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National Bureau of Standards Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1987

Public Law 99-574 · H.R. 4354 · 99th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Oct 28, 1986 · Science, Technology, Communications

Sponsor: Rep. Don Fuqua (D-FL-2)

Cosponsors: None

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateVoice vote
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.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

National Bureau of Standards Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1987 - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 to the Secretary of Commerce (the Secretary) for the following activities performed by the National Bureau of Standards (NBS): (1) measurement research and standards; (2) materials science and engineering; (3) engineering measurements and standards; (4) computer science and technology; and (5) research support activities.

Reserves specified amounts from such funds for: (1) steel technology; (2) the Center for Building Technology; (3) the Center for Fire Research; (4) Computer Security Activities; (5) the technical competence fund; and (6) the Cold Neutron Source Facility.

Prohibits the transfer of funds among the listed categories from exceeding ten percent unless: (1) written notice is given to the appropriate congressional officers and authorizing committees; and (2) 30 days have passed after such notice.

Directs NBS to seek reimbursements from other Federal agencies to expand its efforts in support of basic scientific research on the atmospheric, climatic, and environmental consequences of nuclear explosions and nuclear exchanges.

Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 to the Secretary for: (1) the activities of the Office of Productivity, Technology and Innovation; and (2) the patent licensing activities of the National Technical Information Service.

Authorizes the Director of NBS to expend up to one percent of NBS funds in any fiscal year for awards of research fellowships and other forms of financial assistance to university students who show promise as present or future contributors to the mission of NBS.

Directs the Board of Assessment of NBS programs to include in its annual review an assessment of emerging technologies which are expected to require research in metrology to keep NBS abreast of its mission, including specified areas.

Directs NBS, in conjunction with the National Academy of Sciences, to establish and conduct a post-doctoral fellowship program to be carried out in a specified manner.

Requires the Director of NBS to discuss with Federal agencies and private sector organizations their demand for, and willingness to pay for, the process and quality control and calibration programs of NBS. Requires the Director, within six months after enactment of this Act, to report to specified congressional committees on the findings based on such discussions, with recommendations on a comprehensive Federal process and quality control and calibration program.

Directs the Office of Personnel Management and NBS to jointly design a demonstration project relating to an alternative personnel management system which shall be conducted by the Director of NBS. Sets forth the elements of such project. Directs the Comptroller General, within four years after the demonstration project commences, to submit a final report on such project to specified congressional committees.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

  • Post Office and Civil Service Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported by
  • Science, Space, and Technology Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Science, Research and Technology Subcommittee
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.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 17 actions.

  1. Oct 28, 1986Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 99-574.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Oct 16, 1986PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Oct 10, 1986Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Senate Amendments by Voice Vote.
  5. Oct 3, 1986FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
  6. FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
  7. Aug 12, 1986FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
  8. Jul 25, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
  9. Jul 23, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
  10. Jun 19, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
  11. Jun 4, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
  12. May 22, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
  13. Mar 19, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Science, Research and Technology Subcommittee of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
  14. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Science, Research and Technology Subcommittee of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
  15. Mar 12, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Science, Research and Technology Subcommittee of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
  16. Mar 10, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
  17. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
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.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.