An Act to authorize appropriations to the United States International Trade Commission, to provide for greater efficiency in the administration of the Commission, and for other purposes.
PL 95-106 (H.R.6370), enacted 08/17/1977

PUBLIC LAW 95-106—AUG. 17, 1977 
91 STAT. 867 
Public Law 95-106 
95th Congress 
An Act 
Aug. 17. 1977 
[H.R. 6370] 
United States 
International 
Trade 
Commission. 
To authorize appropriations to tlie United States International Trade Commis-
sion, to provide for greater efficiency in the administration of the Commission, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatwes of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Subsection (e) of section 330 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 
1330(e)) is amended— 
(1) by inserting "(1)" immediately before "For"; and 
(2) by adding at the end thereof the following new paragraphs: 
" (2) There are authorized to be appropriated to the Commission for 
necessary expenses for fiscal year 1978 an amount not to exceed 
$11,522,000. 
"(3) There are authorized to be appropriated to the Commission 
for each fiscal year after September 30, 1977, in addition to any other 
amount authorized to be appropriated for such fiscal year, such sums 
as may be necessary for increases authorized by law in salary, pay, 
retirement, and other employee benefits.". 
SEC. 2. APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN. 
(a) Subsection (c) of section 330 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 
U.S.C. 1330) is amended to read as follows: 
" (c) CHAIRMAN AXD VICE CHAIRMAN ; QUORUM.— 
"(1) The chairman and the vice chairman of the Commission shall 
be designated by the President from among the members of the Com-
mission not ineligible, under paragraph (3), for designation. The Notice to 
President shall notify the Congress of his designations under this Congress, 
paragraph. 
"(2) After June 16, 1978, the terms of office for the chairman and Term, 
vice chairman of the Commission shall be as follows: 
"(A) The first term of office occurring after such date shall 
begin on June 17, 1978, and end at the close of June 16, 1980. 
"(B) Each term of office thereafter shall begin on the day after 
the closing date of the immediately preceding term of office and 
end at the close of the 2-year period beginning on such day. 
"(3) (A) The President may not designate as the chairman of the 
Commission for any term— 
"(i) either of the two commissioners most recently appointed 
to the Commission as of the beginning date of the term of office 
for which the designation of chairman is to be made; or 
"(ii) any commissioner who is a member of the political party 
of which the chairman of the Commission for the immediately 
preceding term is a member. 
"(B) The President may not designate as the vice chairman of the 
Commission for any term any commissioner who is a member of the 
political party of which the chairman for that term is a member. 
"(C) If any commissioner does not complete a term as chairman 
or vice chairman by reason of death, resignation, removal from office 
as a commissioner, or expiration of his term of office as a commissioner, 
the President shall designate as the chairman or vice chairman, as the 
91 STAT. 868 
PUBLIC LAW 95-106—AUG. 17, 1977 
19 use 1330 
note. 
5 use 5332 
note. 
case may be, for the remainder of such term a commissioner who is a 
member of the same political party. Designation of a chairman under 
this subparagraph may be made without regard to the limitation set 
forth in subparagraph (A) (i). 
" (4) The vice chairman shall act as chairman in case of the absence 
or disability of the chairman. During any period in which there is no 
chairman or vice chairman, the commissioner having the longest period 
of continuous service as a commissioner shall act as chairman. 
"(5) No commissioner shall actively engage in any business, voca-
tion, or employment other than that of serving as a commissioner. 
"(6) A majority of the commissioners in office shall constitute a 
quorum, 
but 
the 
Commission 
may 
function 
notwithstanding 
vacancies.". 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by this section shall 
apply with respect to the designation of chairmen and vice chairmen 
of the United States International Trade Commission for terms 
beginning after June 16,1978. 
SEC. 3. ADMINISTRATION OF COMMISSION. 
(a) Subsection (a) of section 331 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 
U.S.C. 1331) is amended to read as follows: 
- "(a) 
ADMINISTRATION.— 
"(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the chairman of the 
Commission shall— 
"(A) appoint and fix the compensation of such employees of 
the Commission as he deems necessary (other than the personal 
staff of each commissioner), including the secretary, 
"(B) procure the services of experts and consultants in accord-
ance with the provisions of section 3109 of title 5, United States 
Code, and 
"(C) exercise and be responsible for all other administrative 
functions of the Commission. 
Any decision bv the chairman under this paragraph shall be subject 
to disapproval by a majority vote of all the commissioners in office. 
" (2) Subject to approval by a majority vote of all the commissioners 
in office, the chairman may— 
"(A) terminate the employment of any supervisory employee 
of the Commission whose duties involve substantial personal 
responsibility for Commission matters and who is compensated 
at a rate equal to, or in excess of, the rate for grade GS-15 of the 
General Schedule in section 5332 of title 5, United States Code, 
and 
"(B) formulate the annual budget of the Commission. 
"(3) No member of the Commission, in making public statements 
with respect to any policy matter for which the Commission has 
responsibility, shall represent himself as speaking for the Commission, 
or his views as being the views of the Commission, with respect to 
such matter except to the extent that the Commission has adopted the 
policy being expressed.". 
(b) Section 331 of such Act (19 U.S.C. 1331) is amended— 
(1) by striking out "approved by the Commission" in subsec-
tion (c) and inserting in lieu thereof the following: "approved 
by the chairman (except that in the case of a commissioner, or 
the personal staff of any commissioner, such vouchers may be 
approved by that commissioner)", and 
(2) by striking out subsection (d) and redesignating subsec-
tions (e), (f), and (g) as (d), (e), and (f), respectively. 
PUBLIC LAW 95-106—AUG. 17, 1977 
91 STAT. 869 
(c) The amendments made by this section take effect on the date of Effective date, 
enactment of this Act. 
19 USC 1331 
note. 
SEC. 4. HARMONIZATION OF TRADE STATISTICS. 
Section 484(e) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1484(e)) is 
amended by striking out "production," and inserting in lieu thereof 
the following: "production and programs for achieving international 
harmonization of trade statistics,". 
SEC. 5. CONTINUATION OF REPORTS WITH RESPECT TO SYNTHETIC 
19 USC 1332 
ORGANIC CHEMICALS. 
note. 
The International Trade Commission is hereby directed to make, 
for each calendar year ending before January 1, 1981, reports with 
respect to synthetic organic chemicals similar in scope to the reports 
made with respect to such chemicals for the calendar year 1976. 
Approved August 17, 1977. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORTS No. 95-217 (Coram, on Ways and Means) and 95-518 (Coram, of 
Conference). 
SENATE REPORT No. 95-122 (Coram, on Finance). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 123 (1977): 
n 
Apr. 25, considered and passed House. 
May 17, considered and passed Senate, araended. 
Aug. 4, House agreed to conference report. 
Aug. 5, Senate agreed to conference report. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 13, No. 34: 
Aug. 18, Presidential stateraent. 
. . .