Standard Reference Data Act

by the 90th Congress of the United States

90^TH UNITED STATES CONGRESS
2^ND SESSION

An Act
To provide for the collection, compilation, critical evaluation, publication, and sale of standard reference data.

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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

Section 1. Declaration of Policy.

The Congress hereby finds and declares that reliable standardized scientific and technical reference data are of vital importance to the progress of the Nation's science and technology. It is therefore the policy of the Congress to make critically evaluated reference data readily available to scientists, engineers, and the general public. It is the purpose of this Act to strengthen and enhance this policy.

Sec. 2. Definitions.

For the purposes of this Act—

(a) The term “standard reference data” means quantitative information, related to a measurable physical or chemical property of a substance or system of substances of known composition and structure, which is critically evaluated as to its reliability under section 3 of this Act.

(b) The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Commerce.

Sec. 3. Collection, Compilation, Critical Evaluation, Publication and Dissemination of Standard Reference Data.

The Secretary is authorized and directed to provide or arrange for the collection, compilation, critical evaluation, publication, and dissemination of standard reference data. In carrying out this program, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, utilize the reference data services and facilities of other agencies and instrumentalities of the Federal Government and of State and local governments, persons, firms, institutions, and associations, with their consent and in such a manner as to avoid duplication of those services and facilities. All agencies and instrumentalities of the Federal Government are encouraged to exercise their duties and functions in such manner as will assist in carrying out the purpose of this Act. This section shall be deemed complementary to existing authority, and nothing herein is intended to repeal, supersede, or diminish existing authority or responsibility of any agency or instrumentality of the Federal Government.

Sec. 4. Standards, Criteria, and Procedures for Preparation and Publication of Standard Reference Data; Publication in Federal Register.

To provide for more effective integration and coordination of standard reference data activities, the Secretary, in consultation with other interested Federal agencies, shall prescribe and publish in the Federal Register such standards, criteria, and procedures for the preparation and publication of standard reference data as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.

Sec. 5. Sale of Standard Reference Data; Cost Recovery; Proceeds Subject to National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Standard reference data conforming to standards established by the Secretary may be made available and sold by the Secretary or by a person or agency designated by him. To the extent practicable and appropriate, the prices established for such data may reflect the cost of collection, compilation, evaluation, publication, and dissemination of the data, including administrative expenses; and the amounts received shall be subject to the Act of March 3, 1901, as amended (15 U.S.C. 271−278e).

Sec. 6. United States Copyright and Renewal Rights.

(a) Notwithstanding the limitations contained in section 8 of title 17 of the United States Code, the Secretary may secure copyright and renewal thereof on behalf of the United States as author or proprietor in all or any part of any standard reference data which he prepares or makes available under this Act, and may authorize the reproduction and publication thereof by others.

(b) The publication or republication by the Government under this Act, either separately or in a public document, of any material in which copyright is subsisting shall not be taken to cause any abridgment or annulment of the copyright or to authorize any use or appropriation of such material without the consent of the copyright proprietor.

Sec. 7. Authorization of Appropriations.

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act, $1.86 million for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1969. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, no appropriations for any fiscal year may be made for the purpose of this Act after fiscal year 1969 unless previously authorized by legislation hereafter enacted by the Congress.

Sec. 8. Short Title.

This Act may be cited as the ``Standard Reference Data Act´´.

Approved July 11, 1968.

Legislative History

• H.R. 6279