An Act to direct the National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year, 1975, to organize and convene a National Women's Conference, and for other purposes.
PL 94-167 (H.R.9924), enacted 12/23/1975

PUBLIC LAW 94-167—DEC. 23, 1975 
89 STAT. 1003 
Public Law 94-167 
94th Congress 
An Act 
To direct the National Commission on the Observance of International Women's 
Year, 1975, to organize and convene a National Women's Conference, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatwes 
of the 
United 
States 
of America 
in Congress 
assemhled, 
FINDINGS 
SECTION 1. The Congress hereby finds that— 
(1) International Women s Year, and its World Plan of 
Action, have focused attention on the problems of women through-
out the world, and have pointed to the need for an evaluation of 
the discrimination which American women face because of their 
sex; 
(2) the Bicentennial year of 1976 is a particularly appropriate 
time for the United States to recognize the contributions of 
women to the development of our country, to assess the progress 
that has been made toward insuring equality for all women, to 
set goals for the elimination of all barriers to the full and equal 
participation of women in all aspects of American life, and to 
recognize the importance of the contribution of women to the 
development of friendly relations and cooperation among nations 
and to the strengthening of world peace; and 
(3) a national conference of American women, preceded by 
State conferences, is the most suitable mechanism by which such 
an evaluation of the status of women and issues of concern to them 
can be effected. 
DUTIES o r COMMISSION 
SEC. 2. (a) The National Commission on the Observance of Inter-
national Women's Year, 1975, established by Executive Order 11832 
on January 9, 1975 (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the "Com-
mission"), is hereby continued. The Commission shall organize and 
convene a national conference to be known as the National Women's 
Conference (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the "Conference"). 
The Conference and State or regional meetings conducted in prepara-
tion for the Conference shall be held in such places and at such times 
in 1976 as the Commission deems appropriate. 
(b) The Commission shall consult with such National, State, and 
other organizations concerned with women's rights and related matters 
as the Commission considers necessary to carry out the purpose of 
this Act. 
COMPOSITION AND GOALS OF THE CONFERENCE 
SEC. 3. (a) The Conference shall be composed of— 
(1) representatives of local. State, regional, and national insti-
tutions, agencies, organizations, unions, associations, publications, 
and other groups which work to advance the rights of women; 
and 
Dec. 23, 1975 
[H.R. 99241 
International 
Women's Year, 
national 
conference. 
3CFR 
1971-1975 
Comp., p. 937. 
National 
Women's 
Conference. 
89 STAT. 1004 
PUBLIC LAW 94-167—DEC. 23, 1975 
Conference 
committee. 
Public meetings. 
Regulations. 
Advisory and 
technical 
committees. 
(2) members of the general public, with special emphasis on 
the representation of low-income women, members of diverse 
racial, ethnic, and religious groups, and women of all ages. 
(b) The Conference shall— 
(1) recognize the contributions of women to the development 
of our country; 
(2) assess the progress that has been made to date by both the 
private and public sectors in promoting equality between men 
and women in all aspects of life in the United States; 
(3) assess the role of women in economic, social, cultural, and 
political development; 
(4) assess the participation of women in efforts aimed at the 
development of friendly relations and cooperation among nations 
and to the strengthening of world peace; 
(6) identify the barriers that prevent women from participat-
ing lully and equally in all aspects of national life, and develop 
recommendations for means by which such carriers can be 
removed; 
(6) establish a timetable for the achievement of the objectives 
set forth in such recommendations; and 
(7) establish a committee of the Conference which will take 
steps to provide for the convening of a second National Women's 
Conference. The second Conference will assess the progress made 
in achieving the objectives set forth in paragraphs (5) and (6) 
of this subsection, and will evaluate the steps taken to improve 
the status of American women. 
(c) All meetings of the Conference and of State or regional meet-
ings held in preparation for the Conference shall be open to the 
public. 
