100 



The National Council on Marine Resources went out of exist- 

 ence June 30, 1971, following the submission of the Commission's 

 final report. 



October 15, 1966: A Department of Transportation was established 

 by this act which brought together several Federal agencies with 

 missions relating to automobile, rail and air travel. In fullfill- 

 ment of a Congressional finding that technological advances in 

 transportation required stimulation, the Secretary of Transporta- 

 tion was authorized to undertake research and development in 

 all modes of transportation and facilities. (Public Law 89-670; 80 

 Stat. 931) 



November 8, 1967: Membership of the Federal Council for Science 

 and Technology was enlarged by the addition of representatives 

 from the Department of State, the Department of Housing and 

 Urban Development, and the Department of Transportation. (Ex- 

 ecutive Order 11381, this date.) 



January 2, 1968: An act extending the time for the National Com- 

 mission on Marine Science, Engineering, and Resources to render 

 its report to January 9, 1969, and authorizing the continuation of 

 the National Council on Marine Resources and Engineering de- 

 velopment until June 30, 1969. (Public Law 90-242; 81 Stat. 780) 



July 11, 1968: This act authorized the Secretary of Commerce to ar- 

 range for the collection of standard reference data for the benefit 

 of scientists and the general public. The Act is administered by 

 the National Bureau of Standards. (Public Law 90-396; 82 Stat. 

 339) 



July 18, 1968: Amendments to the National Science Foundation 

 Act of 1950 constitute the first major amendment of the enabling 

 act, although several minor changes have preceded it. The act 

 clarifies the administrative direction of the agency as between 

 the Director and the National Science Board. In addition, it en- 

 ables the Foundation to support applied research relevant to its 

 mission and it emphasizes the Foundation's responsibilities to 

 report on the status of science in the Federal Government. The 

 act also requires the Foundation to obtain annual authorization 

 for its funds, replacing the continuing authorization conained in 

 the original legislation. (Public Law 90-407; 82 Stat. 360) 



July 21, 1968: Aircraft Noise Abatement Act of this date amended 

 the Federal Aviation Act to impose regulations for the abate- 

 ment of aircraft noise. The Federal Aviation Administration is 

 empowered to set aircraft noise and sonic boom standards for 

 commercial aircraft. Aircraft will be certified for flying only if 

 they conform to these standards. (Public Law 90-411; 82 Stat. 

 395) 



August 9, 1968: The question whether the metric system should be 

 adopted in the United States becomes of greater concern as more 

 and more nations adopt it. Congress took an important step with 

 this bill which authorized the Secretary of Commerce to study 

 the advantages and disadvantages of increased use of the metric 

 system in the United States and to report on the matter to Con- 

 gress within 3 years (Public Law 90-472; 82 Stat. 693). A final 

 report and 12 supporting studies were transmitted to Congress in 

 1971. 



