CHAPTER 40—DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

        

§1501. Establishment of Department; Secretary; seal

There shall be at the seat of government an executive department to be known as the Department of Commerce, and a Secretary of Commerce, who shall be the head thereof, who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and whose term and tenure of office shall be like that of the heads of the other executive departments; and the provisions of title 4 of the Revised Statutes, including all amendments thereto, shall be applicable to said department. The said Secretary shall cause a seal of office to be made for the said department of such device as the President shall approve, and judicial notice shall be taken of the said seal.

(Feb. 14, 1903, ch. 552, §1, 32 Stat. 825; Feb. 17, 1909, ch. 137, §§1, 2, 35 Stat. 626; Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 297, §1, 35 Stat. 861; Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 141, §1, 37 Stat. 736; Mar. 3, 1917, ch. 163, §1, 39 Stat. 1111; Mar. 4, 1925, ch. 549, §4, 43 Stat. 1301.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Title 4 of the Revised Statutes, referred to in text, was entitled "Provisions Applicable to All Executive Departments", and consisted of R.S. §§158 to 198. For provisions of the Code derived from such title 4, see sections 101, 301, 303, 304, 503, 2952, 3101, 3106, 3341, 3345 to 3349, 5535, 5536 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees; section 207 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure; sections 514, 520 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure; section 3321 of Title 31, Money and Finance.

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 591 of Title 5 prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, by Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 378.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Transfer of Functions

A Department of Labor, under charge of a Commissioner of Labor, was established by act June 13, 1888, ch. 380, 25 Stat. 182, and by section 9 of that act, the Bureau of Labor created under act June 27, 1884, ch. 127, 23 Stat. 60, was to cease on the organization of the Department. The Department of Commerce and Labor, as an Executive Department, with a Secretary of Commerce and Labor as the head thereof, was established by act Feb. 14, 1903, ch. 552, 32 Stat. 825, and by section 4 of that act, the Department of Labor was placed under the jurisdiction and made a part of the Department of Commerce and Labor with various other offices, bureaus, and branches of the public service also transferred to and placed under the jurisdiction of the Department so established. In subsequent appropriation and other acts, the Department of Labor was designated as the Bureau of Labor in that Department. But by act March 4, 1913, ch. 141, 37 Stat. 736, a new executive department was created, to be called "The Department of Labor," with a Secretary of Labor to be the head thereof, and the Department of Commerce and Labor was thereafter to be called the Department of Commerce, and the Secretary thereof to be called the Secretary of Commerce.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

Functions of all other officers of Department of Commerce and functions of all agencies and employees of such Department, with a few exceptions, transferred to Secretary of Commerce, with power vested in him to authorize their performance or the performance of any of his functions by any such officers, agencies, and employees by Reorg. Plan No. 5 of 1950, §§1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1263, set out below.

Deputy Secretary of Commerce

For provisions directing the President to appoint a Deputy Secretary of Commerce, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, with the Deputy Secretary to receive compensation at the rate payable for Level II of the Executive Schedule and with the Deputy Secretary to perform such duties and exercise such powers as the Secretary may from time to time prescribe, see section 2(b)(1) of 1979 Reorg. Plan No. 3, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Creation of the Office of Deputy Secretary of Commerce by section 2(b)(1) of 1979 Reorg. Plan. No. 3 effective Dec. 7, 1979, see Ex. Ord. 12175, set out as a note under section 2171 of Title 19, Customs Duties.

Order of Succession

For order of succession during any period when both Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Commerce are unable to perform functions and duties of office of Secretary, see Ex. Ord. No. 13242, Dec. 18, 2001, 66 F.R. 66260, listed in a table under section 3345 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

REORGANIZATION PLAN NO. 5 OF 1950

Eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1263, as amended July 2, 1954, ch. 456, title III, §304, 68 Stat. 430

Prepared by the President and transmitted to the Senate and the House of Representatives in Congress assembled, March 13, 1950, pursuant to the provisions of the Reorganization Act of 1949, approved June 20, 1949 [see 5 U.S.C. 901 et seq.].

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Section 1. Transfer of Functions to the Secretary

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this section, there are hereby transferred to the Secretary of Commerce all functions of all other officers of the Department of Commerce and all functions of all agencies and employees of such Department.

(b) This section shall not apply to the functions vested by the Administrative Procedure Act (60 Stat. 237) [see 5 U.S.C. 551 et seq. and 701 et seq.] in hearing examiners employed by the Department of Commerce, nor to the functions of the Civil Aeronautics Board, of the Inland Waterways Corporation, or of the Advisory Board of the Inland Waterways Corporation.

Sec. 2. Performance of Functions of Secretary

The Secretary of Commerce may from time to time make such provisions as he shall deem appropriate authorizing the performance by any other officer, or by any agency or employee, of the Department of Commerce of any function of the Secretary, including any function transferred to the Secretary by the provisions of this reorganization plan.

Sec. 3. Administrative Assistant Secretary

[Repealed. July 2, 1954, ch. 456, title III, §304, 68 Stat. 430. Section authorized an Administrative Assistant Secretary of Commerce.]

Sec. 4. Incidental Transfers

The Secretary of Commerce may from time to time effect such transfers within the Department of Commerce of any of the records, property, personnel, and unexpended balances (available or to be made available) of appropriations, allocations, and other funds of such Department as he may deem necessary in order to carry out the provisions of this reorganization plan.

Message of the President

To the Congress of the United States:

I transmit herewith Reorganization Plan No. 5 of 1950, prepared in accordance with the Reorganization Act of 1949 and providing for reorganizations in the Department of Commerce. My reasons for transmitting this plan are stated in an accompanying general message.

After investigation I have found and hereby declare that each reorganization included in Reorganization Plan No. 5 of 1950 is necessary to accomplish one or more of the purposes set forth in section 2(a) of the Reorganization Act of 1949.

I have found and hereby declare that it is necessary to include in the accompanying reorganization plan, by reason of reorganizations made thereby, provisions for the appointment and compensation of an Administrative Assistant Secretary of Commerce. The rate of compensation fixed for this officer is that which I have found to prevail in respect to comparable officers in the executive branch of the Government.

The taking effect of the reorganizations included in this plan may not in itself result in substantial immediate savings. However, many benefits in improved operations are probable during the next years which will result in a reduction in expenditures as compared with those that would be otherwise necessary. An itemization of these reductions in advance of actual experience under this plan is not practicable.

Harry S. Truman.      

The White House, March 13, 1950.

Federal Maritime Board, and Maritime Functions of Secretary of Commerce

Section 307 of Reorg. Plan No. 21 of 1950, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3178, 64 Stat. 1273, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, provided that the functions transferred by the provisions of that Plan should not be subject to the provisions of Reorg. Plan No. 5 of 1950, set out above. Said Reorg. Plan No. 21 of 1950 created, within the Department of Commerce, the Federal Maritime Board, and the Maritime Administration, the latter, with a Maritime Administrator at its head. It abolished the United States Maritime Commission, transferring some of its functions and some of the functions of its Chairman to said Federal Maritime Board. It transferred the remainder of the functions of that Commission and its Chairman to the Secretary of Commerce, with power vested in him to authorize their performance by said Maritime Administrator.

Executive Order No. 13339

Ex. Ord. No. 13339, May 13, 2004, 69 F.R. 28037, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 13403, §3, May 12, 2006, 71 F.R. 28543, which established in the Department of Commerce a President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, was superseded by Ex. Ord. No. 13515, §4(a), Oct. 14, 2009, 74 F.R. 53638, formerly set out below, and by Ex. Ord. No. 14031, §4(a), May 28, 2021, 86 F.R. 29680, set out in a note under section 3501 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.

Executive Order No. 13515

Ex. Ord. No. 13515, Oct. 14, 2009, 74 F.R. 53635, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 13585, §4, Sept. 30, 2011, 76 F.R. 62282; Ex. Ord. No. 13652, §8, Sept. 30, 2013, 78 F.R. 61819, which established the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, was superseded by Ex. Ord. No. 13872, §4(a), May 13, 2019, 84 F.R. 22324, formerly set out below, and by Ex. Ord. No. 14031, §4(a), May 28, 2021, 86 F.R. 29680, set out in a note under section 3501 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.

Extension of Term of Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

Prior to revocation of Ex. Ord. No. 13515, term of Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders was extended until Sept. 30, 2019, by Ex. Ord. No. 13811, §1(s), Sept. 29, 2017, 82 F.R. 46363, formerly set out as a note under section 1013 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Previous extensions of term of Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders were contained in the following prior Executive Orders:

Ex. Ord. No. 13708, Sept. 30, 2015, 80 F.R. 60271, extended term until Sept. 30, 2017.

Ex. Ord. No. 13652, Sept. 30, 2013, 78 F.R. 61817, extended term until Sept. 30, 2015.

Ex. Ord. No. 13585, Sept. 30, 2011, 76 F.R. 62281, extended term until Sept. 30, 2013.

Executive Order No. 13872

Ex. Ord. No. 13872, May 13, 2019, 84 F.R. 22321, which established the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to promote the economic empowerment of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, was superseded by Ex. Ord. No. 14031, §4(a), May 28, 2021, 86 F.R. 29680, set out in a note under section 3501 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.

Extension of Term of Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

Term of Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders extended until Sept. 30, 2021, by Ex. Ord. No. 13889, Sept. 27, 2019, 84 F.R. 52743, formerly set out as a note under section 1013 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

§§1502, 1503. Omitted

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section 1502, act June 5, 1939, ch. 180, §1, 53 Stat. 808, established position of Under Secretary of Commerce. Position abolished by section 2(b)(2) of Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1979, 44 F.R. 69273, 93 Stat. 1381, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Section 1503, act June 5, 1939, ch. 180, §2, 53 Stat. 808, provided for performance by Under Secretary of Commerce of Secretary's duties on latter's death, absence, etc.

Executive Documents

Under Secretary for International Trade

The additional office of Under Secretary for International Trade, in the Department of Commerce, was provided for by section 2(c) of Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1979, 44 F.R. 69273, 93 Stat. 1381, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, to be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to receive compensation at the rate payable for Level III of the Executive Schedule, and to perform such duties and exercise such powers as the Secretary of Commerce may from time to time prescribe.

Under Secretary for Transportation

The additional office of "Under Secretary of Commerce for Transportation", in the Department of Commerce, was provided for by section 301 of Reorg. Plan No. 21 of 1950, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3178, 64 Stat. 1273, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, to be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to receive compensation at the rate prescribed by law for Under Secretaries of Executive departments, and to perform such duties as the Secretary of Commerce shall prescribe.

§1503a. Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs

There shall be in the Department of Commerce an Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs who shall be appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Under Secretary shall perform such duties as the Secretary of Commerce shall prescribe.

(Pub. L. 97–195, §1(a), June 16, 1982, 96 Stat. 115.)

§1503b. Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere; duties; appointment; compensation

There shall be in the Department of Commerce an Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere who shall serve as the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration established by Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970 [5 U.S.C. App.] and perform such duties as the Secretary of Commerce shall prescribe. The Under Secretary shall be appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and shall be compensated at the rate now or hereafter provided for Level III of the Executive Schedule Pay Rates (5 U.S.C. 5314).

(Pub. L. 99–659, title IV, §407(a), Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3739.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970, referred to in text, is set out under section 1511 of this title.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Service by Incumbent Administrator and Deputy Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Pub. L. 99–659, title IV, §407(c), Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3739, provided that: "The individual serving on the date of enactment of this Act [Nov. 14, 1986]—

"(A) as the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall also serve as the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere until such time as a successor is appointed under subsection (a) of this section [enacting this section]; and

"(B) as the Deputy Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall also serve as the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere until such time as a successor is appointed under subsection (b) of this section [enacting section 1507(c) of this title]."

§1504. Repealed. Pub. L. 97–195, §1(c)(1), June 16, 1982, 96 Stat. 115

Section, acts Feb. 14, 1903, ch. 552, §2, 32 Stat. 826; Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 141, §1, 37 Stat. 736; Mar. 3, 1917, ch. 163, §1, 39 Stat. 1111, provided for appointment by President of an Assistant Secretary of Commerce, who would perform such duties as prescribed by Secretary or required by law.

§1505. Additional Assistant Secretary; duties, rank of Assistant Secretaries

There shall be in the Department of Commerce one additional Assistant Secretary of Commerce, who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Secretary of Commerce may assign to his Assistant Secretaries such duties, including the direction of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, as he shall prescribe, or may be required by law. The Assistant Secretaries of Commerce shall be without numerical distinction of rank.

(July 15, 1947, ch. 251, 61 Stat. 326.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Provisions of last sentence that fixed the compensation of the Assistant Secretaries of Commerce have been omitted as the positions are under the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Section was formerly classified to section 592a of Title 5 prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 5 by Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 378.

Prior Provisions

Prior provisions for an additional Assistant Secretary of Commerce were contained in act May 20, 1926, ch. 344, §8 (1st sentence), 44 Stat. 573, as amended June 23, 1938, ch. 601, §1107(k), 52 Stat. 1029. Said position was terminated by section 592a–1 of former Title 5, Executive Departments and Government Officers and Employees. Section 8 of act May 20, 1926, was subsequently repealed by Pub. L. 85–726, title XIV, §1401(a), Aug. 23, 1958, 72 Stat. 806, and Pub. L. 97–195, §1(c)(2), June 16, 1982, 96 Stat. 115.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

Pursuant to powers transferred to Secretary of Commerce under Reorg. Plan No. 5 of 1950, §§1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1263, set out as a note under section 1501 of this title, Secretary has reassigned functions of Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce to other officers of Department.

Order of Succession

For order of succession during any period when both Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Commerce are unable to perform functions and duties of office of Secretary, see Ex. Ord. No. 13242, Dec. 18, 2001, 66 F.R. 66260, listed in a table under section 3345 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

§1506. Additional Assistant Secretary; appointment; applicability of section 1505

There shall be on and after July 2, 1954 in the Department of Commerce, in addition to the Assistant Secretaries now provided for by law, one additional Assistant Secretary of Commerce, who shall be appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and who shall be subject in all respects to the provisions of section 1505 of this title, relating to Assistant Secretaries of Commerce.

(July 2, 1954, ch. 456, title III, §304, 68 Stat. 430.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section constitutes the first sentence of section 304 of act July 2, 1954. The second sentence of such section 304 repealed section 3 of Reorg. Plan 5 of 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1263, set out as a note under section 1501 of this title, which established the position of Administrative Assistant Secretary of Commerce.

Section was formerly classified to section 592a–3 of Title 5 prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, by Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 378.

§1507. Additional Assistant Secretary; appointment; compensation; duties

There shall be in the Department of Commerce, in addition to the Assistant Secretaries now provided by law, one additional Assistant Secretary of Commerce who shall be appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall receive compensation at the rate prescribed by law for Assistant Secretaries of Commerce, and shall perform such duties as the Secretary of Commerce shall prescribe.

(Pub. L. 87–405, Feb. 16, 1962, 76 Stat. 9.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 592a–4 of Title 5 prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, by Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 378.

§1507a. Repealed. Pub. L. 97–31, §12(5), Aug. 6, 1981, 95 Stat. 154

Section, Pub. L. 91–469, §42(a), Oct. 21, 1970, 84 Stat. 1038, related to appointment, compensation, and duties of the Assistant Secretary for Maritime Affairs.

§1507b. Assistant Secretary of Commerce; appointment; compensation; duties

There shall be in the Department of Commerce, in addition to the Assistant Secretaries provided by law as of November 12, 1977, one additional Assistant Secretary of Commerce who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Such Assistant Secretary shall perform such duties as the Secretary of Commerce shall prescribe.

(Pub. L. 95–173, §9(a), Nov. 12, 1977, 91 Stat. 1360; Pub. L. 97–195, §1(c)(4), June 16, 1982, 96 Stat. 115.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1982—Pub. L. 97–195 substituted "Such Assistant Secretary shall perform such duties" for "Such Assistant Secretary shall receive compensation at the rate prescribed by law for Assistant Secretaries of Commerce, and shall perform such duties".

§1507c. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere; duties; appointment; compensation

There shall be in the Department of Commerce, in addition to the Assistant Secretaries of Commerce provided by law before November 14, 1986, one additional Assistant Secretary of Commerce who shall have the title Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and shall serve as the Deputy Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration established by Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970 [5 U.S.C. App.] and perform such duties and functions as the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere shall prescribe. The Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere shall be appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and shall be compensated at the rate now or hereafter provided for Level IV of the Executive Schedule Pay Rates (5 U.S.C. 5315).

