such
investigations, those officers or employees may, to the extent
necessary or appropriate to the enforcement of this Act, ex-
ercise such authorities as are conferred upon them by other
laws of the United States, subject to policies and procedures
approved by the Attorney General.’’.
(h) SECTION 10 AMENDMENTS.—Section 10 of the Fas-
tener Quality Act (15 U.S.C. 5409) is amended—
(1) in subsections (a) and (b), by striking ‘‘10
years’’ and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘5 years’’; and
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘any subse-
quent’’ and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘the subsequent’’.
(i) SECTION 13 AMENDMENT.—Section 13 of the Fas-
tener Quality Act (15 U.S.C. 5412) is amended by striking
‘‘within 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act’’.
(j) SECTION 14 REPEAL.—Section 14 of the Fastener
Quality Act (15 U.S.C. 5413) is repealed.
SEC. 12. STANDARDS CONFORMITY.
(a) USE OF STANDARDS.—Section 2(b) of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C.
272(b)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘, including
comparing standards’’ and all that follows through
‘‘Federal Government’’;
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (11)
as paragraphs (4) through (12), respectively; and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the follow-
ing new paragraph:
‘‘(3) to compare standards used in scientific in-
vestigations, engineering, manufacturing, commerce,
industry, and educational institutions with the stand-
ards adopted or recognized by the Federal Govern-
ment and to coordinate the use by Federal agencies
of private sector standards, emphasizing where pos-
sible the use of standards developed by private, con-
sensus organizations;’’.
(b) CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES.—Section
2(b) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
Act (15 U.S.C. 272(b)) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph
(11), as so redesignated by subsection (a)(2) of this
section;
(2) by striking the period at the end of para-
graph (12), as so redesignated by subsection (a)(2) of
this section, and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘; and’’; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new para-
graph:
‘‘(13) to coordinate Federal, State, local, and
private sector standards conformity assessment activi-
ties, with the goal of eliminating unnecessary dupli-
cation and complexity in the development and pro-
mulgation of conformity assessment requirements and
measures.’’.
(c) TRANSMITTAL OF PLAN TO CONGRESS.—The Na-
tional Institute of Standards and Technology shall, by Jan-
uary 1, 1996, transmit to the Congress a plan for imple-
menting the amendments made by this section.
(d) UTILIZATION OF CONSENSUS STANDARDS BY FED-
ERAL AGENCIES; REPORTS.—(1) To the extent practicable,
all Federal agencies and departments shall use, for procure-
ment and regulatory applications, standards that are devel-
oped or adopted by voluntary consensus standards bodies.
(2) Federal agencies and departments shall consult
with voluntary, private sector, consensus standards bodies,
and shall participate with such bodies in the development
of standards, as appropriate in carrying out paragraph (1).
(3) If a Federal agency or department elects to use,
for procurement or regulatory applications, standards that
are not developed or adopted by voluntary consensus stand-
ards bodies, the head of such agency or department shall
transmit to the Office of Management and Budget an expla-
nation of the reasons for adopting such standards. The Of-
fice of Management and Budget shall annually transmit to
the Congress all explanations received by it under this sub-
section.
SEC. 13. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of the Congress that the Malcolm
Baldrige National Quality Award program offers substan-
tial benefits to United States industry, and that all funds
appropriated for such program should be spent in support
of the goals of the program.
HR 2196 RH——2