15 U.S.C. § 205a — Congressional statement of findings

submitted 51 years ago by Pub. L. 94-168 to r/title-15-COMMERCE-AND-TRADE · 237 words · no verdicts yet

in plain englishAI-generated · not legal advice

Congress found the U.S. helped create global metric standards in 1875. But the U.S. never fully adopted the metric system itself. This puts American industry at a trade disadvantage, so the government should help it convert.

Congress made the following findings when it passed this law: (1) The United States originally signed the 1875 Treaty of the Meter, which set up the General Conference of Weights and Measures, the International Committee of Weights and Measures, and the International Bureau of Weights and Measures. (2) Even though U.S. law has allowed metric measurements since 1866, the United States is the only major industrial nation that has not made a national policy of committing to, and taking steps toward, converting to the metric system. (3) World trade increasingly relies on the metric system. (4) U.S. industry is often at a disadvantage in international markets because it uses a nonstandard measurement system, and sometimes can't sell goods because they aren't measured in metric terms. (5) Because the metric system is simpler and standardized, industries that have switched to it have saved a lot of money. (6) The federal government has a responsibility to help industry — especially small businesses — voluntarily convert to the metric system, by developing procedures and techniques for doing so. (7) The metric system could bring real benefits to the federal government's own operations.

the actual law source: uscode.house.gov ↗public domain

The Congress finds as follows:

(1)

The United States was an original signatory party to the 1875 Treaty of the Meter (20 Stat. 709), which established the General Conference of Weights and Measures, the International Committee of Weights and Measures and the International Bureau of Weights and Measures.

(2)

Although the use of metric measurement standards in the United States has been authorized by law since 1866 (Act of July 28, 1866; 14 Stat. 339), this Nation today is the only industrially developed nation which has not established a national policy of committing itself and taking steps to facilitate conversion to the metric system.

(3)

World trade is increasingly geared towards the metric system of measurement.

(4)

Industry in the United States is often at a competitive disadvantage when dealing in international markets because of its nonstandard measurement system, and is sometimes excluded when it is unable to deliver goods which are measured in metric terms.

(5)

The inherent simplicity of the metric system of measurement and standardization of weights and measures has led to major cost savings in certain industries which have converted to that system.

(6)

The Federal Government has a responsibility to develop procedures and techniques to assist industry, especially small business, as it voluntarily converts to the metric system of measurement.

(7)

The metric system of measurement can provide substantial advantages to the Federal Government in its own operations.

Source credit: (Pub. L. 94–168, § 2, Dec. 23, 1975, 89 Stat. 1007; Pub. L. 100–418, title V, § 5164(a), Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1451.)

history & why it existsrecord from the source credit

1975Enacted · Pub. L. 94-168 · 89 Stat. 1007
1988Amended · Pub. L. 100-418 · 102 Stat. 1451

A history note hasn’t been published yet. The record shows enactment by Pub. L. 94-168 on 1975-12-23.

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