(Pub. L. 99–659, title IV, §407(b), Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3739.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970, referred to in text, is set out under section 1511 of this title.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Service by Incumbent Administrator and Deputy Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Individuals serving on Nov. 14, 1986, as Deputy Administrator of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to also serve as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, until successor is appointed, see section 407(c)(B) of Pub. L. 99–659, set out as a note under section 1503b of this title.

§1508. General Counsel

There shall be in the Department of Commerce a General Counsel, who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

(Mar. 18, 1904, ch. 716, §1, 33 Stat. 135; July 17, 1952, ch. 932, §2, 66 Stat. 758; Aug. 20, 1954, ch. 776, 68 Stat. 753.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Provisions of section that fixed the compensation of the General Counsel have been omitted as the position is under the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Section was formerly classified to section 592b of Title 5 prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 5 by Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 378.

Amendments

1954—Act Aug. 20, 1954, amended section generally, establishing a General Counsel in the Department of Commerce and a rate of compensation. See Codification note above.

1952—Act July 17, 1952, redesignated Solicitor as General Counsel and provided that "all laws and orders relating or referring to the Solicitor shall be deemed to relate or refer to the General Counsel".

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of functions of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of Commerce, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of Commerce, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 5 of 1950, §§1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1263, set out as a note under section 1501 of this title.

Order of Succession

For order of succession during any period when both Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Commerce are unable to perform functions and duties of office of Secretary, see Ex. Ord. No. 13242, Dec. 18, 2001, 66 F.R. 66260, listed in a table under section 3345 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

§1509. Designation of officer to sign routine papers

The Secretary may designate an officer of the Department to sign minor routine official papers and documents during the temporary absence of the Secretary, the Under Secretary, and the Assistant Secretaries of the Department.

(May 21, 1945, ch. 129, title III, §301, 59 Stat. 188; July 15, 1947, ch. 251, 61 Stat. 326.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Assistant Secretary changed to Assistant Secretaries by act July 15, 1947, which provided for an additional Assistant Secretary. See section 1505 of this title.

Section was formerly classified to section 593a of Title 5 prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, by Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 378.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of functions of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of Commerce, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of Commerce, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 5 of 1950, §§1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1263, set out as a note under section 1501 of this title.

§1510. Clerical assistants

There shall also be such clerical assistants as may from time to time be authorized by the Congress.

(Feb. 14, 1903, ch. 552, §2, 32 Stat. 826; July 16, 1952, ch. 878, §2, 66 Stat. 710.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 594 of Title 5 prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, by Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 378.

Amendments

1952—Act July 16, 1952, provided for clerical assistants instead of a disbursing clerk.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Disbursement Clerk

Section, act Feb. 14, 1903, ch. 552, §2, 32 Stat. 826, provided for a disbursing clerk in the Department of Commerce.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Disbursement Agencies

Division of Disbursement and certain other offices and agencies and their functions consolidated into Fiscal Service of Department of the Treasury by Reorg. Plan No. III of 1940, §1(a)(1), eff. June 30, 1940, 5 F.R. 2107, 54 Stat. 1231, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. See section 306 of Title 31, Money and Finance.

§1511. Bureaus in Department

The following named bureaus, administrations, services, offices, and programs of the public service, and all that pertains thereto, shall be under the jurisdiction and subject to the control of the Secretary of Commerce:

(1) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;

(2) United States Travel and Tourism Administration;

(3) National Institute of Standards and Technology;

(4) United States Patent and Trademark Office ¹

(5) Bureau of the Census; and

(6) such other bureaus or other organizational units as the Secretary of Commerce may from time to time establish in accordance with law.

(Feb. 14, 1903, ch. 552, §§4, 12, 32 Stat. 826, 830; June 17, 1910, ch. 301, §4, 36 Stat. 537; Aug. 23, 1912, ch. 350, §1, 37 Stat. 407; Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 141, §3, 37 Stat. 737; Jan. 5, 1923, ch. 23, §1, 42 Stat. 1109; June 30, 1932, ch. 314, pt. II, title V, §501, 47 Stat. 415; Feb. 22, 1934, Ex. Ord. 6611; May 27, 1936, ch. 463, §1, 49 Stat. 1380; 1939 Reorg. Plan No. II, §§2(a), 4(e), 6, eff. July 1, 1936, 4 F.R. 2731, 53 Stat. 1432; 1940 Reorg. Plan No. IV, §§7, 8, eff. June 30, 1940, 5 F.R. 2422, 54 Stat. 1235, 1236; 1946 Reorg. Plan No. 3, §§101–104, eff. July 16, 1946, 11 F.R. 7875, 60 Stat. 1097; June 30, 1949, ch. 288, title I, §103(a), 63 Stat. 380; Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, §20, 63 Stat. 561; 1949 Reorg. Plan No. 7, §1, eff. Aug. 19, 1949, 14 F.R. 5228, 63 Stat. 1070; 1950 Reorg. Plan No. 21, §§101, 106, 201, 15 F.R. 3178, 64 Stat. 1273; Pub. L. 93–498, §23, Oct. 29, 1974, 88 Stat. 1549; Pub. L. 93–596, §3, Jan. 2, 1975, 88 Stat. 1949; Pub. L. 95–422, §2(c), Oct. 5, 1978, 92 Stat. 932; Pub. L. 97–31, §12(6), Aug. 6, 1981, 95 Stat. 154; Pub. L. 97–63, §4(a)(1), Oct. 16, 1981, 95 Stat. 1014; Pub. L. 100–418, title V, §5115(c), Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1433; Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, §1000(a)(9) [title IV, §4732(b)(6)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A-583; Pub. L. 106–503, title I, §110(b), Nov. 13, 2000, 114 Stat. 2302.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 597 of Title 5 prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, by Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 378.

Section was originally based on part of section 4 of act Feb. 14, 1903, which provided an initial list of offices and bureaus to be transferred to the Department of Commerce and Labor, and section 12 of the act, which authorized the President to transfer certain additional offices and bureaus to the Department. Section 12 of the act was amended generally by section 23 of Pub. L. 93–498, and the text enacted by that general amendment, along with subsequent amendments, now serves as the text of this section. See Amendment notes below. Section 12 of the 1903 act as originally enacted is set out as section 1517 of this title, and the rest of section 4 of the act is classified to sections 1515 and 1516 of this title. Explanation of laws cited as credits to this section prior to Pub. L. 93–498 can be found in various notes below.

Amendments

2000—Pars. (6), (7). Pub. L. 106–503 redesignated par. (7) as (6) and struck out former par. (6) which read as follows: "United States Fire Administration; and".

1999—Pub. L. 106–113 redesignated pars. (a) to (g) as (1) to (7), respectively, realigned margins, and in par. (4) substituted "United States Patent and Trademark Office" for "Patent and Trademark Office;".

1988—Par. (c). Pub. L. 100–418 substituted "National Institute of Standards and Technology" for "National Bureau of Standards".

1981—Pars. (c) to (g). Pub. L. 97–31 redesignated pars. (d) to (h) as (c) to (g), respectively, and struck out former par. (c) which read as follows: "Maritime Administration;".

1978—Par. (g). Pub. L. 95–422 substituted "United States Fire Administration" for "National Fire Prevention and Control Administration".

1974—Pub. L. 93–498 amended section generally, substituting reference to Secretary of Commerce for Department of Commerce and substituting references to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Travel Service, Maritime Administration, National Bureau of Standards, Patent Office, Bureau of the Census, National Fire Prevention and Control Administration and such other bureaus or other organizational units as the Secretary of Commerce may from time to time establish in accordance with law, for references to The Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, The Bureau of Public Roads, The Civil Aeronautics Authority, The Census Office, The Coast and Geodetic Survey, The Federal Maritime Board, The Inland Waterways Corporation, The Maritime Administration, The National Bureau of Standards, The Patent Office, and The Weather Bureau.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

"United States Travel and Tourism Administration" substituted for "United States Travel Service" in par. (b) [now par. (2)], pursuant to section 4(a)(1) of Pub. L. 97–63, which established United States Travel and Tourism Administration in place of United States Travel Service, effective Oct. 1, 1981. See section 2124 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse.

"Patent and Trademark Office" substituted for "Patent Office", in par. (d) [now par. (4)] pursuant to section 3 of Pub. L. 93–596, set out as a note under section 1 of Title 35, Patents. "Patent and Trademark Office" subsequently amended to read "United States Patent and Trademark Office" by Pub. L. 106–113. See 1999 Amendment note above.

Effective Date of 1999 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 106–113 effective 4 months after Nov. 29, 1999, see section 1000(a)(9) [title IV, §4731] of Pub. L. 106–113, set out as a note under section 1 of Title 35, Patents.

Repeals

Act June 17, 1910, ch. 301, §4, 36 Stat. 537, cited as a credit to this section, was repealed by act Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, §20, 63 Stat. 561.

Act June 30, 1932, ch. 314, pt. II, title V, §501, 47 Stat. 415, cited as a credit to this section, was repealed by Pub. L. 89–554, §8(a), Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 648 and Pub. L. 97–258, §5(b), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1068, 1074.

Act May 27, 1936, ch. 463, §1, 49 Stat. 1380, cited as a credit to this section, was repealed by Pub. L. 89–554, §8(a), Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 649.

Organizational History and Transfer of Functions

For transfer of certain functions, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the Department of Commerce, including the functions of the Secretary of Commerce relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see former section 313(2) and sections 121(g)(3), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.

Functions of Secretary of Commerce, Department of Commerce, and officers and components of Department of Commerce as they related to or were utilized by Office of Energy Programs within Department of Commerce, but limited to industrial energy conservation programs, transferred to, and vested in, Secretary of Energy as part of creation of Department of Energy by Pub. L. 95–91, Aug. 4, 1977, 91 Stat. 565. See section 7157 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.

For transfer of functions of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of Commerce, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of Commerce, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 5 of 1950, §§1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1263, set out as a note under section 1501 of this title.

Public Roads Administration, which was redesignated Bureau of Public Roads and, with its functions, transferred from Federal Works Agency to General Services Administration by section 103(a) of act June 30, 1949 (see Historical and Revision Notes and 2006 Amendment note under section 303 of Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works), was subsequently transferred to Department of Commerce, and then to Department of Transportation, by Reorg. Plan No. 7 of 1949, as amended, which is set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Federal Maritime Board was created as an agency within Department of Commerce by Reorg. Plan No. 21 of 1950, §§101, 106, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, and sections 103 to 105 of the Plan transferred to Board and its chairman certain functions of former United States Maritime Commission and chairman thereof. Section 307 of the Plan provided that functions transferred to Federal Maritime Board and its chairman should not be subject to the provisions of Reorg. Plan No. 5 of 1950, also eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1263, set out in note under section 1501 of this title, which, with a few additional exceptions, transferred functions of all officers, agencies, and employees of Department of Commerce to Secretary of Commerce, and authorized him to delegate any functions so transferred, or any of his other functions, to any of such officers, agencies and employees. Section 304 of Reorg. Plan No. 7 of 1961, eff. Aug. 12, 1961, 26 F.R. 7315, 75 Stat. 840, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, abolished Federal Maritime Board, including offices of members of Board. Functions of Board transferred either to Federal Maritime Commission, which was established as an independent body, or to Secretary of Commerce by sections 103 and 202 of Reorg. Plan No. 7 of 1961.

Maritime Administration, with a Maritime Administrator at its head, was established in Department of Commerce by Reorg. Plan No. 21 of 1950, §201, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, and section 204 of the Plan transferred certain functions of former United States Maritime Commission and its Chairman to Secretary of Commerce, with power vested in Secretary to authorize their performance by Administrator. Section 307 of the Plan provided that functions transferred to Secretary by that Plan should not be subject to provisions of Reorg. Plan No. 5 of 1950, also eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1263, set out in note under section 1501 of this title, which, with a few additional exceptions, transferred functions of all other officers, agencies, and employees of Department of Commerce to Secretary of Commerce, and authorized him to delegate any functions so transferred, or any of his other functions, to any of such officers, agencies, and employees.

Section 304 of Reorg. Plan No. 7 of 1961, eff. Aug. 12, 1961, 26 F.R. 7315, 75 Stat. 840, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, abolished Federal Maritime Board, including offices of members of Board. Functions of Board transferred either to Federal Maritime Commission, which was established as an independent body, or to Secretary of Commerce by sections 103 and 202 of Reorg. Plan No. 7 of 1961.

Maritime Administration of Department of Commerce transferred to Department of Transportation, and all related functions of Secretary and other officers and offices of Department of Commerce transferred to Department of Transportation and vested in Secretary of Transportation, by Maritime Act of 1981, Pub. L. 97–31, Aug. 6, 1981, 95 Stat. 151, which was repealed in part by Pub. L. 109–304, §19, Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1710. See section 109 of Title 49, Transportation.

Community Relations Service transferred from Department of Commerce to Department of Justice by Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1966, eff. Apr. 22, 1966, 31 F.R. 6187, 80 Stat. 1607, set out in the Appendix to Title 5.

Act Feb. 14, 1903, established the Department of Commerce and Labor. Act Mar. 4, 1913, renamed the Department of Commerce and Labor as the Department of Commerce and established the Department of Labor as a separate entity. The following agencies which were initially placed under the jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce and Labor either directly by statute or by presidential transfer were abolished or transferred as follows:

Office of United States Shipping Commissioner abolished by Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1946, §§101 to 104, eff. July 16, 1946, which transferred functions to Commandant of Coast Guard and Commissioner of Customs. See Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Bureau of Navigation and the Steamboat Inspection Service consolidated into Bureau of Navigation and Steamboat Inspection by act June 30, 1932, which name was changed to Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation by act May 27, 1936, cited to text. Bureau abolished and functions transferred to Commandant of Coast Guard and Commissioner of Customs by Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1946. See Appendix to Title 5.

Bureau of Fisheries transferred to Department of the Interior by section 4(e) of Reorg. Plan No. II of 1939. Reorg. Plan No. II of 1939 is set out in the Appendix to Title 5.

Bureau of Immigration changed to Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization by act June 29, 1906, ch. 3592, §1, 34 Stat. 596. Commissioner General of Immigration, Commissioners of Immigration, and Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization, transferred to Department of Labor by act Mar. 4, 1913. Subsequently, by Ex. Ord. No. 6166, §14 of June 10, 1933, and Reorg. Plan No. V of 1940, eff. June 14, 1940, 5 F.R. 2223, 54 Stat. 1238, Bureau of Immigration and Bureau of Naturalization consolidated to form Immigration and Naturalization Service and transferred to Department of Justice.

Light-House Board and Light-House Establishment consolidated under Bureau of Lighthouses by act June 17, 1910, ch. 301, §4, 36 Stat. 537. Bureau of Lighthouses transferred to Coast Guard in Department of the Treasury by Reorg. Plan No. II of 1939, §2(a). Reorg. Plan No. II of 1939 is set out in the Appendix to Title 5. Said section 4 of act June 17, 1910, was repealed by section 20 of act Aug. 4, 1949, section 1 of which reestablished Coast Guard by enacting Title 14, Coast Guard. Coast Guard transferred to Department of Transportation, and all functions, powers, and duties relating to Coast Guard of Secretary of the Treasury and of other officers and offices of Department of the Treasury transferred to Secretary of Transportation by Pub. L. 89–670, §6(b)(1), Oct. 15, 1966, 80 Stat. 938. Section 6(b)(2) of Pub. L. 89–670, however, provided that notwithstanding such transfer of functions, Coast Guard shall operate as part of Navy in time of war or when President directs as provided in former section 3 (now 103) of Title 14, Coast Guard. See section 108 of Title 49, Transportation.

Bureau of Mines transferred from Department of the Interior to Department of Commerce by Ex. Ord. No. 4239 of June 4, 1925, eff. July 1, 1925, as authorized by section 12 of act Feb. 14, 1903 (see 15 U.S.C. 1517), and retransferred to Department of the Interior by Ex. Ord. No. 6611, Feb. 24, 1934. For provisions relating to closure and transfer of functions of the United States Bureau of Mines, see note set out under section 1 of Title 30, Mineral Lands and Mining.

The following agencies, which are or at one time have been under the jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce, acquired their status in the manner indicated:

Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce resulted from a consolidation of Bureau of Manufactures and Bureau of Statistics by act Aug. 23, 1912.

Civil Aeronautics Authority [Civil Aeronautics Board] transferred to Department of Commerce by section 7 of Reorg. Plan No. IV of 1940, set out in the Appendix to Title 5. For transfer of functions of Civil Aeronautics Board see section 1551 et seq. and section 1655(d) of former Title 49, Transportation.

