Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 102 Part 2.djvu/423

 PUBLIC LAW 100-418—AUG. 23, 1988

102 STAT. 1427

Subpart A—National Institute of Standards and Technology SEC. 5111. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

Section 1 of the Act of March 3, 1901 (15 U.S.C. 271) is amended to read as follows: "FINDINGS AND PURPOSES

1. (a) The Congress finds and declares the following: "(1) The ftiture well-being of the United States economy depends on a strong manufacturing base and requires continual improvements in manufacturing technology, quaUty control, and techniques for ensuring product reliability and costeffectiveness. "(2) Precise measurements, calibrations, and standards help United States industry and manufacturing concerns compete strongly in world markets. "(3) improvements in manufacturing and product technol(^y depend on fundamental scientific and engineering research to develop (A) the precise and accurate measurement methods and measurement standards needed to improve quality and reliability, and (B) new technological processes by which such improved methods may be used in practice to improve manufacturing and to assist industry to transfer important laboratory discoveries into commercial products. "(4) Scientific pix^^ress, public safety, and product compatibility and standanlization also depend on the development of precise measurement methods, standards, and related basic technol(^es. "(5) The National Bureau of Standards since its establishment has served as the Federal focal point in developing basic measurement standards and related technol(^es, has taken a lead role in stimulating cooperative work among private industrial organizations in efforts to surmount technological hurdles, and otherwise has been responsible for assisting in the improvement of industrial technology. "(6) The Federal Government should maintain a national science, engineering, and technology laboratory which provides measurement methods, standards, and associated technolc^es and which aids United States companies in using new technol(^es to improve products and manufacturing processes. "(7) Such national laboratory also should serve industry, trade associations, State technolc^y prc^rams, labor organizations, professional societies, and educational institutions by disseminating information on new basic technologies including automated manufacturing processes. "0>) It is the purpose of this Act— "(1) to rename the National Bureau of Standards as the National Institute of Standards and Technology and to modernize and restructure that agency to augment its unique ability to enhance the competitiveness of American industry while maintaining its traditional function as lead national laboratory for providing the measurements, calibrations, and quality assurance techniques which underpin United States commerce, technological progress, improved product reliability and manufacturing processes, and public safety;

"SECTION

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