LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY
Sections
1.01.01
INTRODUCTION
The National Bureau of Standards was established on March 3, 1901,
by "An Act to Establish the National Bureau of Standards" (P.L. 56-177).
The Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act (P.L.100.418) renamed the National
Bureau of Standards to the National Institute of Standards and Technology
(see Section 1.01.02).
1.01.02
RECENT LEGISLATION
a. Brooks Act (P.L.89-306) authorizes the Secretary of
Commerce to provide scientific and technological advisory services to other
government agencies and establish uniform federal automatic data processing
standards. This legislation authorizes the Federal Information Processing
Standards (FIPS), which are based on voluntary industry standards and,
therefore, reflect wide-spread industry practices. NIST's regulatory
responsibilities affect other federal agencies and only impact those private
firms that elect to obtain contracts from the U.S. Government.
b. Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Improvement Act (P.L.100-107) promotes quality awareness, recognizes quality achievements of U.S. Companies, and publicizes successful quality strategies.
c. Computer Security Act (P.L.100-235) assigns NIST primary responsibility to develop standards and guidelines for the security of federal computer systems containing sensitive, but nonclassified, information.
d. Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act (P.L.100-418) renames the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and recharters the NIST Organic Act. Confirms importance of prior NBS functions and sets out the primary mission of new NIST--promotion of competitiveness of U.S. industry. Gives NIST new authority to help industry develop measurement-related and other precompetitive, generic technologies. Establishes new programs--Regional Centers for the Transfer of Manufacturing Technology, Advanced Technology Program, State Technology Extension Program--at NIST.
e. Fastener Quality Act (P.L.101-592) requires that certain fasteners sold in commerce conform to the specifications to which they are represented to be manufactured, to provide for accreditation of laboratories engaged in fastener testing, and require inspection, testing, and certification, in accordance with standardized methods, of fasteners used in critical application to increase fastener quality and reduce the danger of fastener failure. NIST is to accredit laboratories that will test fasteners. Firms will not be able to manufacture and sell "critical use" fasteners unless they are certified by a laboratory accredited by NIST.
f. American Technology Preeminence Act of 1991 (P.L.102-245) provides authorizations for Fiscal Year 1992 and 1993 for the Technology Administration and for NIST. Makes a number NIST requested technical amendments including lifting the cap on expenditures for construction of facilities, allowing the use of appropriated funds for NIST activities in support of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, allowing NIST research fellowships to U.S. citizens and broadening our authority to hire foreign nationals; and establishing a pilot program to assist foreign governments with standards development. Makes technical amendments to the NIST Act and the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Act regarding NIST’s Manufacturing Technology Center Program, the State Technology Extension Program, and NIST’s Advanced Technology Program (ATP) including authority to use up to 10 percent of the funding for the ATP for support of NIST ATP-related research and technical activities, and authority for other agencies to contribute funding to the ATP.
g. Technology Administration Act of 1998 (P.L.105-309) provides additional funds to go to the Regional Centers for the Transfer of Manufacturing Technology under the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program after six years of operation.
The law allows extra funds to the regional centers if the centers receive a positive evaluation at least every two years after the sixth year of operation. In addition, the law cuts the funding that a regional center can receive from the government to one-third of its capital, operating and maintenance costs. The act further expands the number of categories for awards under the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award to include health care and education providers.
h. Fastener Quality Act Amendments Act of 1999 (P.L.106-34) sets forth requirements for the certification of manufacturing systems as fastener quality assurance systems by a third party or from NIST. Furthermore, any voluntary laboratory accreditation programs that are established by thy private sector are to establish a National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program that will accredit private sector labs.
i. National Construction Safety Team Act (P.L.I07-231) establishes a National Construction Safety Teams that will deploy within 48 hours after an event that causes the failure of a building that has or can pose a significant threat to life and improve the safety and structural integrity of buildings within the U.S. The team investigates the cause of a building failure; evaluate evacuation and emergency response procedures. The team recommends improvements to building standards, codes, and practices. These teams will lead the investigations with state and local authorities. During the course of the investigation, the Director will inform the public by holding forums, and at the closure of the investigation, the teams will submit a report with an analysis as to why the building collapsed; recommend changes to evacuation and emergency response procedures. The teams are to suggest improvements to building standards, and methods to prevent future building failures. The legislation was passed in response to the attacks of September 11, 2001.