Inland Waterways Corporation transferred to Department of Commerce by section 6 of Reorg. Plan No. II of 1939. Reorg. Plan No. II of 1939 is set out in the Appendix of Title 5. Pub. L. 88–67, §2, July 19, 1963, 77 Stat. 81, provided generally for liquidation of affairs of Inland Waterways Corporation.

Patent Office transferred from Department of the Interior by Ex. Ord. No. 4175 of Mar. 17, 1925, eff. Apr. 1, 1925, as authorized by section 12 of act Feb. 14, 1903. See section 1517 of this title.

Environmental Science Services Administration in Department of Commerce, including offices of Administrator and Deputy Administrator thereof, abolished by Reorg. Plan No. 4 of 1970, eff. Oct. 3, 1970, 35 F.R. 15627, 84 Stat. 2090, set out below, which created National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Department of Commerce and transferred personnel, property, records, and unexpended balances of funds of Environmental Science Services Administration to such newly created National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Components of Environmental Science Services Administration thus transferred included Weather Bureau, Coast and Geodetic Survey, Environmental Data Service, National Environmental Satellite Center, and ESSA Research Laboratories.

Weather Bureau transferred from Department of Agriculture by section 8 of Reorg. Plan No. IV of 1940, which is set out in the Appendix to Title 5. Coast and Geodetic Survey and Weather Bureau consolidated to form a new agency in Department of Commerce known as Environmental Science Services Administration by Reorg. Plan No. 2 of 1965, eff. July 13, 1965, 30 F.R. 8819, 79 Stat. 4443, set out in the Appendix to Title 5.

Functions, powers, and duties of Office of Audits and Investigations and Inspections Staff and that portion of office referred to as Office of Investigations and Security which had responsibility for investigation of alleged criminal violations and program abuse in Department of Commerce transferred to Office of Inspector General in Department of Commerce, as established by Pub. L. 95–452, §2, Oct. 12, 1978, 92 Stat. 1101, formerly set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. See section 422(a)(1)(B) of Title 5.

Executive Documents

Change of Name

In order to implement the provisions of Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970, eff. Oct. 3, 1970, 35 F.R. 15627, 84 Stat. 2090, as amended, set out below, the following organizational names appearing in chapter IX of subtitle B of Title 15, Code of Federal Regulations, which covers the administration of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, were changed by order of the Acting Associate Administrator, 35 F.R. 19249, Dec. 19, 1970, as follows: Environmental Science Services Administration to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (ESSA to NOAA); Coast and Geodetic Survey to National Ocean Survey; and Weather Bureau to National Weather Service.

REORGANIZATION PLAN NO. 4 OF 1970

Eff. Oct. 3, 1970, 35 F.R. 15627, 84 Stat. 2090, as amended Pub. L. 94–461, §4(c)(1), Oct. 8, 1976, 90 Stat. 1969; Pub. L. 95–219, §3(a)(1), Dec. 28, 1977, 91 Stat. 1613; Pub. L. 98–498, title III, §320(c)(3), Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2309; Pub. L. 99–659, title IV, §407(d), Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3739; Pub. L. 112–166, §2(b)(1), Aug. 10, 2012, 126 Stat. 1283

Prepared by the President and transmitted to the Senate and the House of Representatives in Congress assembled, July 9, 1970, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 9 of Title 5 of the United States Code.

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION

Section 1. Transfers to Secretary of Commerce

The following are hereby transferred to the Secretary of Commerce:

(a) All functions vested by law in the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries of the Department of the Interior or in its head, together with all functions vested by law in the Secretary of the Interior or the Department of the Interior which are administered through that Bureau or are primarily related to the Bureau, exclusive of functions with respect to (1) Great Lakes fishery research and activities related to the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission, (2) Missouri River Reservoir research, (3) the Gulf Breeze Biological Laboratory of the said Bureau at Gulf Breeze, Florida, and (4) Trans-Alaska pipeline investigations.

(b) The functions vested in the Secretary of the Interior by the Act of September 22, 1959 (Public Law 86–359, 73 Stat. 642, 16 U.S.C. 760c [probably means 760e]–760g; relating to migratory marine species of game fish).

(c) The functions vested by law in the Secretary of the Interior, or in the Department of the Interior or in any officer or instrumentality of that Department, which are administered through the Marine Minerals Technology Center of the Bureau of Mines.

(d) All functions vested in the National Science Foundation by the National Sea Grant College and Program Act of 1966 (80 Stat. 988), as amended (33 U.S.C. 1121 et seq.).

(e) Those functions vested in the Secretary of Defense or in any officer, employee, or organizational entity of the Department of Defense by the provision of Public Law 91–144, 83 Stat. 326, under the heading "Operation and maintenance, general" with respect to "surveys and charting of northern and northwestern lakes and connecting waters," or by other law, which come under the mission assigned as of July 1, 1969, to the United States Army Engineer District, Lake Survey, Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army and relate to (1) the conduct of hydrographic surveys of the Great Lakes and their outflow rivers, Lake Champlain, New York State Barge Canals, and the Minnesota-Ontario border lakes, and the compilation and publication of navigation charts, including recreational aspects, and the Great Lakes Pilot for the benefit and use of the public, (2) the conception, planning, and conduct of basic research and development in the fields of water motion, water characteristics, water quantity, and ice and snow, and (3) the publication of data and the results of research projects in forms useful to the Corps of Engineers and the public, and the operation of a Regional Data Center for the collection, coordination, analysis, and the furnishing to interested agencies of data relating to water resources of the Great Lakes.

(f) So much of the functions of the transferor officers and agencies referred to in or affected by the foregoing provisions of this section as is incidental to or necessary for the performance by or under the Secretary of Commerce of the functions transferred by those provisions or relates primarily to those functions. The transfers to the Secretary of Commerce made by this section shall be deemed to include the transfer of authority, provided by law, to prescribe regulations relating primarily to the transferred functions.

Sec. 2. Establishment of Administration

(a) There is hereby established in the Department of Commerce an agency which shall be known as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, hereinafter referred to as the "Administration."

(b) There shall be at the head of the Administration the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, hereinafter referred to as the "Administrator." The Administrator shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and shall be compensated at the rate now or hereafter provided for Level III of the Executive Schedule Pay Rates (5 U.S.C. 5314).

(c) There shall be in the Administration a Deputy Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and shall be compensated at the rate now or hereafter provided for Level IV of the Executive Schedule Pay Rates (5 U.S.C. 5315). The Deputy Administrator shall perform such functions as the Administrator shall from time to time assign or delegate, and shall act as Administrator during the absence or disability of the Administrator or in the event of a vacancy in the office of Administrator.

(d) There shall be in the Administration a Chief Scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who shall be appointed by the President and shall be compensated at the rate now or hereafter provided for Level V of the Executive Schedule Pay Rates (5 U.S.C. 5316). The Chief Scientist shall be the principal scientific adviser to the Administrator, and shall perform such other duties as the Administrator may direct. The Chief Scientist shall be an individual who is, by reason of scientific education and experience, knowledgeable in the principles of oceanic, atmospheric, or other scientific disciplines important to the work of the Administration. [As amended Pub. L. 94–461, §4(c)(1), Oct. 8, 1976, 90 Stat. 1969; Pub. L. 99–659, title IV, §407(d), Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3739; Pub. L. 112–166, §2(b)(1), Aug. 10, 2012, 126 Stat. 1283.]

(e)(1) There shall be in the Administration a General Counsel and five Assistant Administrators, one of whom shall be the Assistant Administrator for Coastal Zone Management and one of whom shall be the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries. The General Counsel and each Assistant Administrator shall be appointed by the Secretary, subject to approval of the President, and shall be compensated at a rate now or hereafter provided for level V of the Executive Schedule Pay Rates (5 U.S.C. 5316).

(2) The General Counsel shall serve as the chief legal officer for all legal matters which may arise in connection with the conduct of the functions of the Administration.

(3) The Assistant Administrator for Coastal Zone Management shall be an individual who is, by reason of background and experience, especially qualified to direct the implementation and administration of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.).

(4) The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries shall be responsible for all matters related to living marine resources which may arise in connection with the conduct of the functions of the Administration. [As amended Pub. L. 95–219, §3(a)(1), Dec. 28, 1977, 91 Stat. 1613.]

(f) The President may appoint in the Administration, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, two commissioned officers to serve at any one time as the designated heads of two principal constituent organizational entities of the Administration, or the President may designate one such officer as the head of such an organizational entity and the other as the head of the commissioned corps of the Administration. Any such designation shall create a vacancy on the active list and the officer while serving under this subsection shall have the rank, pay, and allowances of a rear admiral (upper half).

(g) Any commissioned officer of the Administration who has served under (d) or (f) and is retired while so serving or is retired after the completion of such service while serving in a lower rank or grade, shall be retired with the rank, pay, and allowances authorized by law for the highest grade and rank held by him; but any such officer, upon termination of his appointment in a rank above that of captain, shall, unless appointed or assigned to some other position for which a higher rank or grade is provided, revert to the grade and number he would have occupied had he not served in a rank above that of captain and such officer shall be an extra number in that grade.

Sec. 3. Performance of Transferred Functions

The provisions of sections 2 and 4 of Reorganization Plan No. 5 of 1950 (64 Stat. 1263) shall be applicable to the functions transferred hereunder to the Secretary of Commerce.

Sec. 4. Incidental Transfers

(a) So much of the personnel, property, records, and unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations, and other funds employed, used, held, available, or to be made available in connection with the functions transferred to the Secretary of Commerce by this reorganization plan as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall determine shall be transferred to the Department of Commerce at such time or times as the Director shall direct.

(b) Such further measures and dispositions as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall deem to be necessary in order to effectuate the transfers referred to in subsection (a) of this section shall be carried out in such manner as he shall direct and by such agencies as he shall designate.

(c) The personnel, property, records, and unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations, and other funds of the Environmental Science Services Administration shall become personnel, property, records, and unexpended balances of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or of such other organizational entity or entities of the Department of Commerce as the Secretary of Commerce shall determine.

(d) The Commissioned Officer Corps of the Environmental Science Services Administration shall become the Commissioned Officer Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Members of the Corps, including those appointed hereafter, shall be entitled to all rights, privileges, and benefits heretofore available under any law to commissioned officers of the Environmental Science Services Administration, including those rights, privileges, and benefits heretofore accorded by law to commissioned officers of the former Coast and Geodetic Survey.

(e) Any personnel, property, records, and unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations, and other funds of the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries not otherwise transferred shall become personnel, property, records, and unexpended balances of such organizational entity or entities of the Department of the Interior as the Secretary of the Interior shall determine.

Sec. 5. Interim Officers

(a) The President may authorize any person who immediately prior to the effective date of this reorganization plan held a position in the executive branch of the Government to act as Administrator until the office of Administrator is for the first time filled pursuant to provisions of this reorganization plan or by recess appointment, as the case may be.

(b) The President may similarly authorize any such person to act as Deputy Administrator and authorize any such person to act as Associate Administrator.

(c) The President may similarly authorize a member of the former Commissioned Officer Corps of the Environmental Science Services Administration to act as the head of one principal constituent organizational entity of the Administration.

(d) The President may authorize any person who serves in an acting capacity under the foregoing provisions of this section to receive the compensation attached to the office in respect of which he so serves. Such compensation, if authorized, shall be in lieu of, but not in addition to, other compensation from the United States to which such person may be entitled.

Sec. 6. Abolitions

(a) Subject to the provisions of this reorganization plan, the following, exclusive of any functions, are hereby abolished:

(1) The Environmental Science Services Administration in the Department of Commerce (established by Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1965, 79 Stat. 1318), including the offices of Administrator of the Environmental Science Services Administration and Deputy Administrator of the Environmental Science Services Administration.

(2) The Bureau of Commercial Fisheries in the Department of the Interior (16 U.S.C. 742b), including the office of Director of the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries.

(b) Such provisions as may be necessary with respect to terminating any outstanding affairs shall be made by the Secretary of Commerce in the case of the Environmental Science Services Administration and by the Secretary of the Interior in the case of the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries.

Message of the President ²

To the Congress of the United States:

I transmit herewith Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970, prepared in accordance with chapter 9 of title 5 of the United States Code. The plan would transfer to the Secretary of Commerce various functions relating to the oceans and atmosphere, including commercial fishery functions, and would establish a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the Department of Commerce. My reasons for transmitting this plan are stated in a more extended accompanying message.

After investigation, I have found and hereby declare that each reorganization included in Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970 is necessary to accomplish one or more of the purposes set forth in section 901(a) of title 5 of the United States Code. In particular, the plan is responsive to section 901(a)(1), "to promote the better execution of the laws, the more effective management of the executive branch and of its agencies and functions, and the expeditious administration of the public business;" and section 901(a)(3), "to increase the efficiency of the operations of the Government to the fullest extent practicable."

The reorganizations provided for in the plan make necessary the appointment and compensation of new officers as specified in section 2 of the plan. The rates of compensation fixed for these officers are comparable to those fixed for other officers in the executive branch who have similar responsibilities.

The reorganization plan should result in the more efficient operation of the Government. It is not practical, however, to itemize or aggregate the exact expenditure reductions which will result from this action.

Richard Nixon.      

The White House, July 9, 1970.

Executive Order No. 11567

Ex. Ord. No. 11567, Nov. 16, 1970, 35 F.R. 17701, which prescribed the compensation of the Director and Deputy Director of the Bureau of Domestic Commerce, was superseded by Ex. Ord. No. 11759, Jan. 15, 1974, 39 F.R. 2077, formerly set out below.

Executive Order No. 11759

Ex. Ord. No. 11759, Jan. 15, 1974, 39 F.R. 2077, which related to compensation of certain officials in the Domestic and International Business Administration, was superseded by Ex. Ord. No. 12096, Nov. 2, 1978, 43 F.R. 51597, formerly set out below.

Executive Order No. 12096

Ex. Ord. No. 12096, Nov. 2, 1978, 43 F.R. 51597, which related to compensation of certain officials in the Industry and Trade Administration, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 12188, Jan. 2, 1980, 45 F.R. 989, set out as a note under section 2171 of Title 19, Customs Duties.

¹ So in original. Probably should be followed by a semicolon.

² For additional Message of the President see Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1970, Title 5, Appendix, Government Officers and Employees.

§1511a. Repealed. Pub. L. 95–219, §3(a)(2), Dec. 28, 1977, 91 Stat. 1613

Section, Pub. L. 94–370, §15(a), July 26, 1976, 90 Stat. 1032, authorized appointment and set forth compensation level for an Associate Administrator for Coastal Zone Management.

§1511b. United States fishery trade officers

(a) Appointment

For purposes of carrying out export promotion and other fishery development responsibilities, the Secretary of Commerce (hereinafter in this section referred to as the "Secretary") shall appoint not fewer than six officers who shall serve abroad to promote United States fishing interests. These officers shall be knowledgeable about the United States fishing industry, preferably with experience derived from the harvesting, processing, or marketing sectors of the industry or from the administration of fisheries programs. Such officers, who shall be employees of the Department of Commerce, shall have the designation of fishery trade officers.

(b) Assignment

Upon the request of the Secretary, the Secretary of State shall officially assign fishery trade officers to such diplomatic missions of the United States as the Secretary designates (three of which shall be those in Brussels, Belgium; Rome, Italy; and Tokyo, Japan) and shall obtain for them diplomatic privileges and immunities equivalent to those enjoyed by foreign service personnel of comparable rank and salary.

(c) Functions of fishery trade officers

The functions of fishery trade officers appointed under subsection (a) shall be—

(1) to increase the effectiveness of United States fishery export promotion efforts through such activities as the coordination of market development efforts and the provision of services and facilities for exporters of United States fishery products;

(2) to develop, maintain, and make available to interested persons listings of (A) trade, government, and other organizations that are concerned with, or have an interest in, international trade in United States fishery products, and (B) United States fishery products available for such trade;

(3) to prepare quarterly reports regarding (A) the supply, demand, and prices of each United States fishery product exported, or for which there may be export potential, to the foreign nation or area concerned, and (B) the trade barriers or incentives of such nation or area that affect imports of such products;

(4) to prepare weekly statements regarding the prices for each fishery product for which there may be United States export potential to the foreign nation or area concerned; and

(5) to carry out such other functions as the Secretary may require.

(d) Administration

The Secretary of State and the Secretary shall enter into cooperative arrangements concerning the provision of office space, equipment, facilities, clerical services, and such other administrative support as may be required for fishery trade officers and their families.

(Pub. L. 96–561, title II, §211, Dec. 22, 1980, 94 Stat. 3290.)

§1511c. Estuarine Programs Office

(a) Establishment

The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (hereinafter in this section referred to as the "Administrator") shall establish within the Administration an Estuarine Programs Office.

