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.
Public Law 96-461 · S. 2320 · 96th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Oct 15, 1980 · Science, Technology, Communications
Sponsor: Sen. Howard Cannon (D-NV)
Cosponsors: None
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
(Senate agreed to House amendments with an amendment)
National Bureau of Standards Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1981 and 1982 - Authorizes appropriations to carry out the activities of the National Bureau of Standards for fiscal years 1981 and 1982. Sets forth minimum amounts to be spent on specified programs, including the Environmental Measurements Program, Earthquake Hazards Engineering, Measurement Standards for the Handicapped, the Automated Manufacturing Research Facility, and for Transfer to Working Capital Fund. Establishes a spending ceiling for expenses of the Bureau incurred outside the United States.
Authorizes additional appropriations for fiscal years 1981 and 1982 to carry out the activities performed by the National Technical Information Service and for adjustments in salary and employee benefits.
Permits the transfer of funds among the line items according to a specified formula and procedure.
Increases the ceiling on the amount the Bureau may spend for facilities improvement, effective October 1, 1980. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to expend funds to defray the expenses of foreign nationals not in service to the Federal government while they are performing scientific or engineering work at the National Bureau of Standards or participating in the exchange of scientific or technical information at the Bureau, effective October 1, 1980.
Authorizes employees of the Bureau to participate in foreign exchanges offered by a foreign government for the performance of scientific or engineering activities or the exchange of information if to do so would be in the interests of the United States.
Repeals the provision relating to a limited authorization of appropriations for fiscal years 1979 and 1980.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 13 actions.
- Oct 15, 1980Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-461.
- Oct 7, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Oct 6, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- Oct 3, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Oct 2, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendments.
- Sep 30, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendments with an amendment.
- Jul 21, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, in lieu of H.R. 7113.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in House.
- May 9, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- May 5, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Feb 20, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.