ones for which need may arise in the operations of Government agencies, scientific institutions, and industrial enterprises:

(1) the construction of physical standards;

(2) the testing, calibration, and certification of standards and standard measuring apparatus;

(3) the study and improvement of instruments and methods of measurements;

(4) the investigation and testing of railroad track scales, elevator scales, and other scales used in weighing commodities for interstate shipment;

(5) cooperation with the States in securing uniformity in weights and measures laws and methods of inspection;

(6) the preparation and distribution of standard samples such as those used in checking chemical analyses, temperature, color, viscosity, heat of combustion, and other basic properties of materials; also the preparation and sale or other distribution of standard instruments, apparatus and materials for calibration of measuring equipment;

(7) the development of methods of chemical analysis and synthesis of materials, and the investigation of the properties of rare substances;

(8) the study of methods of producing and of measuring high and low temperatures; and the behavior of materials at high and at low temperatures;

(9) the investigation of radiation, radioactive substances, and X-rays, their uses, and means of protection of persons from their harmful effects;

(10) the study of the atomic and molecular structure of the chemical elements, with particular reference to the characteristics of the spectra emitted, the use of spectral observations in determining chemical composition of materials, and the relation of molecular structure to the practical usefulness of materials;

(11) the broadcasting of radio signals of standard frequency; (12) the investigation of the conditions which affect the transmission of radio waves from their source to a receiver;

(13) 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;

(14) the study of new technical processes and methods of fabrication of materials in which the Government has a special interest; also the study of methods of measurement and technical processes used in the manufacture of optical glass and pottery, brick, tile, terra cotta, and other clay products;

(15) the determination of properties of building materials and structural elements, and encouragement of their standardization and most effective use, including investigation of fire-resisting properties of building materials and conditions under which they may be most efficiently used and the standardization of types of appliances for fire prevention;

(16) metallurgical research, including study of alloy steels and light metal alloys; investigation of foundry practice, casting, rolling, and forging; prevention of corrosion of metals and alloys; behavior of bearing metals; and development of standards for metals and sands;

(17) the operation of a laboratory of applied mathematics; (18) the prosecution of such research in engineering, mathematics, and the physical sciences as may be necessary to obtain basic data pertinent to the functions specified herein; and

(19) the compilation and publication of general scientific and technical data resulting from the performance of the functions specified herein or from other sources when such data are of importance to scientific or manufacturing interests or to the general public, and are not available elsewhere, including demonstration of the results of the Bureau's work by exhibits or otherwise as may be deemed most effective.

[Mar. 3, 1901, c. 872, § 2, 31 Stat. 1449; July 22, 1950, c. 486, § 1, 64 Stat. 371; U.S.C. 15:272.]

Women's Bureau

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

It shall be the duty of the Women's Bureau to formulate standards and policies which shall promote the welfare of wage-earning women, improve their working conditions, increase their efficiency, and advance their opportunities for profitable employment. The said bureau shall have authority to investigate and report to the Department of Labor upon all matters pertaining to the welfare of women in industry. The director of said bureau may from time to time publish the results of these investigations in such a manner and to such extent as the Secretary of Labor may prescribe. [June 5, 1920, c. 248, sec. 2, 41 Stat. 987; U.S.C. 29: 13.]

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Establishment

There is established in the executive branch of the Government an independent agency to be known as the National Science Foundation (hereinafter referred to as the "Foundation"). The Foundation shall consist of a National Science Board (hereinafter referred to as the "Board") and a Director. [May 10, 1950, c. 171, § 2, 64 Stat. 149; U.S.C. 42: 1861.]

Functions

(a) The Foundation is authorized and directed-—

(1) to develop and encourage the pursuit of a national policy for the promotion of basic research and education in the sciences; (2) to initiate and support basic scientific research in the mathematical, physical, medical, biological, engineering, and other sciences, by making contracts or other arrangements (including grants, loans, and other forms of assistance) for the conduct of such basic scientific research and to appraise the impact of research upon industrial development and upon the general welfare;

(3) at the request of the Secretary of Defense, to initiate and support specific scientific research activities in connection with. matters relating to the national defense by making contracts or other arrangements (including grants, loans, and other forms of assistance) for the conduct of such scientific research;

(4) to award, as provided in section 1869 of this title, scholarships and graduate fellowships in the mathematical, physical, medical, biological, engineering, and other sciences;

(5) to foster the interchange of scientific information among scientists in the United States and foreign countries;

(6) to evaluate scientific research programs undertaken by agencies of the Federal Government, and to correlate the Foundation's scientific research programs with those undertaken by individual and by public and private research groups;

(7) to establish such special commissions as the Board may from time to time deem necessary for the purposes of this chapter; (8) to maintain a register of scientific and technical personnel and in other ways provide a central clearinghouse for information covering all scientific and technical personnel in the United States, including its Territories and possessions; and

(9) to initiate and support a program of study, research, and evaluation in the field of weather modification, giving particular attention to areas that have experienced floods, drought, hail, lightning, fog, tornadoes, hurricanes, or other weather phenomena, and to report annually to the President and the Congress thereon. (b) In exercising the authority and discharging the functions referred to in subsection (a) of this section, it shall be one of the objectives of the Foundation to strengthen basic research and education in the sciences, including independent research by individuals, throughout the United States, including its Territories and possessions, and to avoid undue concentration of such research and education.

