An act to authorize appropriations to the Secretary of Commerce for the programs of the National Bureau of Standards for fiscal years 1981 and 1982, and for other purposes.
PL 96-461 (S.2320), enacted 10/15/1980

PUBLIC LAW 96-461—OCT. 15, 1980 
94 STAT. 2049 
Public Law 96-461 
96th Congress 
An Act 
To authorize appropriations to the Secretary of Commerce for the programs of the 
National Bureau of Standards for fiscal years 1981 and 1982, and for other 
purposes. 
Oct. 15, 1980 
[S. 2320] 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled. That this Act may be National Bureau 
cited as the "National Bureau of Standards Authorization Act for A^thoriition 
Fiscal Years 1981 and 1982". 
Act for Fiscal 
Years 1981 and 
AUTHORIZATION FOR PROGRAM ACTIYITIES 
1^82. 
SEC. 2. (a) There are hereby authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary of Commerce, hereinafter referred to as the Secretary, to 
carry out activities performed by the National Bureau of Stemdards, 
the sums set forth in the following line items: 
(1) Measurement Research and Standards, for fiscal year 1981, 
$44,161,000, and for fiscal year 1982, $52,577,000; 
(2) Engineering Measurements and Standards, for fiscal year 
1981, $21,516,000, and for fiscal year 1982, $24,667,000; 
(3) Computer Science and Technology, for fiscal year 1981, 
$11,603,000, and for fiscal year 1982, $12,263,000; 
(4) Core Research Program for Innovation and Productivity, 
for fiscal year 1981, $12,800,000, and for fiscal year 1982, 
$18,080,000; 
(5) Technical Competence Fund, for fiscal year 1981, 
$6,176,000, and for fiscal year 1982, $8,794,000; 
(6) Fire Research Center, for fiscal year 1981, $1,253,000, and 
for fiscal year 1982, $1,378,000; 
(7) Central Technical Support, for fiscal year 1981, $10,112,000, 
and for fiscal year 1982, $24,623,000. 
(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of this or any other Act, 
for fiscal years 1981 and 1982: 
(1) of the total amount authorized under subsection (aXD, not 
less than $245,000 shall be available for the "Environmental 
Measurements Program" for fiscal year 1981 and $270,000 for 
fiscal year 1982; 
(2) of the total amount authorized under subsection (a)(2), not 
less than $425,000 shall be available for the purpose of "Earth-
quake Hazards Engineering" for fiscal year 1981 and $475,000 for 
fiscal year 1982; 
(3) of the total amounts authorized under subsections (aXD and 
(aX2), not less than $1,000,000 shall be available for "Measure-
ment Standards for the Handicapped" for fiscal year 1981 and 
$1,100,000 for fiscal year 1982; 
(4) of the total amount authorized under subsection (aX4), 
$2,000,000 is authorized for the purpose of "Automated Manufac-
turing Research Facility" for fiscal year 1981 and $4,000,000 for 
fiscal year 1982; and 
94 STAT. 2050 
PUBLIC LAW 96-461—OCT. 15, 1980 
(5) of the total of the amounts authorized under subsections 
(a)(4) and (a)(7), not more than $6,123,000 shall be available for 
"Transfer to Working Capital Fund" for fiscal year 1981, and of 
the total of the amounts authorized under subsections (aXD, 
(a)(2), (a)(4), and (a)(7), not more than $11,245,000 shall be availa-
ble for "Transfer to Working Capital Fund" for fiscal year 1982. 
EXCESS FOREIGN CURRENCY 
SEC. 3. In addition to the sums authorized in section 2, there is 
authorized to be appropriated not more than $400,000 for fiscal year 
1981, and not more than $500,000 for fiscal year 1982, for expenses of 
the National Bureau of Standards incurred outside the United States, 
to be paid for in foreign currencies that the Secretary of the Treasury 
determines to be excess to the normal requirements of the United 
States. 
NATIONAL TECHNICAL INFORMATION SERVICE 
SEC. 4. In addition to the sums authorized in section 2, there is 
authorized to be appropriated the sum of $8,140,0()0 for fiscal year 
1981, and the sum of $9,920,000 for fiscal year 1982, for the Assistant 
Secretary of Commerce for Productivity, Technology, and Innovation 
to carry out activities performed by the National Technical Informa-
tion Service. 
SALARY ADJUSTMENTS 
SEC. 5. In addition to the sums authorized to be appropriated by this 
Act, such additional sums as may be necessary to make any adjust-
ments in salary, pay, retirement, and other employee benefits which 
may be provided for by law are authorized to be appropriated for 
fiscal years 1981 and 1982, and, if the full amount necessary to make 
such adjustments is not appropriated, the adjustments shall be made 
proportionately from section 4 and in the line items in section 2(a) in 
a manner reflecting the extent to which the amount of each such line 
item in section 2(a) is attributable to employee benefits of the type 
involved. 