(b) Functions

The Estuarine Programs Office shall—

(1) develop and implement a national estuarine strategy for the Administration that integrates the research, regulatory, and trusteeship responsibilities of the Administration;

(2) coordinate the estuarine activities of the various organizations within the Administration, including activities in estuarine research and assessment, fisheries research, coastal management, and habitat conservation;

(3) coordinate the estuarine activities of the Administration with the activities of other Federal and State agencies; and

(4) provide technical assistance to the Administrator, to other Federal agencies, and to State and local government agencies in—

(A) assessing the condition of estuaries;

(B) identifying estuaries of critical national or regional importance;

(C) identifying technical and management alternatives for the restoration and protection of estuarine resources; and

(D) monitoring the implementation and effectiveness of estuarine management plans.

(c) Authorization

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administration not to exceed $500,000 for fiscal year 1987, $530,000 for fiscal year 1988, $560,000 for fiscal year 1989, and $600,000 for fiscal year 1990 to carry out the provisions of this section.

(Pub. L. 99–659, title IV, §406, Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3738.)

§1511d. Chesapeake Bay Office

(a) Establishment

(1) The Secretary of Commerce shall establish, within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an office to be known as the Chesapeake Bay Office (in this section referred to as the "Office").

(2) The Office shall be headed by a Director who shall be appointed by the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Chesapeake Executive Council. Any individual appointed as Director shall have knowledge and experience in research or resource management efforts in the Chesapeake Bay.

(3) The Director may appoint such additional personnel for the Office as the Director determines necessary to carry out this section.

(b) Functions

The Office, in consultation with the Chesapeake Executive Council, shall—

(1) provide technical assistance to the Administrator, to other Federal departments and agencies, and to State and local government agencies in—

(A) assessing the processes that shape the Chesapeake Bay system and affect its living resources;

(B) identifying technical and management alternatives for the restoration and protection of living resources and the habitats they depend upon; and

(C) monitoring the implementation and effectiveness of management plans;

(2) develop and implement a strategy for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that integrates the science, research, monitoring, data collection, regulatory, and management responsibilities of the Secretary of Commerce in such a manner as to assist the cooperative, intergovernmental Chesapeake Bay Program to meet the commitments of the Chesapeake Bay Agreement;

(3) coordinate the programs and activities of the various organizations within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Chesapeake Bay Regional Sea Grant Programs, and the Chesapeake Bay units of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, including—

(A) programs and activities in—

(i) coastal and estuarine research, monitoring, and assessment;

(ii) fisheries research and stock assessments;

(iii) data management;

(iv) remote sensing;

(v) coastal management;

(vi) habitat conservation and restoration; and

(vii) atmospheric deposition; and

(B) programs and activities of the Cooperative Oxford Laboratory of the National Ocean Service with respect to—

(i) nonindigenous species;

(ii) estuarine and marine species pathology;

(iii) human pathogens in estuarine and marine environments; and

(iv) ecosystem health;

(4) coordinate the activities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with the activities of the Environmental Protection Agency and other Federal, State, and local agencies;

(5) establish an effective mechanism which shall ensure that projects have undergone appropriate peer review and provide other appropriate means to determine that projects have acceptable scientific and technical merit for the purpose of achieving maximum utilization of available funds and resources to benefit the Chesapeake Bay area;

(6) remain cognizant of ongoing research, monitoring, and management projects and assist in the dissemination of the results and findings of those projects; and

(7) submit a biennial report to the Congress and the Secretary of Commerce with respect to the activities of the Office and on the progress made in protecting and restoring the living resources and habitat of the Chesapeake Bay, which report shall include an action plan consisting of—

(A) a list of recommended research, monitoring, and data collection activities necessary to continue implementation of the strategy described in paragraph (2); and

(B) proposals for—

(i) continuing any new National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration activities in the Chesapeake Bay; and

(ii) the integration of those activities with the activities of the partners in the Chesapeake Bay Program to meet the commitments of the Chesapeake 2000 agreement and subsequent agreements.

(c) Chesapeake Bay fishery and habitat restoration small watershed grants program

(1) In general

The Director of the Chesapeake Bay Office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (in this section referred to as the "Director"), in cooperation with the Chesapeake Executive Council, shall carry out a community-based fishery and habitat restoration small grants and technical assistance program in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

(2) Projects

(A) Support

The Director shall make grants under this subsection to pay the Federal share of the cost of projects that are carried out by entities eligible under paragraph (3) for the restoration of fisheries and habitats in the Chesapeake Bay.

(B) Federal share

The Federal share under subparagraph (A) shall not exceed 75 percent.

(C) Types of projects

Projects for which grants may be made under this subsection include—

(i) the improvement of fish passageways;

(ii) the creation of natural or artificial reefs or substrata for habitats;

(iii) the restoration of wetland or sea grass;

(iv) the production of oysters for restoration projects; and

(v) the prevention, identification, and control of nonindigenous species.

(3) Eligible entities

The following entities are eligible to receive grants under this subsection:

(A) The government of a political subdivision of a State in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and the government of the District of Columbia.

(B) An organization in the Chesapeake Bay watershed (such as an educational institution or a community organization)—

(i) that is described in section 501(c) of title 26 and is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of that title; and

(ii) that will administer such grants in coordination with a government referred to in subparagraph (A).

(4) Additional requirements

The Director may prescribe any additional requirements, including procedures, that the Director considers necessary to carry out the program under this subsection.

(d) Chesapeake Executive Council

For purposes of this section, "Chesapeake Executive Council" means the representatives from the Commonwealth of Virginia, the State of Maryland, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Environmental Protection Agency, the District of Columbia, and the Chesapeake Bay Commission, who are signatories to the Chesapeake Bay Agreement, and any future signatories to that Agreement.

(e) Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Commerce for the Chesapeake Bay Office $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 through 2006.

(Pub. L. 102–567, title III, §307, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4284; Pub. L. 107–372, title IV, §401(a), Dec. 19, 2002, 116 Stat. 3096.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2002—Pub. L. 107–372 substituted "Chesapeake Bay Office" for "Chesapeake Bay Estuarine Resources Office" in section catchline and amended text generally, substituting provisions establishing Office, describing functions, establishing habitat restoration small watershed grants program, and authorizing appropriations, for provisions establishing Office, describing functions, and requiring identification of funding request in President's annual budget.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Multiple Species Management Strategy

Pub. L. 107–372, title IV, §401(c), Dec. 19, 2002, 116 Stat. 3099, provided that:

"(1) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 19, 2002], the Director of the Chesapeake Bay Office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall begin a 5-year study, in cooperation with the scientific community of the Chesapeake Bay, appropriate State and interstate resource management entities, and appropriate Federal agencies—

"(A) to determine and expand the understanding of the role and response of living resources in the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem; and

"(B) to develop a multiple species management strategy for the Chesapeake Bay.

"(2) Required elements of study.—In order to improve the understanding necessary for the development of the strategy under paragraph (1)(B), the study shall—

"(A) determine the current status and trends of fish and shellfish that live in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries and are selected for study;

"(B) evaluate and assess interactions among the fish and shellfish referred to in subparagraph (A) and other living resources, with particular attention to the impact of changes within and among trophic levels; and

"(C) recommend management actions to optimize the return of a healthy and balanced ecosystem for the Chesapeake Bay."

§1511e. Repealed. Pub. L. 111–314, §6, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3444

Section, Pub. L. 105–309, §8, Oct. 30, 1998, 112 Stat. 2937; Pub. L. 107–305, §14, Nov. 27, 2002, 116 Stat. 2380; Pub. L. 108–447, div. B, title II, Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 2878, related to Office of Space Commercialization. See section 50702 of Title 51, National and Commercial Space Programs.

§1512. Powers and duties of Department

It shall be the province and duty of said Department to foster, promote, and develop the foreign and domestic commerce, the mining, manufacturing, and fishery industries of the United States; and to this end it shall be vested with jurisdiction and control of the departments, bureaus, offices, and branches of the public service hereinafter specified, and with such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by law.

(Feb. 14, 1903, ch. 552, §3, 32 Stat. 826; Pub. L. 97–31, §12(7), Aug. 6, 1981, 95 Stat. 154.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 596 of Title 5 prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 5 by Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 378.

Amendments

1981—Pub. L. 97–31 struck out references to shipping and transportation facilities.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Manufacturing.gov Hub

Pub. L. 117–328, div. BB, title I, §101, Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5551, provided that:

"(a) Definition.—In this section, the term 'Secretary' means the Secretary of Commerce.

"(b) Establishment.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 29, 2022], the Secretary, in coordination with the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Commerce, shall modify the manufacturing.gov website by establishing a section of the website to be known as the 'manufacturing.gov hub'.

"(c) Functions.—The manufacturing.gov hub established under subsection (b) shall—

"(1) serve as the primary hub for information relating to every Federal manufacturing program, including the programs identified in the report of the Government Accountability Office entitled 'U.S. Manufacturing' (GAO 17–240), published on March 28, 2017;

"(2) provide the contact information of relevant program offices carrying out the Federal manufacturing programs described in paragraph (1);

"(3) provide an avenue for public input and feedback relating to—

"(A) the functionality of the website of the Department of Commerce;

"(B) the Federal manufacturing programs described in paragraph (1); and

"(C) any other manufacturing-related challenges experienced by manufacturers in the United States;

"(4) establish web pages within the hub that shall focus on—

"(A) technology and research and development;

"(B) trade;

"(C) workforce development and training;

"(D) industrial commons and supply chains; and

"(E) small and medium manufacturers; and

"(5) use machine learning to—

"(A) identify frequently asked questions; and

"(B) disseminate to the public answers to the questions identified under subparagraph (A).

"(d) No Additional Funds.—No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated for the purpose of carrying out this section."

Assistance to Fishery Participants

Pub. L. 116–136, div. B, title II, §12005, Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 518, provided that:

"(a) In General.—The Secretary of Commerce is authorized to provide assistance to Tribal, subsistence, commercial, and charter fishery participants affected by the novel coronavirus (COVID–19), which may include direct relief payments.

"(b) Fishery Participants.—For the purposes of this section, 'fishery participants' include Tribes, persons, fishing communities, aquaculture businesses not otherwise eligible for assistance under part 1416 of title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations for losses related to COVID–19, processors, or other fishery-related businesses, who have incurred, as a direct or indirect result of the coronavirus pandemic—

"(1) economic revenue losses greater than 35 percent as compared to the prior 5-year average revenue; or

"(2) any negative impacts to subsistence, cultural, or ceremonial fisheries.

"(c) Rolling Basis.—Funds may be awarded under this section on a rolling basis, and within a fishing season, to ensure rapid delivery of funds during the COVID–19 pandemic.

"(d) Appropriations.—In addition to funds that are otherwise made available to assist fishery participants under this Act [div. B of Pub. L. 116–136, see Tables for classification], there are authorized to be appropriated, and there are appropriated, $300,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2021, to carry out this section, of which up to 2 percent may be used for administration and oversight activities.

"(e) Emergency Requirement.—The amount provided by this section is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 [2 U.S.C. 901(b)(2)(A)(i)]."

[For definition of "coronavirus" as used in section 12005 of Pub. L. 116–136, set out above, see section 23005 of Pub. L. 116–136, set out as a note under section 162b of Title 2, The Congress.]

Executive Documents

Emergency Preparedness Functions

For assignment of certain emergency preparedness functions to the Secretary of Commerce, see Parts 1, 2, and 4 of Ex. Ord. No. 12656, Nov. 18, 1988, 53 F.R. 47491, set out as a note under section 5195 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.

Executive Order No. 12864

Ex. Ord. No. 12864, Sept. 15, 1993, 58 F.R. 48773, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12890, Dec. 30, 1993, 59 F.R. 499; Ex. Ord. No. 12921, June 13, 1994, 59 F.R. 30667; Ex. Ord. No. 12970, Sept. 14, 1995, 60 F.R. 48359, which established the United States Advisory Council on the National Information Infrastructure, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13062, §3(d), Sept. 29, 1997, 62 F.R. 51756, formerly set out as a note under section 1013 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Ex. Ord. No. 13577. Establishment of the SelectUSA Initiative

Ex. Ord. No. 13577, June 15, 2011, 76 F.R. 35715, provided:

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order to support private-sector job creation and enhance economic growth by encouraging and supporting business investment in the United States, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Policy. Business investment in the United States by both domestic and foreign firms, whether in the form of new equipment or facilities or the expansion of existing facilities, is a major engine of economic growth and job creation. In an era of global capital mobility, the United States faces increasing competition for retaining and attracting industries of the future and the jobs they create. My Administration is committed to enhancing the efforts of the United States to win the growing global competition for business investment by leveraging our advantages as the premier business location in the world.

As a place to do business, the United States offers a hardworking, diverse, and educated workforce, strong protection of intellectual property rights, a predictable and transparent legal system, relatively low taxes, highly developed infrastructure, and access to the world's most lucrative consumer market. We welcome both domestic and foreign businesses to invest across the broad spectrum of the U.S. market.

The Federal Government lacks the centralized investment promotion infrastructure and resources to attract business investment that is often found in other industrialized countries. Currently, States and cities are competing against foreign governments to attract business investment. Our Nation needs to retain business investment and pursue and win new investment in the United States by better marketing our strengths, providing clear, complete, and consistent information, and removing unnecessary obstacles to investment.

Sec. 2. SelectUSA Initiative. (a) Establishment. There is established the SelectUSA Initiative (Initiative), a Government-wide initiative to attract and retain investment in the American economy. The Initiative is to be housed in the Department of Commerce. The mission of this Initiative shall be to facilitate business investment in the United States in order to create jobs, spur economic growth, and promote American competitiveness. The Initiative will provide enhanced coordination of Federal activities in order to increase the impact of Federal resources that support both domestic and foreign investment in the United States. In providing assistance, the Initiative shall work to maximize impact on business investment, job creation, and economic growth. The Initiative shall work on behalf of the entire Nation and shall exercise strict neutrality with regard to specific locations within the United States.

(b) Functions.

(i) The Initiative shall coordinate outreach and engagement by the Federal Government to promote the United States as the premier location to operate a business.

(ii) The Initiative shall serve as an ombudsman that facilitates the resolution of issues involving Federal programs or activities related to pending investments.

(iii) The Initiative shall provide information to domestic and foreign firms on: the investment climate in the United States; Federal programs and incentives available to investors; and State and local economic development organizations.

(iv) The Initiative shall report quarterly to the President through the National Economic Council, the Domestic Policy Council, and the National Security Staff, describing its outreach activities, requests for information received, and efforts to resolve issues.

(c) Administration. The Department of Commerce shall provide funding and administrative support for the Initiative through resources and staff assigned to work on the Initiative, to the extent permitted by law and within existing appropriations. The Secretary of Commerce shall designate a senior staff member as the Executive Director to lead the Initiative. The Executive Director shall coordinate activities both within the Department of Commerce and with other executive departments and agencies that have activities relating to business investment decisions.

(d) Federal Interagency Investment Working Group.

(i) There is established the Federal Interagency Investment Working Group (Working Group), which will be convened and chaired by the Initiative's Executive Director, in coordination with the Director of the National Economic Council.

(ii) The Working Group shall consist of senior officials from the Departments of State, the Treasury, Defense, Justice, the Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, Veterans Affairs, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Energy, Education, and Homeland Security, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Small Business Administration, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Office of the United States Trade Representative, the Domestic Policy Council, the National Economic Council, the National Security Staff, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Council of Economic Advisers, as well as such additional executive departments, agencies, and offices as the Secretary of Commerce may designate. Senior officials shall be designated by and report to the Deputy Secretary or official at the equivalent level of their respective offices, departments, and agencies.

(iii) The Working Group shall coordinate activities to promote business investment and respond to specific issues that affect business investment decisions.

(iv) The Department of Commerce shall provide funding and administrative support for the Working Group to the extent permitted by law and within existing appropriations.

(e) Department and Agency Participation. All executive departments and agencies that have activities relating to business investment decisions shall cooperate with the Initiative, as requested by the Initiative's Executive Director, to support its objectives.

Sec. 3. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof, or the status of that department or agency within the Federal Government; or

(ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

Barack Obama.      

[Reference to the National Security Staff deemed to be a reference to the National Security Council Staff, see Ex. Ord. No. 13657, set out as a note under section 3021 of Title 50, War and National Defense.]

Ex. Ord. No. 13731. Global Entrepreneurship

Ex. Ord. No. 13731, June 24, 2016, 81 F.R. 42221, provided:

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Policy. The American spirit of entrepreneurship is one of our most admired values around the world, and the United States has produced many of the world's most respected businesses and inspiring business creators. At a time when many societies confront extremism, unemployment, and slow economic growth, entrepreneurship holds out the promise of opportunity, prosperity, and security.

