15 U.S.C. § 278a — Repealed. Pub. L. 88–611, § 4(a)(1), Oct. 2,

Page 662 TITLE 15—COMMERCE AND TRADE § 278a (f) Chairman; Vice Chairman The election of the Chairman and Vice Chair- man of the Committee shall take place at each annual meeting occurring in an even-numbered year. The Vice Chairman shall perform the du- ties of the Chairman in his absence. In case a va- cancy occurs in the chairmanship or vice chair- manship, the Committee shall elect a member to fill such vacancy. (g) Professional and clerical staff The Committee may, with the concurrence of a majority of its members, permit the appoint- ment of a staff consisting of not more than four professional staff members and such clerical staff members as may be necessary. Such staff shall be appointed by the Director, after con- sultation with the Chairman of the Committee, and assigned at the direction of the Committee. The professional members of such staff may be appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5 governing appointments in the competi- tive service and the provisions of chapter 51 of title 5 relating to classification, and com- pensated at a rate not exceeding the appropriate rate provided for individuals in grade GS–18 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, as may be necessary to provide for the per- formance of such duties as may be prescribed by the Committee in connection with the exercise of its powers and functions under this chapter. (h) Annual and other reports to Secretary and Congress (1) The Committee shall render an annual re- port to the Secretary for submission to the Con- gress not later than 30 days after the submittal to Congress of the President’s annual budget re- quest in each year. Such report shall deal essen- tially, though not necessarily exclusively, with policy issues or matters which affect the Insti- tute or with which the Committee in its official role as the private sector policy advisor of the Institute is concerned. Each such report shall identify areas of research and research tech- niques of the Institute of potential importance to the long-term competitiveness of United States industry, in which the Institute possesses special competence, which could be used to as- sist United States enterprises and United States industrial joint research and development ven- tures. (2) The Committee shall render to the Sec- retary and the Congress such additional reports on specific policy matters as it deems appro- priate. (Mar. 3, 1901, ch. 872, § 10, 31 Stat. 1450; Pub. L. 100–418, title V, §§ 5115(a)(1), 5131(b), Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1433, 1441; Pub. L. 104–113, § 8(1), Mar. 7, 1996, 110 Stat. 779; Pub. L. 110–69, title III, §§ 3005, 3006, Aug. 9, 2007, 121 Stat. 590; Pub. L. 114–329, title II, §§ 204(a)(1)(B)(ii), 205(a)(2)(C), title IV, § 404, Jan. 6, 2017, 130 Stat. 2998, 3001, 3023.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2017—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 114–329, § 404(1), substituted ‘‘not fewer than 9 members appointed by the Director, a majority of whom’’ for ‘‘15 members appointed by the Director, at least 10 of whom’’ and ‘‘National Institute of Standards and Technology’’ for ‘‘National Bureau of Standards’’. Subsec. (h)(1). Pub. L. 114–329, §§ 205(a)(2)(C), 404(2), made identical amendments, striking out ‘‘, including the Program established under section 278n of this title,’’ after ‘‘which affect the Institute’’. Pub. L. 114–329, § 204(a)(1)(B)(ii), struck out at end ‘‘Such report also shall comment on the programmatic planning document and updates thereto submitted to Congress by the Director under subsections (c) and (d) of section 278i of this title.’’ 2007—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 110–69, § 3006, substituted ‘‘twice each year’’ for ‘‘quarterly’’. Subsec. (h)(1). Pub. L. 110–69, § 3005, substituted ‘‘not later than 30 days after the submittal to Congress of the President’s annual budget request in each year’’ for ‘‘on or before January 31 in each year’’ and inserted at end ‘‘Such report also shall comment on the pro- grammatic planning document and updates thereto submitted to Congress by the Director under sub- sections (c) and (d) of section 278i of this title.’’ 1996—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–113 substituted ‘‘15 members’’ for ‘‘nine members’’ and ‘‘at least 10’’ for ‘‘at least five’’. 1988—Pub. L. 100–418, § 5131(b), amended section gen- erally, substituting provisions of subsecs. (a) to (h) re- lating to Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology for provisions of former single undesignated paragraph which related to a visiting committee which was to visit bureau at least once a year and report to Sec- retary of Commerce upon efficiency of its scientific work and condition of its equipment. Pub. L. 100–418, § 5115(a)(1), substituted ‘‘Institute’’ for ‘‘bureau’’. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries REFERENCES IN OTHER LAWS TO GS–16, 17, OR 18 PAY RATES References in laws to the rates of pay for GS–16, 17, or 18, or to maximum rates of pay under the General Schedule, to be considered references to rates payable under specified sections of Title 5, Government Organi- zation and Employees, see section 529 [title I, § 101(c)(1)] of Pub. L. 101–509, set out in a note under section 5376 of Title 5. § 278a. Repealed. Pub. L. 88–611, § 4(a)(1), Oct. 2, 1964, 78 Stat. 991 Section, act Mar. 3, 1901, ch. 872, § 11, as added July 22, 1950, ch. 486, § 2, 64 Stat. 373; amended Aug. 3, 1956, ch. 906, § 2, 70 Stat. 959; Sept. 2, 1958, Pub. L. 85–890, § 2, 72 Stat. 1712, provided for acceptance of gifts and be- quests. See sections 1522 and 1523 of this title. § 278b. Working Capital Fund (a) Utilization The Institute is authorized to utilize in the performance of its functions the Working Cap- ital Fund established by the Act of June 29, 1950 (64 Stat. 275). (b) Availability of Fund The working capital of the fund shall be avail- able for obligation and payment for any activi- ties authorized by this chapter, and for any ac- tivities for which provision is made in the ap- propriations which reimburse the fund. (c) Reimbursements In the performance of authorized activities, the Working Capital Fund shall be available and may be reimbursed for expenses of hire of auto- mobile, hire of consultants, and travel to meet- ings, to the extent that such expenses are au- thorized for the appropriations of the Depart- ment of Commerce.