POWERS OF COMMISSION 
SEC. 4. The Commission shall— 
(1) designate a coordinating committee in each State which 
shall organize and conduct a State or regional meeting in prep-
aration for the Conference; 
(2) prepare and make available background materials relating 
to women's rights and related matters for the use of representa-
tives to the State and regional meetings, and to the Conference; 
(3) establish procedures to provide financial assistance for rep-
resentatives to the Conference who are unable to pay their own 
expenses; 
(4) establish such regulations as are necessary to carry out the 
provisions of this Act; 
(5) designate such additional representatives to the Conference 
as may be necessary and appropriate to fulfill the goals set forth 
in section 3(b) of this Act; 
(6) grant technical and financial assistance by grant, contract, 
or otherwise to facilitate the organization and conduct of State 
and regional meetings in preparation for the Conference; 
(7) establish such advisory and technical committees as the 
Commission considers necessary to assist and advise the Confer-
ence; and 
(8) publish and distribute the report required under this Act. 
ADMINISTRATION OF COMMISSION 
SEC. 5. (a) The Commission may appoint such staff personnel as it 
considers necessary to carry out its duties under this Act. Such person-
PUBLIC LAW 94-167—DEC. 23, 1975 
89 STAT. 1005 
5 u s e 5332 note. 
nel shall be appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5, 
United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive serv-
ice, except that no individual so appointed may receive pay in excess 
of the annual rate of basic pay in effect for grade GS-18 of the General 
Schedule. Appointments shall be made without regard to political 
affiliation. 
(b) The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of contributions 
of money, services, or property. 
(c) The Commission may use the United States mails under the 
same conditions as other departments and agencies of the United 
States. 
(d) The powers granted the Commission by this section shall be in 
addition to those granted by Executive Order 11832. The powers 40 FR 2415. 
granted the Commission by Executive Order 11832 may be employed 
to fulfill the responsibilities of the Commission under this Act 
(e) The Commission, to such extent as it deems necessary, may pro-
cure supplies, services, and personal property; make contracts; expend 
funds appropriated, donated, or received in pursuance of contracts 
hereunder in furtherance of the purposes of this Act; and exercise 
those powers that are necessary to enable it to carry out efficiently and 
in the public interest the purposes of this Act. 
(f) The powers granted the Commission under this Act may be 
delegated to any member or employee of the Commission by the 
Commission. 
STATE AND REGIONAL MEETINGS 
SEC. 6. (a) A meeting in preparation for the Conference shall be 
held in each State in accordance with regulations promulgated by the 
Commission, except that in the event the amount of time and resources 
available so requires, the Commission may combine two or more such 
State meetings into a regional meeting. 
(b) Any State or regional meeting which receives financial assist-
ance under this Act shall be designed and structured in accordance 
with the goals of the Conference set forth in section 3(b) of this Act. 
(c) (1) Each State or regional meeting shall select representatives 
to the Conference in accordance with regulations promulgated by the 
Commission and consistent with the criteria set forth in section 3(a) 
of this Act. 
(2) The total number of representatives selected under this sub-
section shall be apportioned among the States according to population, 
except that despite such apportionment no State shall have fewer 
than ten representatives. 
REPORT 
SEC. 7. The Commission shall submit a report to the President and 
to each House of the Congress not later than one hundred and twenty 
days after the conclusion of the Conference, and shall make such re]3ort 
available to the general public. Such report shall contain a detailed 
statement of the findings and recommendations of the Conference with 
respect to the matters described in subsection (b) of section 3. The 
President shall, not later than one hundred and twenty days after the 
receipt of the report, submit to each House of the Congress recom-
mendations with respect to matters considered in such report. 
Representatives, 
apportionment. 
Presidential 
recommen-
dations. 
TERMINATION OF COMMISSION 
SEC. 8. The Commission shall continue in operation until thirty days 
after submitting its report pursuant to section 7, at which time it shall 
89 STAT. 1006 
PUBLIC LAW 94-167—DEC. 23, 1975 
terminate, but the life of the Commission shall in no case extend 
beyond March 31,1978. 
AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATION 
SEC. 9. There are authorized to be appropriated without fiscal year 
limitation, such sums, but not to exceed $5,000,000, as may be necessary 
to carry out the provisions of this Act. Such sums shall remain avail-
able for obligation until expended. 
No funds authorized hereunder may be used for lobbying activities. 
DEFINITION 
SEC. 10. For the purpose of this Act, the term "State" includes the 
District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, 
American Samoa, the Virginia Islands, and the Trust Territory of the 
Pacific Islands. 
Approved December 23, 1975. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 94-562 (Comm. on Government Operations). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 121 (1975): 
Dec. 10, considered and passed House. 
Dec. 11, considered and passed Senate.