It is in the national interest for the Federal Government to support innovation, global entrepreneurship, and the American private sector. Linking entrepreneurs with capital, new networks, and markets and providing skills and training will allow them to grow their businesses and positively impact their communities. It is also necessary that we help enable our global partners to invest in the tools and infrastructure that make this possible, including high-speed broadband; business incubators and accelerators; regional economic development programs and extension services; international people-to-people exchange programs; and the technical, export, and business assistance and mentoring that entrepreneurs need worldwide in order to drive economic growth and job creation.

This order sets forth the administration and goals of several programs designed to connect American and foreign entrepreneurs with the Federal Government and promote entrepreneurship across the United States and around the world by sharing the knowledge, experience, and connectivity necessary to help develop the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Sec. 2. Administration of the Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship Program. (a) The Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) shall administer the Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship Program (PAGE Program) to enable individuals who exemplify the spirit of American entrepreneurship and who have proven track records to use their networks, platforms, and voices to support aspiring entrepreneurs and advance public policies that encourage entrepreneurship in the United States and around the globe. Individuals selected for participation in the PAGE Program shall be known as PAGE Members.

(b) The PAGE Program shall be administered by a Director, appointed by the Secretary under authorities of the Department of Commerce (Commerce). Commerce shall provide necessary staff, resources, and administrative support for the PAGE Program to the extent permitted by law and within existing appropriations.

Sec. 3. PAGE Advisory Board. (a) The Secretary shall establish an Advisory Board to advise the Secretary by recommending such priorities, standards, and partnerships as may be beneficial to fulfill the goals of the PAGE Program and to identify potential opportunities for PAGE Members to support the PAGE Program.

(b) The Secretary shall serve as Chair of the Advisory Board. In addition to the Chair, the membership of the Advisory Board shall include the Secretary of State, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), or their designees, and such other representatives of executive departments and agencies (agencies) as may be designated by the Secretary. Consistent with law, the Advisory Board may consult with industry, academia, and other non-federal entities to ensure that the PAGE Program is continually identifying opportunities to apply innovative practices in effective ways to promote entrepreneurship.

Sec. 4. Selection of PAGE Members. (a) The Secretary, in accordance with applicable law, shall prescribe appropriate procedures for the selection of PAGE Members. PAGE Members will total no more than 25 at any given time.

(b) PAGE Members may participate in the PAGE Program for periods of 2 years, and may be selected to participate for additional periods at the discretion of the Secretary.

Sec. 5. Responsibilities of Agencies. The Department of State (State), USAID, and SBA are encouraged to work with the Secretary and the Advisory Board to maximize the PAGE Program's benefits to innovation, global entrepreneurship, and the American private sector through the identification of opportunities for entrepreneurs to access capital, education, mentorships, and other services that will help to grow their businesses.

Sec. 6. Global Entrepreneurship Summit. (a) The Secretary of State shall coordinate the Federal Government's participation in the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), which will focus on connecting entrepreneurs around the world and empowering them to expand their enterprises and build lasting relationships with the United States; increasing global economic prosperity; building secure communities; promoting responsible business conduct, including business practices to encourage greater representation of all people, including women, youth, and minorities; and using innovation to solve pressing global challenges.

(b) State shall coordinate with Commerce, USAID, and SBA to identify and carry out programs and activities that will further the goals of the GES to the extent permitted by law and within existing appropriations.

Sec. 7. Accelerating Entrepreneurship and Economic Opportunity by Expanding Internet Access Globally. State, in coordination with other agencies, multilateral institutions, foreign countries, and stakeholders, shall work to actively promote global Internet connectivity. Specifically, the Global Connect Initiative shall focus on encouraging foreign countries to prioritize Internet connectivity in development plans, promoting the formation of region-specific multi-sector working groups to ensure technical and regulatory best practices, and encouraging the development of digital literacy programs in developing nations.

Sec. 8. Global Connect International Connectivity Steering Group. (a) In order to ensure a coordinated and consistent approach in agency implementation of the goals set forth in section 7 of this order, there is hereby established a Global Connect International Connectivity Steering Group (Steering Group), chaired by State.

(b) The Steering Group shall be composed of a representative from each of the following agencies:

(i) the Department of State;

(ii) the Department of the Treasury;

(iii) the Department of Defense;

(iv) the Department of Commerce;

(v) the Department of Transportation;

(vi) the United States Trade Representative;

(vii) the Small Business Administration;

(viii) the United States Trade and Development Agency;

(ix) the Millennium Challenge Corporation;

(x) the Overseas Private Investment Corporation [now the United States International Development Finance Corporation];

(xi) the Export-Import Bank of the United States; and

(xii) the United States Agency for International Development.

(c) The Chair shall invite a representative from the Federal Communications Commission, and may invite a representative from any other department, agency, component, or office the Chair deems appropriate, to participate as a member of the Steering Group.

(d) The Chair shall consult with the following entities in setting the agenda of the Steering Group and ensuring coordination with other Administration policies:

(i) the National Economic Council;

(ii) the National Security Council Staff; and

(iii) the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

(e) Not later than 6 months after the date of this order, the Steering Group shall report to the Secretary of State. In this report, the Steering Group shall:

(i) describe the current state of agency procedures, requirements, programs, and policies related to the goals of the Global Connect Initiative; and

(ii) provide updates on the strategy and the evaluation criteria for Federal contributions to the Global Connect Initiative.

(f) The Secretary of State may request a periodic update of this report every 12 months thereafter, through 2020, on progress that has been made in achieving the goals of the Global Connect Initiative.

Sec. 9. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to a department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

Barack Obama.      

§1513. Duties and powers vested in Department

All duties performed and all power and authority possessed or exercised by the head of any executive department in and over any bureau, office, officer, board, branch, or division of the public service transferred to the Department of Commerce, or any business arising therefrom or pertaining thereto, or in relation to the duties performed by and authority conferred by law upon such bureau, officer, office, board, branch, or division of the public service, whether of an appellate or revisory character or otherwise, shall be vested in and exercised by the Secretary of Commerce.

(Feb. 14, 1903, ch. 552, §10, 32 Stat. 829.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 599 of Title 5 prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, by Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 378.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Act Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 141, 37 Stat. 736, provided that the Department of Commerce and Labor and Secretary of Commerce and Labor were to be thereafter called the Department of Commerce and Secretary of Commerce and that the act creating the Department of Commerce and Labor (act Feb. 14, 1903) was amended accordingly.

Government Interest in Patents

For duties and powers of Secretary of Commerce with respect to interest of Government in patents, see executive orders set out as notes under section 266 of Title 35, Patents.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of functions of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of Commerce, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of Commerce, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 5 of 1950, §§1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1263, set out as a note under section 1501 of this title.

§1513a. Cost estimates for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration programs included in Department budget justification

Beginning in fiscal year 2007 and for each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary of Commerce shall include in the budget justification materials that the Secretary submits to Congress in support of the Department of Commerce budget (as submitted with the budget of the President under section 1105(a) of title 31) an estimate for each National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration procurement, acquisition and construction program having a total multiyear program cost of more than $5,000,000 and an estimate of the budgetary requirements for each such program for each of the five subsequent fiscal years.

(Pub. L. 109–108, title II, Nov. 22, 2005, 119 Stat. 2312.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section is from the Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006, which is title II of the Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Similar Provisions

Similar provisions were contained in the following appropriation acts:

Pub. L. 118–42, div. C, title I, Mar. 9, 2024, 138 Stat. 128.

Pub. L. 117–328, div. B, title I, Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 4517.

Pub. L. 117–103, div. B, title I, Mar. 15, 2022, 136 Stat. 108.

Pub. L. 116–260, div. B, title I, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 1241.

Pub. L. 116–93, div. B, title I, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 2392.

Pub. L. 116–6, div. C, title I, Feb. 15, 2019, 133 Stat. 98.

Pub. L. 115–141, div. B, title I, Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 406.

Pub. L. 115–31, div. B, title I, May 5, 2017, 131 Stat. 188.

Pub. L. 114–113, div. B, title I, Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 2292.

Pub. L. 113–235, div. B, title I, Dec. 16, 2014, 128 Stat. 2179.

Pub. L. 113–76, div. B, title I, Jan. 17, 2014, 128 Stat. 49.

Pub. L. 113–6, div. B, title I, Mar. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 239.

Pub. L. 112–55, div. B, title I, Nov. 18, 2011, 125 Stat. 597.

Pub. L. 111–117, div. B, title I, Dec. 16, 2009, 123 Stat. 3119.

Pub. L. 108–447, div. B, title II, Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 2881.

§1513b. Cost estimates for National Institute of Standards and Technology construction projects included in Department budget justification

Beginning in fiscal year 2007 and for each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary of Commerce shall include in the budget justification materials that the Secretary submits to Congress in support of the Department of Commerce budget (as submitted with the budget of the President under section 1105(a) of title 31) an estimate for each National Institute of Standards and Technology construction project having a total multiyear program cost of more than $5,000,000 and simultaneously the budget justification materials shall include an estimate of the budgetary requirements for each such project for each of the five subsequent fiscal years.

(Pub. L. 109–108, title II, Nov. 22, 2005, 119 Stat. 2311.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section is from the Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006, which is title II of the Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Similar Provisions

Similar provisions were contained in the following appropriation acts:

Pub. L. 118–42, div. C, title I, Mar. 9, 2024, 138 Stat. 127.

Pub. L. 117–328, div. B, title I, Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 4516.

Pub. L. 117–103, div. B, title I, Mar. 15, 2022, 136 Stat. 107.

Pub. L. 116–260, div. B, title I, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 1240.

Pub. L. 116–93, div. B, title I, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 2390.

Pub. L. 116–6, div. C, title I, Feb. 15, 2019, 133 Stat. 96.

Pub. L. 115–141, div. B, title I, Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 405.

Pub. L. 115–31, div. B, title I, May 5, 2017, 131 Stat. 187.

Pub. L. 114–113, div. B, title I, Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 2291.

Pub. L. 113–235, div. B, title I, Dec. 16, 2014, 128 Stat. 2177.

Pub. L. 113–76, div. B, title I, Jan. 17, 2014, 128 Stat. 47.

Pub. L. 113–6, div. B, title I, Mar. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 238.

Pub. L. 112–55, div. B, title I, Nov. 18, 2011, 125 Stat. 596.

Pub. L. 111–117, div. B, title I, Dec. 16, 2009, 123 Stat. 3117.

Pub. L. 111–8, div. B, title I, Mar. 11, 2009, 123 Stat. 564.

Pub. L. 110–161, div. B, title I, Dec. 26, 2007, 121 Stat. 1889.

§1514. Basic authority for performance of certain functions and activities of Department

Appropriations are authorized for the following activities of the Department of Commerce:

(a) furnishing to employees of the Department of Commerce and other Federal agencies (including Army, Navy, and Air Force personnel where Army, Navy, or Air Force facilities or supplies are not available and upon request of the service concerned), and their dependents, in Alaska and other points outside the continental United States, free emergency medical services by contract or otherwise and free emergency medical supplies, where in the judgment of the Secretary furnishing of such supplies and services is necessary;

(b) when deemed necessary by the Secretary of Commerce, purchasing, transporting, storing, and distributing food and other subsistence supplies for resale to employees of the Department of Commerce and other Federal agencies (including Army, Navy, and Air Force personnel where Army, Navy, or Air Force facilities or supplies are not available and upon request of the service concerned), and their dependents, in Alaska and other points outside the continental United States at a reasonable value as determined by the Secretary of Commerce, the proceeds from such resales to be credited to the appropriation from which the expenditure was made;

(c) when deemed necessary by the Secretary of Commerce, the establishment, maintenance, and operation of messing facilities, by contract or otherwise, in Alaska and other points outside the continental United States where suitable family facilities are not available, such service to be furnished to employees of the Department of Commerce and other Federal agencies (including Army, Navy, and Air Force personnel where Army, Navy, or Air Force facilities are not available and upon request of the service concerned), and their dependents, in accordance with regulations established by the Secretary of Commerce, and at a reasonable value determined in accordance therewith, the proceeds from the furnishing of such services to be credited to the appropriation from which the expenditures are made;

(d) reimbursement, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, of officers and employees in or under the Department of Commerce, for food, clothing, medicines, and other supplies furnished by them in emergencies for the temporary relief of distressed persons in remote localities;

(e) providing motion-picture equipment and film for recreation of crews of vessels of the National Ocean Survey, for recreation of employees in remote localities where such facilities are not available, and for training purposes;

(f) erecting, altering, repairing, equipping, furnishing, and maintaining, by contract or otherwise, such living and working quarters and facilities as may be necessary to carry out its authorized work at remote localities not on foreign soil where such living and working accommodations are not otherwise available.

(Oct. 26, 1949, ch. 733, 63 Stat. 907; Aug. 30, 1954, ch. 1076, §1(11), 68 Stat. 967; Pub. L. 93–608, §1(3), Jan. 2, 1975, 88 Stat. 1967.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 596a of Title 5 prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, by Pub. L. 89–554, §1, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 378.

Amendments

1975—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 93–608 struck out proviso requiring an annual report to Congress of the total expenditures made for such supplies and total proceeds from resales.

1954—Subsec. (c). Act Aug. 30, 1954, struck out proviso requiring the Secretary of Commerce to submit annually to Congress a report showing the expenditures for the establishment, maintenance, and operation of messing facilities in Alaska and other points outside the continental United States.

Executive Documents

Change of Name

Coast and Geodetic Survey consolidated with National Weather Bureau in 1965 to form Environmental Science Services Administration by Reorg. Plan No. 2 of 1965, eff. July 13, 1965, 30 F.R. 8819, 79 Stat. 1318. Environmental Science Services Administration abolished in 1970 and its personnel, property, records, etc., transferred to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration by Reorg. Plan No. 4 of 1970, eff. Oct. 3, 1970, 35 F.R. 15627, 84 Stat. 2090, set out as a note under section 1511 of this title. By order of Acting Associate Administrator of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 35 F.R. 19249, Dec. 19, 1970, Coast and Geodetic Survey redesignated National Ocean Survey. See notes under section 311 of this title.

§1515. Records, etc., of bureaus transferred to Department of Commerce

The official records and papers on file in and pertaining exclusively to the business of any bureau, office, department, or branch of the public service transferred to the Department of Commerce, together with the furniture in use in such bureau, office, department, or branch of the public service, are transferred to the Department of Commerce.

(Feb. 14, 1903, ch. 552, §4 (part), 32 Stat. 826.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 598 of Title 5 prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, by Pub. L. 89–554, §1, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 378.

Section is based on the second par. of section 4 of act Feb. 14, 1903. The first par. of section 4 is classified to sections 1511 and 1516 of this title.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Act Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 141, 37 Stat. 736, provided that the Department of Commerce and Labor and Secretary of Commerce and Labor were to be thereafter called the Department of Commerce and Secretary of Commerce and that the act creating the Department of Commerce and Labor (act Feb. 14, 1903) was amended accordingly.

§1516. Statistical information

The Secretary of Commerce shall have control of the work of gathering and distributing statistical information naturally relating to the subjects confided to his department; and he shall have the power and authority to rearrange the statistical work of the bureaus and offices confided to the Department of Commerce, and to consolidate any of the statistical bureaus and offices above described. He shall also have authority to call upon other departments of the Government for statistical data and results obtained by them; and he may collate, arrange, and publish such statistical information so obtained in such manner as to him may seem wise.

(Feb. 14, 1903, ch. 552, §4 (part), 32 Stat. 826.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 601 of Title 5 prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, by Pub. L. 89–554, §1, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 378.

Section is based on part of the first par. of section 4 of act Feb. 14, 1903. The rest of the first par. and the second par. of section 4 are classified to sections 1511 and 1515 of this title, respectively.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Act Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 141, 37 Stat. 736, provided that the Department of Commerce and Labor and Secretary of Commerce and Labor were to be thereafter called the Department of Commerce and Secretary of Commerce and that the act creating the Department of Commerce and Labor (act Feb. 14, 1903) was amended accordingly.

§1516a. Statistics relating to social, health, and economic conditions of Americans of Spanish origin or descent

The Department of Commerce, the Department of Labor, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Agriculture shall each collect, and publish regularly, statistics which indicate the social, health, and economic condition of Americans of Spanish origin or descent.

(Pub. L. 94–311, §2, June 16, 1976, 90 Stat. 688; Pub. L. 96–88, title V, §509(b), Oct. 17, 1979, 93 Stat. 695.)

