Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 70.djvu/1015

 70

STAT.]

P u b l i c Law 940

959

PUBLIC LAW 940-1 AUG. 3, 1956

CHAPTER 906

AN ACT To amend the Act of March 3, 1901 (31 Stat. 1449) as amended, to incorporate in the Organic Act of the National Bureau of Standards the authority to use the Worlfing Capital Fund, and to permit certain improvements in fiscal practices.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of Afnerioa in Congress asseinMed^ That the Act entitled "An Act to establish the National Bureau of Standards", approved March 3, 1901, as amended, is amended by striking out sections 7 and 8 and inserting in lieu thereof the following sections: "SEC. 7. The Secretary shall charge for services performed under the authority of section 3 of this Act, except in cases where he determines that the interest of the Government would be best served by waiving the charge. Such charges may be based upon fixed prices or cost. The appropriation or fund bearing the cost of the services may be reimbursed, or the Secretary may require advance payment subject to such adjustment on completion of the work as may be agreed upon. "SEC. 8. I n the absence of specific agreement to the contrary, additional facilities, including equipment, purchased pursuant to the performance of services authorized by section 3 of this Act shall become the property of the Department of Commerce." SEC. 2. Such Act is further amended by striking out sections 11, 12, and 13 and inserting in lieu thereof the following sections: "SEC. 11. (a) The Secretary of Commerce is authorized to accept and utilize gifts or bequests of real or personal property for the purpose of aiding and facilitating the work authorized therein. " (b) For the purpose of Federal income, estate, and gift taxes, gifts and bequests accepted by the Secretary of Commerce under the authority of this Act shall be deemed to be gifts and bequests to or for the use of the United States. "SEC. 12. (a) The National Bureau of Standards is authorized to utilize in the performance of its functions the Working Capital F u n d established by the Act of June 29, 1950 (64 Stat. 275), and additional amounts as from time to time may be required for the purposes of said fund are hereby authorized to be appropriated. " (b) The working capital of the fund shall be available for obligation and payment for any activities authorized by this Act, as amended, and for any activities for which provision is made in the appropriations which reimburse the fund. "(c) I n the performance of authorized activities, the Working Capital Fund shall be available and may be reimbursed for expenses of hire of automobile, hire of consultants, and travel to meetings, to the extent that such expenses are authorized for the appropriations of the Department of Commerce. " (d) The fund may be credited with advances and reimbursements, including receipts from non-Federal sources, for services performed under the authority of section 3 of this Act. "(e) As used in this Act the term 'cost' shall be construed to include directly related expenses and appropriate charges for indirect and administrative expenses. " (f) The amount of any earned net income resulting from the operation of the fund at the close of each fiscal year shall be paid into the general fund of the Treasury: Provided, That such earned net income may be applied first to restore any prior impairment of the fund." Approved August 3, 1956.

Augusta, 1956 TS. 2060]

National B w e a u of Standards. 31 Stat. 1450. IS u s e 276. Service charf'es.

Ownership of facilities. 15 USC 273. 64 Stat. 373. IS u s e 2 7 8 a 278c. G i f t s and bequests.

Working Capital Fund. 64 Stat. 279.

15 USC 273.