(c) The Foundation shall render an annual report to the President for submission on or before the 15th day of January of each year to the Congress summarizing the activities of the Foundation and making such recommendations as it may deem appropriate. Such report shall include (1) minority views and recommendations if any, of members of the Board, and (2) information as to the acquisition and disposition by the Foundation of any patents and patent rights. [May 10, 1950, c. 171, § 3, 64 Stat. 148; amended July 11, 1958, P.L. 85-510, § 1, 72 Stat. 353; U.S.C. Supp. 42: 1862.]

National Science Board

Composition

(a) The Board shall consist of twenty-four members to be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and of the Director ex officio, and shall, except as otherwise provided in this chapter, exercise the authority granted to the Foundation by this chapter. The persons nominated for appointment as members (1) shall be eminent in the fields of the basic sciences, medical science, engineering, agriculture, education, or public affairs; (2) shall be selected solely on the basis of established records of distinguished service; and (3) shall be so selected as to provide representation of the views of scientific leaders in all areas of the Nation. The President is requested, in the making of nominations of persons for appointment as members, to give due consideration to any recommendations for nomination which may be submitted to him by the National Academy of Sciences, the Association of Land Grant Colleges and Universities, the National Association of State Universities,

the Association of American Colleges, or by other scientific or educational organizations.

Term of office

(b) The term of office of each voting member of the Board shall be six years, except that *** any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which his predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder of such term ***. Any person who has been a member of the Board for twelve consecutive years shall thereafter be ineligible for appointment. during the two-year period following the expiration of such twelfth

year.

Meetings

(d) The Board shall meet annually on the first Monday in December and at such other times as the Chairman may determine, but he shall also call a meeting whenever one-third of the members so request in writing. A majority of the voting members of the Board shall constitute a quorum. *** [May 10, 1950, c. 171, § 4, 64 Stat. 150; U.S.C. 42: 1863.]

Director of Foundation

(a) There shall be a Director of the Foundation who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Board may make recommendations to the President with respect to the appointment of the Director, and the Director shall not be appointed until the Board has had an opportunity to make such recommendations. He shall serve as a nonvoting ex officio member of the Board. In addition thereto he shall be the chief executive officer of the Foundation. The Director shall serve for a term of six years unless sooner removed by the President.

(b) In addition to the powers and duties specifically vested in him by this chapter, the Director shall, in accordance with the policies established by the Board, exercise the powers granted by sections 1869 and 1870 of this title, together with such other powers and duties as may be delegated to him by the Board; but no final action shall be taken by the Director in the exercise of any power granted by section 1869 or 1870 (c) of this title unless in each instance the Board has reviewed and approved the action proposed to be taken. [May 10, 1950, c. 171, § 5, 64 Stat. 151; July 31, 1956, c. 804, title I, § 106 (a), 70 Stat. 738; U.S.C. Supp. 42: 1864.J

Power of Board to create committees

Executive Committee

(a) The Board is authorized to appoint from among the members an Executive Committee, and to assign to the Executive Committee such of the powers and functions granted to the Board by this chapter as it deems appropriate; except that the Board may not assign to the Executive Committee the function of establishing policies, or the function of review and approval (except review and approval of minor modifications of contracts or other arrangements previously approved by the Board), to be exercised by the Board in accordance with section 1864 (b) of this title.

Additional committees

(c) The Board is authorized to appoint from among its members or otherwise such committees as it deems necessary, and to assign to committees so appointed such survey and advisory functions as the Board deems appropriate for the purposes of this chapter. [May 10, 1950, c. 171, § 6, 64 Stat. 151; U.S.C. 42: 1865.]

Divisions within Foundation

Initial structure

(a) Until otherwise provided by the Board there shall be within the Foundation the following divisions:

(1) A Division of Medical Research;

(2) A Division of Mathematical, Physical, and Engineering Sciences;

(3) A Division of Biological Sciences; and

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(4) A Division of Scientific Personnel and Education, which shall be concerned with programs of the Foundation relating to the granting of scholarships and graduate fellowships in the mathematical, physical, medical, biological, engineering, and other sciences.

(b) There shall also be within the Foundation such other divisions as the Board may, from time to time, deem necessary. [May 10, 1950, c. 171 § 7, 64 Stat. 152; U.S.C. 42: 1866.]

Divisional committees

(a) There shall be a committee for each division of the Foundation. (b) Each divisional committee shall be appointed by the Board and shall consist of not less than five persons who may be members or nonmembers of the Board.

(c) The terms of members of each divisional committee shall be two years. Each divisional committee shall annually elect its own chairman from among its own members and shall prescribe its own rules of procedure subject to such restrictions as may be prescribed by the Board.

(d) Each divisional committee shall make recommendations to, and advise and consult with, the Board and the Director with respect to matters relating to the program of its division. [May 10, 1950, c. 171, § 8, 64 Stat. 152; U.S.C. 42: 1867.]

Special commissions

(a) Each special commission established pursuant to section 1862 (a) (7) of this title shall consist of eleven members appointed by the Board, six of whom shall be eminent scientists and five of whom shall be persons other than scientists. Each special commission shall choose its own chairman and vice chairman.

(b) It shall be the duty of each such special commission to make a comprehensive survey of research, both public and private, being carried on in its field, and to formulate and recommend to the Foundation at the earliest practicable date an overall research program in its field. [May 10, 1950, c. 171, § 9, 64 Stat. 152; U.S.C. 42: 1868.] Scholarships and graduate fellowships

The Foundation is authorized to award, within the limits of funds. made available specifically for such purpose pursuant to section 1875 of this title, scholarships and graduate fellowships for scientific study or scientific work in the mathematical, physical, medical, biological,