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

"Department of Health and Human Services" substituted for "Department of Health, Education, and Welfare" pursuant to section 509(b) of Pub. L. 96–88, which is classified to section 3508(b) of Title 20, Education.

Development of Program for the Collection, Analysis and Publication of Data

Pub. L. 94–311, §3, June 16, 1976, 90 Stat. 688, provided that: "The Director of the Office of Management and Budget, in cooperation with the Secretary of Commerce and with the heads of other data-gathering Federal agencies, shall develop a Government-wide program for the collection, analysis, and publication of data with respect to Americans of Spanish origin or descent."

§1517. Transfer of statistical or scientific work

The President is authorized, by order in writing, to transfer at any time the whole or any part of any office, bureau, division, or other branch of the public service engaged in statistical or scientific work, from the Department of State, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Defense, the Department of Justice, the United States Postal Service, or the Department of the Interior, to the Department of Commerce; and in every such case the duties and authority performed by and conferred by law upon such office, bureau, division, or other branch of the public service, or the part thereof so transferred, shall be thereby transferred with such office, bureau, division, or other branch of the public service, or the part thereof which is so transferred. All power and authority conferred by law, both supervisory and appellate, upon the department from which such transfer is made, or the Secretary thereof, in relation to the said office, bureau, division, or other branch of the public service, or the part thereof so transferred, shall immediately, when such transfer is so ordered by the President, be fully conferred upon and vested in the Department of Commerce, or the Secretary thereof, as the case may be, as to the whole or part of such office, bureau, division, or other branch of the public service so transferred.

(Feb. 14, 1903, ch. 552, §12, 32 Stat. 830; July 26, 1947, ch. 343, title II, §201(a), 61 Stat. 499; Aug. 10, 1949, ch. 412, §4, 63 Stat. 579; Pub. L. 91–375, §§4(a), 6(o), Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 773, 783.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 602 of Title 5 prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, by Pub. L. 89–554, §1, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 378.

Section is based on section 12 of act Feb. 14, 1903, as originally enacted. Section 12 of the act was amended generally by Pub. L. 93–498, §23, Oct. 29, 1974, 88 Stat. 1549, and forms the basis of section 1511 of this title.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

"United States Postal Service" substituted for "Post Office Department" in text pursuant to Pub. L. 91–375, §§4(a), 6(o), Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 773, 783, which are set out as notes preceding section 101 of Title 39, Postal Service, and under section 201 of Title 39, respectively, which abolished Post Office Department, transferred its functions to United States Postal Service, and provided that references in other laws to Post Office Department shall be considered a reference to United States Postal Service.

Department of Defense substituted for Departments of the Army and Navy by act July 26, 1947, as amended Aug. 10, 1949.

Act Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 141, 37 Stat. 736, provided that the Department of Commerce and Labor and Secretary of Commerce and Labor were to be thereafter called the Department of Commerce and Secretary of Commerce and that the act creating the Department of Commerce and Labor (act Feb. 14, 1903) was amended accordingly.

Meteorological Satellite (METSAT) and Associated Ground Systems; Expenditure of Funds To Develop Proposals To Transfer Ownership to Private Entities Prohibited

Pub. L. 98–166, title I, §101, Nov. 28, 1983, 97 Stat. 1076, provided that: "No funds made available by this Act, or any other Act, may be used—

"(1) by the Source Evaluation Board for Civil Space Remote Sensing as established by the Secretary of Commerce to develop or issue a request for proposal to transfer the ownership or lease the use of any meteorological satellite (METSAT) or associated ground system to any private entity; or

"(2) by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to transfer the ownership of any meteorological satellite (METSAT) or associated ground system to any private entity."

Civil Land Remote Sensing Satellite System; Termination

Pub. L. 98–52, title II, §202, July 15, 1983, 97 Stat. 285, as amended by Pub. L. 103–437, §5(b)(1), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4582, provided that: "Notwithstanding title II of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act, 1983 [Pub. L. 97–324, set out as a note below], the Secretary of Commerce shall not transfer the ownership or management of any civil land, meteorological, or ocean remote sensing space satellite system and associated ground system equipment unless, in addition to any other requirement of law—

"(1) the Secretary of Commerce or his designee has presented, in writing, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate, and to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, a comprehensive statement of recommended policies, procedures, conditions, and limitations to which any transfer should be subject; and

"(2) the Congress thereafter enacts a law which contains such policies, procedures, conditions, or limitations (or a combination thereof) as it deems appropriate for any such transfer."

Pub. L. 97–324, title II, §201, Oct. 15, 1982, 96 Stat. 1601, as amended by Pub. L. 98–365, title VI, §608, July 17, 1984, 98 Stat. 466; Pub. L. 103–437, §5(b)(2), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4582, provided that:

"(a) The Secretary of Commerce is authorized to plan and provide for the management and operation of civil remote-sensing space systems, which may include the Landsat 4 and 5 satellites and associated ground system equipment transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; to provide for user fees; and to plan for the transfer of the operation of civil remote-sensing space systems to the private sector when in the national interest.

"(b)(1) As part of his planning for the transfer of the ownership and operation of civil operational land remote sensing satellite systems to the private sector the Secretary shall—

"(A) Conduct a study to define the current, projected, and potential needs of the government for land remote sensing data.

"(B) Determine and describe the equipment, software, and data inventory that could be transferred to the private sector.

"(C) Compare various feasible financial and organizational approaches for such a transfer. Criteria for the comparison should include considerations such as: maintenance of data continuity; maintenance of United States leadership; national security; international obligations; potential for market growth; marketing ability; sunk and projected cost to the Government; independence of subsidy or financial guarantee from the Government; potential of financial return to the Government; and price of data to users. The following institutional alternatives should be compared: (i) wholly private ownership and operation of the system by an entity competitively selected; (ii) phased-in Government/private ownership and operation; (iii) a legislatively chartered privately owned corporation; and (iv) continued ownership and operation by the Federal Government.

The Secretary shall complete these studies and report on them to the Congress by February 1, 1983.

"(2) In addition to the studies and comparisons called for in section 201(b)(1) the Secretary shall fund at least two parallel studies outside the government independently to assess the alternatives called for in section 201(b)(1)(C). These studies should be submitted to the Congress by April 1, 1983.

"(c) There is authorized to be appropriated $14,955,000 for the fiscal year 1983, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this title [this note].

"(d) No moneys authorized by this title [this note] shall be used to transfer to the private sector the ownership or management of any civil land remote sensing space satellite system and associated ground system equipment unless (A) a period of thirty days has passed after the receipt by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, of a message from the Secretary of Commerce or his designee containing a full and complete plan for the action proposed to be taken together with the reasons therefor and expected funding impacts, or (B) each such committee before the expiration of such period has transmitted to the Secretary written notice to the effect that such committee has no objection to the proposed action."

Executive Documents

Ex. Ord. No. 11564. Transfer of Certain Programs and Activities to Secretary of Commerce

Ex. Ord. No. 11564, Oct. 6, 1970, 35 F.R. 15801, provided:

By virtue of the authority vested in me by section 12 of the Act of February 14, 1903, as amended (15 U.S.C. 1517) [this section] and section 12(d) of the Act of October 15, 1966 (49 U.S.C. 1651 note), as President of the United States, and in further implementation of Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970 [set out as a note under section 1511 of this title] transferring certain functions to the Secretary of Commerce and establishing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the Department of Commerce, it is ordered as follows:

Section 1. (a) The following programs and activities are hereby transferred to the Secretary of Commerce:

(1) The National Oceanographic Instrumentation Center of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense.

(2) The National Oceanographic Data Center of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense.

(3) The Ocean Station Vessel Meteorological Program of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense.

(4) The Trust Territories Upper Air Observation Program of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense.

(5) The Hydroclimatic Network Program of the Corps of Engineers of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense.

(6) The National Data Buoy Development Project of the Coast Guard, Department of Transportation.

(b) All of the power and authority of the transferor Departments conferred by law which is related to or incidental to, in support of, or necessary for, the operation of the programs and activities transferred by subsection (a) above, may be utilized by the Secretary of Commerce for the operation of those programs and activities.

Sec. 2. (a) Such personnel and positions and so much of the property, records, and unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations, and other funds employed, used, held, authorized, affected, available, or to be made available in connection with the operation of the programs and activities transferred by section 1 hereof from the Department of Defense and the Department of Transportation as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall determine shall be transferred from those Departments to the Department of Commerce at such time or times as the Director shall direct.

(b) Subject to the direction of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the appropriate officers of the Government shall make necessary administrative arrangements for the assumption by the Secretary of Commerce of the programs and activities so transferred.

Richard Nixon.      

§1518. Custody of buildings; officers transferred

The Secretary of Commerce shall have charge, in the buildings or premises occupied by or appropriated to the Department of Commerce, of the library, furniture, fixtures, records, and other property pertaining to it or acquired for use in its business; and he shall be allowed to expend for periodicals and the purposes of the library, and for the rental of appropriate quarters for the accommodation of the Department of Commerce within the District of Columbia, and for all other incidental expenses, such sums as Congress may provide from time to time. Where any office, bureau, or branch of the public service transferred to the Department of Commerce is occupying rented buildings or premises, it may still continue to do so until other suitable quarters are provided for its use. All officers, clerks, and employees employed on February 14, 1903, in or by any of the bureaus, offices, departments, or branches of the public service transferred to the Department of Commerce are each and all transferred to said department, except where otherwise provided by law. All laws prescribing the work and defining the duties of the several bureaus, offices, departments, or branches of the public service transferred to and made a part of the Department of Commerce shall, so far as the same are not in conflict with the provisions of this Act, remain in full force and effect until otherwise provided by law.

(Feb. 14, 1903, ch. 552, §9, 32 Stat. 829.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This Act, referred to in text, is act Feb. 14, 1903, ch. 552, 32 Stat. 825, which is classified to sections 175, 1501, 1504, 1510, 1511, 1512, 1513, 1515, 1516, 1517 to 1519 of this title.

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 603 of Title 5 prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, by Pub. L. 89–554, §1, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 378.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Act Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 141, 37 Stat. 736, provided that the Department of Commerce and Labor and Secretary of Commerce and Labor were to be thereafter called the Department of Commerce and Secretary of Commerce and that the act creating the Department of Commerce and Labor (act Feb. 14, 1903) was amended accordingly.

§1519. Annual and special reports

The Secretary of Commerce shall annually, at the close of each fiscal year, make a report in writing to Congress, giving an account of all moneys received and disbursed by him and his Department, and describing the work done by the Department in fostering, promoting, and developing the foreign and domestic commerce, the mining, manufacturing, and fishery industries; of the United States, and making such recommendations as he shall deem necessary for the effective performance of the duties and purposes of the Department. He shall also from time to time make such special investigations and reports as he may be required to do by the President, or by either House of Congress, or which he himself may deem necessary and urgent.

(Feb. 14, 1903, ch. 552, §8, 32 Stat. 829; Pub. L. 97–31, §12(7), Aug. 6, 1981, 95 Stat. 154.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 604 of Title 5 prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, by Pub. L. 89–554, §1, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 378.

Amendments

1981—Pub. L. 97–31 struck out references to shipping and transportation facilities.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Act Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 141, 37 Stat. 736, provided that the Department of Commerce and Labor and Secretary of Commerce and Labor were to be thereafter called the Department of Commerce and Secretary of Commerce and that the act creating the Department of Commerce and Labor (act Feb. 14, 1903) was amended accordingly.

§1519a. Repealed. Pub. L. 97–449, §7(b), Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2443

Section, Pub. L. 96–371, §2, Oct. 3, 1980, 94 Stat. 1362; Pub. L. 97–31, §12(8), Aug. 6, 1981, 95 Stat. 154, required an annual report to Congress by the Secretary of Transportation respecting conditions of the public ports of the United States. See section 308(b) of Title 49, Transportation.

§1520. Repealed. Pub. L. 91–412, §3(d), Sept. 25, 1970, 84 Stat. 864

Section, act Dec. 19, 1942, ch. 780, 56 Stat. 1067, authorized Secretary of Commerce to establish schedule of fees or charges for services or publications furnished by Department of Commerce, excepting Federal and State governments, provided for covering proceeds thereof into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts, and specified that its provisions shall not alter, amend, modify, or repeal any existing law for prescription of fees or charges. See sections 1525 to 1527 of this title.

§1521. Working capital fund; establishment; amount; uses; reimbursement

There is established a working capital fund of $100,000, without fiscal year limitation, for the payment of salaries and other expenses necessary to the maintenance and operation of (1) central duplicating, photographic, drafting, and photostating services and (2) such other services as the Secretary, with the approval of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, determines may be performed more advantageously as central services; said fund to be reimbursed from applicable funds of bureaus, offices, and agencies for which services are performed on the basis of rates which shall include estimated or actual charges for personal services, materials, equipment (including maintenance, repairs, and depreciation) and other expenses: Provided, That such central services shall, to the fullest extent practicable, be used to make unnecessary the maintenance of separate like services in the bureaus, offices, and agencies of the Department: Provided further, That a separate schedule of expenditures and reimbursements, and a statement of the current assets and liabilities of the working capital fund as of the close of the last completed fiscal year, shall be included in the annual Budget.

(June 28, 1944, ch. 294, title III, §301, 58 Stat. 415; 1970 Reorg. Plan No. 2, §102, eff. July 1, 1970, 35 F.R. 7959, 84 Stat. 2085.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 607 of Title 5 prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, by Pub. L. 89–554, §1, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 378.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

Functions vested by law (including reorganization plan) in Bureau of the Budget or Director of Bureau of the Budget transferred to President by section 101 of Reorg. Plan No. 2 of 1970, eff. July 1, 1970, 35 F.R. 7959, 84 Stat. 2085, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. Section 102 of Reorg. Plan No. 2 of 1970 redesignated Bureau of the Budget as Office of Management and Budget.

§1521a. Department of Commerce Nonrecurring Expenses Fund

(a) There is hereby established in the Treasury of the United States a fund to be known as the "Department of Commerce Nonrecurring Expenses Fund" (the Fund): Provided, That unobligated balances of expired discretionary funds appropriated for this or any succeeding fiscal year from the General Fund of the Treasury to the Department of Commerce by this or any other Act may be transferred (not later than the end of the fifth fiscal year after the last fiscal year for which such funds are available for the purposes for which appropriated) into the Fund: Provided further, That amounts deposited in the Fund shall be available until expended, and in addition to such other funds as may be available for such purposes, for information and business technology system modernization and facilities infrastructure improvements necessary for the operation of the Department, subject to approval by the Office of Management and Budget: Provided further, That amounts in the Fund may be obligated only after the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate are notified at least 15 days in advance of the planned use of funds.

(b) In addition to amounts otherwise made available by this Act, there is appropriated $20,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2022, to the Fund for necessary expenses for a business application system modernization.

(Pub. L. 116–93, div. B, title I, §111, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 2395.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This Act, referred to in text, is div. B of Pub. L. 116–93, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 2385, known as the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.

§1522. Acceptance of gifts and bequests for purposes of the Department; separate fund; disbursements

The Secretary of Commerce is hereby authorized to accept, hold, administer, and utilize gifts and bequests of property, both real and personal, for the purpose of aiding or facilitating the work of the Department of Commerce. Gifts and bequests of money and the proceeds from sales of other property received as gifts or bequests shall be deposited in the Treasury in a separate fund and shall be disbursed upon order of the Secretary of Commerce. Property accepted pursuant to this provision, and the proceeds thereof, shall be used as nearly as possible in accordance with the terms of the gift or bequest.

(Pub. L. 88–611, §1, Oct. 2, 1964, 78 Stat. 991.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 608a of Title 5 prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, by Pub. L. 89–554, §1, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 378.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Transfer of Funds

Pub. L. 88–611, §4(b), Oct. 2, 1964, 78 Stat. 991, provided that: "All gifts and bequests received under the provisions of law repealed by subsection (a) of this section [which repealed section 278a of this title, section 883g of Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters, and section 1126(g) of former Title 46, Shipping] and all funds held on the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 2, 1964] in the United States Merchant Marine Academy general gift fund, established by subsection (g) of section 216 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 [section 1126(g) of former Title 46], shall be transferred to the fund authorized by this Act [sections 1522 to 1524 of this title] and shall be administered in accordance with the provisions of this Act [sections 1522 to 1524 of this title]."

§1523. Tax status of gifts and bequests of property

For the purpose of Federal income, estate, and gift taxes, property accepted under section 1522 of this title shall be considered as a gift or bequest to or for the use of the United States.