AVAILABIUTY OF APPROPRIATIONS 
SEC. 6. Appropriations made under the authority provided in this 
Act shall remain available for obligation, for expenditure, or for 
obligation and expenditure for periods specified in the Acts making 
such appropriations. 
TRANSFER OF FUNDS 
SEC. 7. Funds may be transferred among the line items listed in 
section 2(a), but neither the total funds transferred from any line 
item nor the total funds transferred to any line item may exceed 10 
per centum of the amount authorized for that line item in section 2(a), 
unless: 
Report to 
(1) thirty calendar days have passed after the Secretary or his 
Congress. 
designee has transmitted to the Speaker of the House of Repre-
sentatives, to the President of the Senate, to the chairman of the 
Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Repre-
sentatives, and to the chairman of the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a written report 
containing a full and complete explanation of the transfer 
involved and the reason for it, or 
PUBLIC LAW 96-461—OCT. 15, 1980 
94 STAT. 2051 
(2) before the expiration of thirty calendar days the chairmen 
of both the Committee on Science and Technology of the House 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate have written to the Secretary to the effect that they 
have no objection to the proposed transfer. 
FACIUTIES IMPROVEMENT 
SEC. 8. Section 14 of the Act of March 3,1901 (15 U.S.C. 278(d)) as is use 278d. 
amended, is further amended by striking out "$75,000" and inserting 
in lieu thereof "$250,000". 
INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES 
SEC. 9. In order to develop and strengthen the expertise of the 
National Bureau of Standards in science and engineering, to enhance 
the Secretary's ability to m£iintain the Bureau's programs at the 
forefront of worldwide developments in science and engineering, and 
to cooperate in international scientific activities, the Act of March 3, 
1901 (15 U.S.C. 271-278h), as amended, is further amended by 
inserting immediately after section 16 the following new section: 
"SEC. 17. (a) The Secretary is authorized, notwithstanding any 
other provision of law, to expend such sums, within the limit of 
appropriated funds, as the Secretary may deem desirable, through 
the grant of fellowships or any other form of financial assistance, to 
defray the expenses of foreign nationals not in service to the Govern-
ment of the United States while they are performing scientific or 
engineering work at the National Bureau of Standards or participat-
ing in the exchange of scientific or technical information at the 
National Bureau of Standards. 
"(b) The Congress consents to the acceptance by employees of the 
National Bureau of Standards of fellowships, lectureships, or other 
positions for the performance of scientific or engineering activities or 
for the exchange of scientific or technical information, offered by a 
foreign government, and to the acceptance and retention by an 
employee of the National Bureau of Standards of any form of 
financial or other assistance provided by a foreign government as 
compensation for or as a means of defraying expenses associated with 
the performance of scientific or engineering activities or the 
exchange of scientific or technicEil information, in any case where the 
acceptance of such fellowship, lectureship, or position or the accept-
ance £md retention of such assistance is determined by the Secretary 
to be appropriate and consistent with the interests of the United 
States. For the purposes of this subsection, the definitions appearing 
in section 7342(a) of title 5 of the United States Code apply. Civil 
actions may be brought and penalties assessed against any employee 
who knowingly accepts and retains assistance from a foreign govern-
ment not consented to by this subsection in the same manner as is 
prescribed by section 7342(h) of title 5 of the United States Code. 
"(c) Provisions of law prohibiting the use of any part of any 
appropriation for the payment of compensation to any employee or 
officer of the Government of the United States who is not a citizen of 
the United States shall not apply to the payment of compensation to 
scientific or engineering personnel of the National Bureau of Stand-
ards.". 
Foreign 
nationals, 
financial 
assistance. 
15 u s e 278g. 
NBS employees, 
foreign 
assistance 
and 
compensation. 
94 STAT. 2052 
PUBLIC LAW 96-461—OCT. 15, 1980 
REPEAL OF UMITED AUTHORIZATION 
SEC. 10. Section 18 of the Act of March 3, 1901, as amended (15 
U.S.C. 278h), is further amended by: (1) repeahng subsection (b); and 
(2) removing the designation "(a)' from the remaining paragraph. 
EFFECTIVE DATE OF ORGANIC ACT AMENDMENTS 
15 use 278g 
SEC. 11. The effective date of sections 8 and 9 of this Act shall be 
note. 
October 1,1980. 
Approved October 15, 1980. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 96-949 accompanying H.R. 7113 (Comm. on Science and 
Technology). 
SENATE REPORT No. 96-683 (Ck)mm. on Commerce, Science and Transportation). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 126 (1980): 
May 9, considered and passed Senate. 
July 21, H.R. 7113 considered and passed House; passage vacated and S. 2320, 
amended, passed in lieu. 
Sept. 30, Senate concurred in House amendments with amendments. 
Oct. 2, House concurred in Senate amendments.