An Act to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to make a study to determine the advantages and disadvantages of increased use of the metric system in the United States
PL 90-472 (H.R.3136), enacted 08/09/1968

82 STAT. J 
PUBUC LAW 90-472-AUG. 9, 1968 
693 
Public Law 90-472 
AN ACT 
August 9, 1968 
To authorize the Secretary of Coannerce to make a study to determine the advan- 
[H. R. 3136] 
tages and disadvantages of iaereased use of the metric system in the United 
States. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assemhled^ That the Secretary of 
^'^^^'^ system. 
Commerce is hereby authorized to conduct a program of investigation, 
" ^' 
research, and survey to determine the impact of increasing worldwide 
use of the metric system on the United States; to appraise the desir-
ability and practicability of increasing the use of metric weights and 
measures in the United States; to study the feasibility of retaining 
and promoting by international use of dimensional and other engi-
neering standards based on the customary measurement units of the 
United States; and to evaluate the costs and benefits of alternative 
courses of action which may be feasible for the United States. 
SEC. 2. In carrying out the program described in the first section of 
investigation 
this Act, the Secretary, among other things, shall— 
quir^melus^^ 
(1) investigate and appraise the advantages and disadvantages 
to the United States in international trade and commerce, and in 
military and other areas of international relations, of the increased 
use of an internationally standardized system of weights and 
measures; 
(2) appraise economic and military advantages and disad-
vantages of the increased use of the metric system in the United 
States or of the increased use of such system in specific fields and 
the impact of such increased use upon those affected; 
(3) conduct extensive comparative studies of the systems of 
weights and measures used in educational, engineering, manu-
facturing, commercial, public, and scientific areas, and the rela-
tive advantages and disadvantages, and degree of standardization 
of each in its respective field; 
(4) investigate and appraise the possible practical difficulties 
which might be encountered in accomplishing the increased use 
of the metric system of weights and measures generally or in 
specific fields or areas in the United States; 
(5) permit appropriate participation by representatives of 
United States industry, science, engineering, and labor, and their 
associations, in the planning and conduct of the program author-
ized by the first section of this Act, and in the evaluation of the 
information secured under such program; and 
(6) consult and cooperate with other government agencies, 
Federal, State, and local, and, to the extent practicable, with 
foreign governments and international organizations. 
SEC. 3. In conducting the studies and developing the recommenda- m^a'Lurlmln" 
tions required in this Act, the Secretary shall give full consideration to system, results. 
the advantages, disadvantages, and problems associated with possible 
changes in either the system of measurement units or the related di-
mensional and engineering standards currently used in the United 
States, and specifically shall— 
(1) investigate the extent to which substantial changes in the 
size, shape, and design of important industrial products would be 
necessary to realize the benefits which might result from general 
use of metric units of measurement in the United States; 
(2) investigate the extent to which uniform and accepted engi-
neering standards based on the metric system of measurement 
units are in use in each of the fields under study and compare the 
694 
PUBLIC LAW 90-473-AUG. 10,1968 
[82 STAT. 
Report to Con-
gress. 
Funds. 
Expiration date. 
extent to such use and the utility and degree of sophistication of 
such metric standards with those in use in the United States; and 
(3) recoiiunend specific means of meeting the practical diffi-
culties and costs in those areas of the economy where any recom-
mended change in the system of measurement units and related 
dimensional and engineering standards would raise significant 
practical difldculties or entail significant costs of conversion. 
SEC. 4. The Secretary shall submit to the Congress such interim 
reports as he deems desirable, and within three years after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, a full and complete report of the findings 
made under the program authorized by this Act, together with such 
recommendations as he considers to be appropriate and in the best 
interests of the United States. 
SEC. 5. From funds previously appropriated to the Department of 
Commerce, the Secretary is autliorized to utilize such appropriated 
sums as are necessary, but not to exceed $500,000, to carry out the pur-
poses of this Act for the first year of the program. 
SEC. 6. This Act shall expire thirty days after the submission of the 
final report pursuant to section 3. 
Approved August 9, 1968. 
August 10, 1968 
[H. R. 18706] 
District of 
Columbia Appro-
priation Act, 
1969. 
Ante, 
p. 612. 
D.C. Code 43-
1601 note. 
Public Law 90-473 
AN ACT 
Making appropriations for the government of the District of Columbia and 
other activities chargeable in whole or in part against the revenues of said 
District for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1968, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of Armrica in Congress assembled^ That the following 
sums are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not other-
wise appropriated, for the District of Columbia for the fiscal year 
ending June 30, 1969, and for other purposes, namely: 
FEDEKAL PAYMENT TO THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 
For payment to the following funds of the District of Columbia 
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1969: $79,000,000 to the general 
fund; $2,098,000 to the water fund; and $1,184,000 to the sanitary 
sewage works fund, as authorized by the District of Columbia Rev-
enue Act of 1947, as amended (D.C. Code, Sec. 47-2501 (a) ; 81 Stat. 
339), and the Act of May 18,1954 (D.C. Code, Sec. 43-1541 and 1611). 
LOANS TO THE DISTRICT or COLUMBIA FOR CAPITAL OUTLAY 
For loans to the District of Columbia as authorized by the Act of 
May 18, 1954 (68 Stat. 101), and the Act of June 6, 1958, as amended 
(D.C. Code, Sec. 9-220(b); 81 Stat. 339), $66,473,000, which together 
with balances of previous appropriations for this purpose, shall remain 
available until expended and be advanced upon request of the Com-
missioner to the following funds: general fund, $57,223,000; highway 
fund, $8,000,000; and water fund, $1,250,000.