(Pub. L. 88–611, §2, Oct. 2, 1964, 78 Stat. 991.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 608b of Title 5 prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, by Pub. L. 89–554, §1, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 378.

§1524. Investment and reinvestments of moneys; credit and disbursement of interest

Upon the request of the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of the Treasury may invest and reinvest in securities of the United States or in securities guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States any moneys contained in the fund authorized herein. Income accruing from such securities, and from any other property accepted pursuant to section 1522 of this title, shall be deposited to the credit of the fund authorized herein, and shall be disbursed upon order of the Secretary of Commerce.

(Pub. L. 88–611, §3, Oct. 2, 1964, 78 Stat. 991.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 608c of Title 5 prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, by Pub. L. 89–554, §1, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 378.

§1525. Special studies; special compilations, lists, bulletins, or reports; clearinghouse for technical information; transcripts or copies; cost payments for special work; joint projects: cost apportionment, waiver

The Secretary of Commerce is authorized, upon the request of any person, firm, organization, or others, public or private, to make special studies on matters within the authority of the Department of Commerce; to prepare from its records special compilations, lists, bulletins, or reports; to perform the functions authorized by section 1152 of this title; and to furnish transcripts or copies of its studies, compilations, and other records; upon the payment of the actual or estimated cost of such special work.

In the case of nonprofit organizations, research organizations, or public organizations or agencies, the Secretary may engage in joint projects, or perform services, on matters of mutual interest, the cost of which shall be apportioned equitably, as determined by the Secretary, who may, however, waive payment of any portion of such costs by others, when authorized to do so under regulations approved by the Office of Management and Budget.

(Pub. L. 91–412, §1, Sept. 25, 1970, 84 Stat. 864; 1970 Reorg. Plan No. 2, §102, eff. July 1, 1970, 35 F.R. 7959, 84 Stat. 2085.)

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

Functions vested by law (including reorganization plan) in Bureau of the Budget or Director of Bureau of the Budget transferred to President by section 101 of Reorg. Plan No. 2 of 1970, eff. July 1, 1970, 35 F.R. 7959, 84 Stat. 2085, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. Section 102 of Reorg. Plan No. 2 of 1970 redesignated Bureau of the Budget as Office of Management and Budget.

§1526. Receipts for work or services; deposit in special accounts; availability for payment of costs, repayment or advances to appropriations or funds, refunds, credits to working capital funds; appropriation limitation of annual expenditures from accounts

All payments for work or services performed or to be performed under this Act shall be deposited in a separate account or accounts which may be used to pay directly the costs of such work or services, to repay or make advances to appropriations or funds which do or will initially bear all or part of such costs, or to refund excess sums when necessary: Provided, That said receipts may be credited to a working capital fund otherwise established by law, and used under the law governing said funds, if the fund is available for use by the agency of the Department of Commerce which is responsible for performing the work or services for which payment is received. Acts appropriating funds to the Department of Commerce may include provisions limiting annual expenditure from said account or accounts.

(Pub. L. 91–412, §2, Sept. 25, 1970, 84 Stat. 864.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This Act, referred to in text, means Pub. L. 91–412, which enacted sections 1525 to 1527, amended section 1153, and repealed sections 189, 189a, 192, 192a, 1153a, and 1520 of this title.

§1527. Fees or charges for services or publications under existing law unaffected

Except as to those laws expressly repealed herein, nothing in this Act shall alter, amend, modify, or repeal any existing law prescribing fees or charges or authorizing the prescribing of fees or charges for services performed or for any publication furnished by the Department of Commerce, or any of its several bureaus or offices.

(Pub. L. 91–412, §4, Sept. 25, 1970, 84 Stat. 865.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This Act, referred to in text, means Pub. L. 91–412, which enacted sections 1525 to 1527, amended section 1153, and repealed sections 189, 189a, 192, 192a, 1153a, and 1520 of this title.

Laws expressly repealed herein, referred to in text, means amendment of section 1153 and repeal of sections 189, 189a, 192, 192a, 1153a, and 1520 of this title, as heretofore noted.

§1527a. Economics and Statistics Administration Revolving Fund

There is hereby established the Economics and Statistics Administration Revolving Fund which shall be available without fiscal year limitation. For initial capitalization, there is appropriated $1,677,000 to the Fund: Provided, That the Secretary of Commerce is authorized to disseminate economic and statistical data products as authorized by sections 1525 to 1527 of this title and, notwithstanding section 4912 of this title, charge fees necessary to recover the full costs incurred in their production. Notwithstanding section 3302 of title 31, receipts received from these data dissemination activities shall be credited to this account as offsetting collections, to be available for carrying out these purposes without further appropriation.

(Pub. L. 103–317, title II, Aug. 26, 1994, 108 Stat. 1744.)

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Dissemination of Economic and Statistical Data Products; Fees

Pub. L. 105–119, title II, Nov. 26, 1997, 111 Stat. 2474, provided in part that: "The Secretary of Commerce is authorized to disseminate economic and statistical data products as authorized by sections 1, 2, and 4 of Public Law 91–412 (15 U.S.C. 1525–1527) and, notwithstanding section 5412 of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 4912), charge fees necessary to recover the full costs incurred in their production. Notwithstanding 31 U.S.C. 3302, receipts received from these data dissemination activities shall be credited to this account, to be available for carrying out these purposes without further appropriation."

Similar provisions were contained in the following prior appropriation acts:

Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, §101(a) [title II], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009, 3009-34.

Pub. L. 104–134, title I, §101[(a)] [title II], Apr. 26, 1996, 110 Stat. 1321, 1321-25; renumbered title I, Pub. L. 104–140, §1(a), May 2, 1996, 110 Stat. 1327.

§1528. Transferred

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section, act Feb. 28, 1920, ch. 91, §500, 41 Stat. 499; 1939 Reorg. Plan No. II, §6, eff. July 1, 1939, 4 F.R. 2732, 53 Stat. 1434; Aug. 6, 1981, Pub. L. 97–31, §12(9), 95 Stat. 154, relating to a policy of development of water transportation, was transferred to section 142 of former Title 49, Transportation, and was repealed by Pub. L. 103–272, §7(b), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1379, and reenacted by section 4(j)(6)(A) thereof as section 303a of Title 49, Transportation.

§1529. Relinquishment of legislative jurisdiction over certain lands

Notwithstanding any other law, the Secretary of Commerce, whenever the Secretary considers it desirable, may relinquish to a State, or to a Commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States, all or part of the legislative jurisdiction of the United States over lands or interests under the Secretary's control in that State, Commonwealth, territory, or possession. Relinquishment of legislative jurisdiction under this section may be accomplished—

(1) by filing with the Governor (or, if none exists, with the chief executive officer) of the State, Commonwealth, territory, or possession concerned a notice of relinquishment to take effect upon acceptance of the notice; or

(2) as required by the laws of the State, Commonwealth, territory, or possession.

(Pub. L. 98–623, title IV, §406, Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3409.)

§1530. Awarding of contracts for performance of commercial activity by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The Administration may not award any contract for the performance of any "commercial activity", as defined by paragraph 6.a. of the Office of Management and Budget Circular Memorandum A–76, which is performed by Administration employees until at least 30 calendar days after the Administrator of the Administration has presented, in writing, to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, a full and complete description of such proposed contract, together with supporting documentation. Such documentation shall include—

(1) a comparison of the cost of such activity as performed by employees of the Administration and the cost of such activity as performed under the proposed contract;

(2) a comparison of the services performed by employees of the Administration and the services to be performed under the proposed contract; and

(3) an assessment of the benefits to the Federal Government of proceeding with the proposed contract.

(Pub. L. 99–272, title VI, §6083, Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 135; Pub. L. 103–437, §5(b)(3), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4582.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–437 in introductory provisions substituted "Committee on Science, Space, and Technology" for "Committee on Science and Technology" before "of the House".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Abolition of House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries

Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries of House of Representatives abolished and its jurisdiction transferred by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Fourth Congress, Jan. 4, 1995. For treatment of references to Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, see section 1(b)(3) of Pub. L. 104–14, set out as a note preceding section 21 of Title 2, The Congress.

§1531. Buying Power Maintenance accounts for International Trade Administration, Export Administration, and United States Travel and Tourism Administration

In order to maintain overseas program activity for the Department of Commerce provided for each fiscal year at the appropriated program levels, the Secretary may establish Buying Power Maintenance accounts for the International Trade Administration, the Export Administration, and the United States Travel and Tourism Administration. There are authorized to be appropriated for such accounts such sums as may be necessary to offset adverse fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, or unbudgeted overseas wage and price changes. To eliminate substantial gains to the approved levels of overseas operations, the Secretary shall transfer to a Buying Power Maintenance account such amounts determined to be excessive to the needs of the approved level of overseas operations because of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates or changes in unbudgeted overseas wages and prices, including unobligated balances associated with the overseas program. To offset adverse fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates or unbudgeted overseas wage and price changes, the Secretary may transfer from a Buying Power Maintenance account such amounts determined to be necessary to maintain the approved level of overseas operations under an appropriation account. Funds transferred by the Secretary to or from a Buying Power Maintenance account to another account shall be merged with and be available for the same purpose, and for the same time period, as the funds in the account into which transferred. Any restriction contained in an appropriation Act or other provision of law limiting the amounts available for the Department of Commerce that may be obligated or expended shall be deemed to be adjusted to the extent necessary to offset the net effect of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates or unbudgeted overseas wage and price changes in order to maintain approved levels.

(Pub. L. 100–202, §101(a) [title I, §108], Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1329, 1329-7.)

§1532. Telecommunications; electromagnetic radiation; research, analysis, dissemination of information; other functions of Secretary

The Secretary of Commerce is authorized to—

(1) conduct research on all of the telecommunications sciences, including wave propagation and reception, the conditions which affect electromagnetic wave propagation and reception, electromagnetic noise and interference, radio system characteristics, operating techniques affecting the use of the electromagnetic spectrum, and methods for improving the use of the electromagnetic spectrum for telecommunications purposes;

(2) prepare and issue predictions of electromagnetic wave propagation conditions and warnings of disturbances in such conditions;

(3) investigate conditions which affect the transmission of radio waves from their source to a receiver and the compilation and distribution of information on such transmission of radio waves as a basis for choice of frequencies to be used in radio operations;

(4) conduct research and analysis in the general field of telecommunications sciences in support of assigned functions and in support of other Government agencies;

(5) investigate nonionizing electromagnetic radiation and its uses, as well as methods and procedures for measuring and assessing electromagnetic environments, for the purpose of developing and coordinating policies and procedures affecting Federal Government use of the electromagnetic spectrum for telecommunications purposes;

(6) compile, evaluate, publish, and otherwise disseminate general scientific and technical data resulting from the performance of the functions specified in this section or from other sources when such data are important to science, engineering, or industry, or to the general public, and are not available elsewhere; and

(7) undertake such other activities similar to those specified in this subsection as the Secretary of Commerce determines appropriate.

(Pub. L. 100–418, title V, §5112(b), Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1430.)

§1533. Repealed. Pub. L. 111–358, title IV, §407(c), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 4004

Section, Pub. L. 100–418, title V, §5163(d), Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1451, established the Commerce, Science, and Technology Fellowship Program within the Department of Commerce.

Editorial Notes

Codification

Pub. L. 111–358, §407(c), which directed the repeal of section 5163(d) of the Omnibus Trade and Competition Act of 1988, was executed by repealing this section, which was section 5163(d) of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100–418), to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

§1534. Assessment of fees for access to environmental data

(a) Basis of assessment

Except as otherwise provided in this section, the Secretary is authorized to assess fees, based on fair market value, for access to environmental data and information and products derived therefrom collected and/or archived by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

(b) Eligible recipients; waiver of fees in cases of foreign governments and international organizations

(1) The Secretary shall provide data, information, and products described in subsection (a) to Federal, State, and local government agencies, to universities, and to other nonprofit institutions at the cost of reproduction and transmission, if such data, information, and products are to be used for research and not for commercial purposes.

(2) The Secretary shall waive the assessment of fees under subsection (a) as necessary to continue to provide data, information, or products to foreign governments and international organizations on a basis of exchanging such data, information, and products or as otherwise provided by international agreement.

(3) The Secretary shall waive the assessment of fees authorized by subsection (a) as necessary to continue to provide weather warnings, watches, and similar products and services essential to the mission of the National Oceanic Atmospheric ¹ Administration.

(c) Publication of fee schedules in Federal Register; initial schedule effective for three-year period

The initial schedule of any fees assessed under this section, and any subsequent amendment to such schedule, shall be published by the Secretary in the Federal Register at least 30 days before such fees will take effect. The initial schedule shall remain in effect without amendment for the three-year period beginning on the date that fees under the schedule take effect.

(d) Effective date of assessments; progressive increments

Any assessment of fees under this section by the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service for archived data shall meet the following requirements:

(1) The initial schedule of fees established by the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service for archived data shall remain in effect for the 3-year period beginning on the date that the fees under that schedule take effect.

(2) With respect to the first one-year period during which the initial fee schedule is in effect, fees shall be assessed at no more than one-third of the fair market value specified in subsection (a).

(3) With respect to the second one-year period during which the initial fee schedule is in effect, fees shall be assessed at not more than two-thirds of such fair market value.

(4) With respect to the third one-year period during which the initial fee schedule is in effect, and with respect to any period thereafter, fees shall be assessed at no more than the full amount of such fair market value.

(e) Data archive center operations; availability of fees for expenses of centers

Fees collected under this section by the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service for archived data shall be available to the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service for expenses incurred in the operation of its data archive centers.

(f) Report to Congressional committees

The Secretary shall, not later than 90 days after November 17, 1988, submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report which sets forth—

(1) any plan of the Secretary for assessing fees under this section by the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service for archived data, including the methodology and bases by which the amount of such fees shall be determined, and the estimated revenues therefrom; and

(2) any plan of the Secretary for using revenues generated from such fees, as well as other resources, to improve the capability of the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service to collect, manage, process, archive, and disseminate the increasing amounts of data generated from satellites, radars, and other technologies.

(g) Other assessment authorities unaffected

The authority of the Secretary to assess fees under this section shall be in addition to, and shall not be construed to limit, the authority under any other law to assess fees relating to the environmental data activities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including the authority of the Secretary pursuant to section 1307 of title 44. Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize the Secretary to assess fees for nautical and aeronautical products of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in addition to those fees authorized under section 1307 of title 44.

(Pub. L. 100–685, title IV, §409, Nov. 17, 1988, 102 Stat. 4100; Pub. L. 101–508, title X, §10201(a), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–392.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1990—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–508, §10201(a)(1), substituted "and information and products derived therefrom collected and/or archived by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration" for "data archived by the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration".

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 101–508, §10201(a)(2), inserted ", information, and products" after "provide data" and substituted "data, information, and products are" for "data is".

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 101–508, §10201(a)(3), inserted ", information, or products" after "provide data" and substituted "basis of exchanging such data, information, and products" for "data exchange basis".

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 101–508, §10201(a)(4), added par. (3).

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 101–508, §10201(a)(6), inserted "by the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service for archived data" after "under this section" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 101–508, §10201(a)(5), amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) read as follows: "No fees shall be assessed under this section until after September 30, 1989."

Subsecs. (e), (f)(1). Pub. L. 101–508, §10201(a)(6), inserted "by the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service for archived data" after "under this section".

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 101–508, §10201(a)(7), inserted before period at end ", including the authority of the Secretary pursuant to section 1307 of title 44. Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize the Secretary to assess fees for nautical and aeronautical products of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in addition to those fees authorized under section 1307 of title 44".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effect of Amendments

Pub. L. 101–508, title X, §10201(b), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–393, provided that:

"(1) The increase in revenues to the United States attributable to the amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall not exceed—

"(A) $2,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1991, 1992, and 1993; and

"(B) $3,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1994 and 1995.

"(2) Increases in revenues to the United States described in paragraph (1) shall be achieved by the Secretary of Commerce through fair and equitable increases in fees for services offered by the various programs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

"(3) The Secretary of Commerce shall notify the Congress of any changes in fee schedules under section 409 of the Act of November 17, 1988 (15 U.S.C. 1534), before such changes take effect."

¹ So in original. Probably should be preceded by "and".

§1535. Repealed. Pub. L. 111–314, §6, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3444

Section, Pub. L. 101–611, title I, §115(b), Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3201, related to annual reports of activities of the Office of Space Commerce. See section 50703 of Title 51, National and Commercial Space Programs.

