Title 15 — Commerce and TradeRelease 119-73

§205d United States Metric Board

Title 15 › Chapter CHAPTER 6— - WEIGHTS AND MEASURES AND STANDARD TIME › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - METRIC CONVERSION › § 205d

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Creates an independent United States Metric Board. The Board has 17 people: a Chair appointed by the President with the Senate’s approval, plus 16 members also appointed by the President with the Senate’s approval. Those 16 include representatives from engineers, scientists, manufacturers, commerce/retail, construction, standards groups, educators, and state/local government, two labor reps, two small-business reps, and four at-large members to represent consumers and other interests. The Board cannot force people or companies to do things unless Congress gives it that power. The Board ends when Congress passes a law saying its work is finished.

Full Legal Text

Title 15, §205d

Commerce and Trade — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)There is established, in accordance with this section, an independent instrumentality to be known as a United States Metric Board.

(b)The Board shall consist of 17 individuals, as follows:

(1)the Chairman, a qualified individual who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate;

(2)sixteen members who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, on the following basis—

(A)one to be selected from lists of qualified individuals recommended by engineers and organizations representative of engineering interests;

(B)one to be selected from lists of qualified individuals recommended by scientists, the scientific and technical community, and organizations representative of scientists and technicians;

(C)one to be selected from a list of qualified individuals recommended by the National Association of Manufacturers or its successor;

(D)one to be selected from lists of qualified individuals recommended by the United States Chamber of Commerce, or its successor, retailers, and other commercial organizations;

(E)two to be selected from lists of qualified individuals recommended by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations or its successor, who are representative of workers directly affected by metric conversion, and by other organizations representing labor;

(F)one to be selected from a list of qualified individuals recommended by the National Governors Conference, the National Council of State Legislatures, and organizations representative of State and local government;

(G)two to be selected from lists of qualified individuals recommended by organizations representative of small business;

(H)one to be selected from lists of qualified individuals representative of the construction industry;

(I)one to be selected from a list of qualified individuals recommended by the National Conference on Weights and Measures and standards making organizations;

(J)one to be selected from lists of qualified individuals recommended by educators, the educational community, and organizations representative of educational interests; and

(K)four at-large members to represent consumers and other interests deemed suitable by the President and who shall be qualified individuals.

(c)Unless otherwise provided by the Congress, the Board shall have no compulsory powers.

(d)The Board shall cease to exist when the Congress, by law, determines that its mission has been accomplished.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

15 U.S.C. § 205d

Title 15 — Commerce and Trade

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73