§1536. Prohibition against fraudulent use of "Made in America" labels

If it has been finally determined by a court or a Federal agency that any person intentionally affixed a label bearing a "Made in America" inscription, or an inscription with the same meaning, to any product sold in or shipped to the United States that is not made in the United States, that person shall be ineligible to receive any contract or subcontract from the Department of Commerce, pursuant to the debarment, suspension, and ineligibility procedures in subpart 9.4 of chapter 1 of title 48, Code of Federal Regulations.

(Pub. L. 102–245, title I, §111(b), Feb. 14, 1992, 106 Stat. 14.)

§1537. Needs assessment for data management, archival, and distribution

(1) Not later than 12 months after October 29, 1992, and at least biennially thereafter, the Secretary of Commerce shall complete an assessment of the adequacy of the environmental data and information systems of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In conducting such an assessment, the Secretary shall take into consideration the need to—

(A) provide adequate capacity to manage, archive, and disseminate environmental data and information collected and processed, or expected to be collected and processed, by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other appropriate departments and agencies;

(B) establish, develop, and maintain information bases, including necessary management systems, which will promote consistent, efficient, and compatible transfer and use of data;

(C) develop effective interfaces among the environmental data and information systems of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other appropriate departments and agencies;

(D) develop and use nationally accepted formats and standards for data collected by various national and international sources; and

(E) integrate and interpret data from different sources to produce information that can be used by decisionmakers in developing policies that effectively respond to national and global environmental concerns.

(2) Not later than 12 months after October 29, 1992, and biennially thereafter, the Secretary of Commerce shall develop and submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a comprehensive plan, based on the assessment under paragraph (1), to modernize and improve the environmental data and information systems of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The report shall—

(A) set forth modernization and improvement objectives for the 10-year period beginning with the year in which the plan is submitted, including facility requirements and critical new technological components that would be necessary to meet the objectives set forth;

(B) propose specific agency programs and activities for implementing the plan;

(C) identify the data and information management, archival, and distribution responsibilities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with respect to other Federal departments and agencies and international organizations, including the role of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with respect to large data systems like the Earth Observing System Data and Information System; and

(D) provide an implementation schedule and estimate funding levels necessary to achieve modernization and improvement objectives.

(Pub. L. 102–567, title I, §106(c), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4274.)

§1538. Notice of reprogramming

(a) In general

The Secretary of Commerce shall provide notice to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and to the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, not less than 15 days before reprogramming funds available for a program, project, or activity of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in an amount greater than the lesser of $250,000 or 5 percent of the total funding of such program, project, or activity if the reprogramming—

(1) augments an existing program, project, or activity;

(2) reduces by 5 percent or more (A) the funding for an existing program, project, or activity or (B) the numbers of personnel therefor as approved by Congress; or

(3) results from any general savings from a reduction in personnel which would result in a change in an existing program, project, or activity.

(b) Notice of reorganization

The Secretary of Commerce shall provide notice to the Committees on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, Science, Space, and Technology, and Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and the Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and Appropriations of the Senate not later than 15 days before any major reorganization of any program, project, or activity of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

(Pub. L. 102–567, title IV, §403, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4291.)

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Abolition of House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries

Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries of House of Representatives abolished and its jurisdiction transferred by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Fourth Congress, Jan. 4, 1995. For treatment of references to Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, see section 1(b)(3) of Pub. L. 104–14, set out as a note preceding section 21 of Title 2, The Congress.

§1539. Financial assistance

(a) Processing of applications

Within 12 months after October 29, 1992, the Secretary of Commerce shall develop and, after notice and opportunity for public comment, promulgate regulations or guidelines to ensure that a completed application for a grant, contract, or other financial assistance under a nondiscretionary assistance program shall be processed and approved or disapproved within 75 days after submission of the application to the responsible program office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

(b) Notification of applicant

Not later than 14 days after the date on which the Secretary of Commerce receives an application for a contract, grant, or other financial assistance provided under a nondiscretionary assistance program administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Secretary shall indicate in writing to the applicant whether or not the application is complete and, if not complete, shall specify the additional material that the applicant must provide to complete the application.

(c) Exemption

In the case of a program for which the recipient of a grant, contract, or other financial assistance is specified by statute to be, or has customarily been, a State or an interstate fishery commission, such financial assistance may be provided by the Secretary to that recipient on a sole-source basis, notwithstanding any other provision of law.

(d) "Nondiscretionary assistance program" defined

In this section, the term "nondiscretionary assistance program" means any program for providing financial assistance—

(1) under which the amount of funding for, and the intended recipient of, the financial assistance is specified by Congress; or

(2) the recipients of which have customarily been a State or an interstate fishery commission.

(Pub. L. 102–567, title IV, §404, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4292.)

§1540. Cooperative agreements

The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, may enter into cooperative agreements and other financial agreements with any nonprofit organization to—

(1) aid and promote scientific and educational activities to foster public understanding of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or its programs; and

(2) solicit private donations for the support of such activities.

(Pub. L. 102–567, title IV, §406, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4293.)

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Cooperative Agreements for Research, Education, Training, and Outreach

Pub. L. 108–199, div. B, title II, Jan. 23, 2004, 118 Stat. 71, provided in part: "That, hereafter, the Secretary of Commerce may enter into cooperative agreements with the Joint and Cooperative Institutes as designated by the Secretary to use the personnel, services, or facilities of such organizations for research, education, training, and outreach".

Similar provisions were contained in Pub. L. 108–7, div. B, title II, Feb. 20, 2003, 117 Stat. 74.

§1541. Administrative Law Judges

Notwithstanding section 559 of title 5, with respect to any marine resource conservation law or regulation administered by the Secretary of Commerce acting through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, all adjudicatory functions which are required by chapter 5 of title 5 to be performed by an Administrative Law Judge may be performed by another Federal agency on a reimbursable basis. Should another Federal agency require the detail of an Administrative Law Judge to perform any of these functions, it may request such temporary or occasional assistance from the Office of Personnel Management pursuant to section 3344 of title 5.

(Pub. L. 105–160, §10, Mar. 6, 1998, 112 Stat. 27; Pub. L. 114–327, title I, §122, Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1985.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2016—Pub. L. 114–327 substituted "another Federal agency" for "the United States Coast Guard" in two places.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.

§1542. Establishment of the Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship Program

(a) Establishment

The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall establish and administer the Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship Program. Under the program, the Administrator shall award scholarships in oceanic and atmospheric science, research, technology, and education to be known as Ernest F. Hollings Scholarships.

(b) Purposes

The purposes of the Ernest F. Hollings Scholarships Program are—

(1) to increase undergraduate training in oceanic and atmospheric science, research, technology, and education and foster multidisciplinary training opportunities;

(2) to increase public understanding and support for stewardship of the ocean and atmosphere and improve environmental literacy;

(3) to recruit and prepare students for public service careers with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other natural resource and science agencies at the Federal, State and Local levels of government; and

(4) to recruit and prepare students for careers as teachers and educators in oceanic and atmospheric science and to improve scientific and environmental education in the United States.

(c) Award

Each Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship—

(1) shall be used to support undergraduate studies in oceanic and atmospheric science, research, technology, and education that support the purposes of the programs and missions of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;

(2) shall recognize outstanding scholarship and ability;

(3) shall promote participation by groups underrepresented in oceanic and atmospheric science and technology; and

(4) shall be awarded competitively in accordance with guidelines issued by the Administrator and published in the Federal Register.

(d) Eligibility

In order to be eligible to participate in the program, an individual must—

(1) be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a full-time student at an institution of higher education (as defined in section 1001(a) of title 20) in an academic field or discipline described in subsection (c);

(2) be a United States citizen;

(3) not have received a scholarship under this section for more than 4 academic years, unless the Administrator grants a waiver; and

(4) submit an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information, agreements, or assurances as the Administrator may require.

(e) Distribution of funds

The amount of each Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship shall be provided directly to a recipient selected by the Administrator upon receipt of certification that the recipient will adhere to a specific and detailed plan of study and research approved by an institution of higher education.

(f) Funding

Of the total amount appropriated for fiscal year 2005 and annually hereafter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Administrator shall make available for the Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship program one-tenth of 1 percent of such appropriations.

(g) Scholarship repayment requirement

The Administrator shall require an individual receiving a scholarship under this section to repay the full amount of the scholarship to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration if the Administrator determines that the individual, in obtaining or using the scholarship, engaged in fraudulent conduct or failed to comply with any term or condition of the scholarship. Such repayments shall be deposited in the NOAA Operations, Research, and Facilities Appropriations Account and treated as an offsetting collection and only be available for financing additional scholarships.

(Pub. L. 108–447, div. B, title II, §214, Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 2884.)

§1543. Task force on job repatriation and manufacturing growth

The Secretary of Commerce shall maintain a task force on job repatriation and manufacturing growth and shall produce an annual report on related incentive strategies, implementation plans and program results.

(Pub. L. 113–235, div. B, title I, Dec. 16, 2014, 128 Stat. 2180.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section is from the appropriation act cited as the credit to this section.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Similar Provisions

Similar provisions were contained in the following prior appropriation acts:

Pub. L. 113–76, div. B, title I, Jan. 17, 2014, 128 Stat. 50.

Pub. L. 113–6, div. B, title I, Mar. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 240.

§1544. Promotion of tourist travel

The Secretary of Commerce shall encourage, promote, and develop travel within the United States, including any Commonwealth, territory, and possession thereof, through activities which are in the public interest and which do not compete with activities of any State, city, or private agency.

(July 19, 1940, ch. 642, §1, 54 Stat. 773; Pub. L. 93–193, §2, Dec. 19, 1973, 87 Stat. 765; Pub. L. 94–55, §2(b), July 9, 1975, 89 Stat. 262.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 18 of Title 16, Conservation.

Amendments

1975—Pub. L. 94–55 substituted "shall encourage, promote, and develop travel within the United States, including any Commonwealth, territory, and possession thereof, through activities which are in the public interest and which do not compete with activities of any State, city, or private agency" for "is authorized and directed to encourage, promote, and develop travel within the United States, its Territories and possessions, providing such activities do not compete with the activities of private agencies; and to administer all existing travel promotion functions of the Department of Commerce".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Transfer of Functions

Pub. L. 93–193, §2, Dec. 19, 1973, 87 Stat. 765, provided that:

"(a) There are hereby transferred to and vested in the Secretary of Commerce all functions, powers, and duties of the Secretary of the Interior and other offices and officers of the Department of the Interior under the Act of July 19, 1940 (54 Stat. 773; 16 U.S.C. 18–18d) [now 15 U.S.C. 1544–1548].

"(b) The assets, liabilities, contracts, property, records, authorizations, and allocations, employed, held, used, rising from, available or to be made available in connection with the functions, powers, and duties transferred by subsection (a) of this section are hereby transferred to the Secretary of Commerce."

§1545. Cooperation with travel agencies; publication of information

In carrying out the purposes of sections 1544 to 1548 of this title, the Secretary is authorized to cooperate with public and private tourist, travel, and other agencies in the display of exhibits, and in the collection, publication, and dissemination of information with respect to places of interest, routes, transportation facilities, accommodations, and such other matters as he deems advisable and advantageous for the purpose of encouraging, promoting, or developing such travel. Nothing in said sections shall prohibit the preparation of graphic materials in foreign languages, designed to call attention to the attractions and places of interest in the United States and to encourage the use of American registered ships and planes. The existing facilities of the United States Government in foreign countries are authorized to assist in the distribution of this material. The Secretary may enter into contracts with private publishers for such printing and binding as he may deem advisable in carrying out the purposes of said sections. The Secretary is also authorized to make charges for any publications made available to the public pursuant to said sections; and any proceeds from the sale of publications produced by the expenditure of contributed funds shall continue to be available for printing and binding as aforesaid.

(July 19, 1940, ch. 642, §2, 54 Stat. 773.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 18a of Title 16, Conservation.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of functions of Secretary of the Interior to Secretary of Commerce, see Transfer of Functions note set out under section 1544 of this title.

§1546. United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board

(a) In general

There is established the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board (referred to in this section as the "Board"), the members of which shall be appointed by the Secretary of Commerce for 2-year terms from companies and organizations in the travel and tourism industry.

(b) Executive Director

The Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism shall serve as the Executive Director of the Board.

(c) Executive Secretariat

The National Travel and Tourism Office of the International Trade Administration shall serve as the Executive Secretariat for the Board.

(d) Functions

The Board's Charter shall specify that the Board will—

(1) serve as the advisory body to the Secretary of Commerce on matters relating to the travel and tourism industry in the United States;

(2) advise the Secretary of Commerce on government policies and programs that affect the United States travel and tourism industry;

(3) offer counsel on current and emerging issues;

(4) provide a forum for discussing and proposing solutions to problems related to the travel and tourism industry; and

(5) provide advice regarding the domestic travel and tourism industry as an economic engine.

(e) Recovery strategies

The Board shall assist the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism in the development and implementation of the recovery strategies required under section 9803(e)(1) of this title.

(July 19, 1940, ch. 642, §3, 54 Stat. 773; Pub. L. 97–31, §12(10), Aug. 6, 1981, 95 Stat. 154; Pub. L. 98–443, §9(o), Oct. 4, 1984, 98 Stat. 1708; Pub. L. 117–328, div. BB, title VI, §607, Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5569.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 18b of Title 16, Conservation.

Amendments

2022—Pub. L. 117–328 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section authorized creation of an advisory committee for promotion of tourist travel.

1984—Pub. L. 98–443 struck out "the Civil Aeronautics Authority," after "the Interstate Commerce Commission,".

1981—Pub. L. 97–31 substituted "Department of Transportation" for "United States Maritime Commission".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–443 effective Jan. 1, 1985, see section 9(v) of Pub. L. 98–443, set out as a note under section 5314 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

§1547. Rules and regulations; employees

In the performance of his functions and duties under the provisions of sections 1544 to 1548 of this title, the Secretary of Commerce is authorized—

(a) To prescribe, amend, and repeal such rules and regulations as he may deem necessary, and to accept contributions for carrying out the purposes of said sections; and

(b) To employ, subject to chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, one special assistant and not to exceed five artists and illustrators.

(July 19, 1940, ch. 642, §4, 54 Stat. 774; Oct. 28, 1949, ch. 782, title XI, §1106(a), 63 Stat. 972; Pub. L. 93–193, §2, Dec. 19, 1973, 87 Stat. 765.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 18c of Title 16, Conservation.

Provisions of par. (b) authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to employ "without regard to the civil-service laws" were omitted as such employment is subject to the civil service laws unless specifically excepted by those laws or by laws enacted subsequent to Executive Order 8743, Apr. 23, 1941, issued by the President pursuant to the Act of Nov. 26, 1940, ch. 919, title I, §1, 54 Stat. 1211, which covered most excepted positions into the classified (competitive) civil service. The Order is set out as a note under section 3301 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

"Chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5" substituted in par. (b) for "the Classification Act of 1949, as amended" on authority of Pub. L. 89–554, §7(b), Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 631, the first section of which enacted Title 5.

Amendments

1949—Par. (b). Act Oct. 28, 1949, substituted "Classification Act of 1949" for "Classification Act of 1923".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Repeals

Act Oct. 28, 1949, ch. 782, cited as a credit to this section, was repealed (subject to a savings clause) by Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, §8, 80 Stat. 632, 655.

Transfer of Functions

Secretary of Commerce substituted for Secretary of the Interior in view of transfer of functions to Secretary of Commerce from Secretary of the Interior by section 2 of Pub. L. 93–193. See Transfer of Functions note set out under section 1544 of this title.

§1548. Authorization of appropriations

For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of sections 1544 to 1548 of this title, there are authorized to be appropriated not to exceed $2,500,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1976; $625,000 for the transition period of July 1, 1976, through September 30, 1976; $2,500,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1977, and $2,500,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1978.

(July 19, 1940, ch. 642, §5, 54 Stat. 774; Pub. L. 91–549, Dec. 14, 1970, 84 Stat. 1437; Pub. L. 94–55, §2(a), July 9, 1975, 89 Stat. 262.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 18d of Title 16, Conservation.

Amendments

1975—Pub. L. 94–55 substituted provisions authorizing appropriations not to exceed $2,500,000 for fiscal year ending June 30, 1976, $625,000 for the transition period of July 1, 1976 through Sept. 30, 1976, $2,500,000 for fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 1977, and $2,500,000 for fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 1978, for provisions authorizing appropriations not to exceed $250,000 for fiscal year 1971 and $750,000 for fiscal year 1972.

1970—Pub. L. 91–549 substituted provisions authorizing appropriations of not more than $250,000 for fiscal year 1971 and not more than $750,000 for fiscal year 1972, for provisions which authorized appropriations of not more than $100,000 annually.