National Productivity Act

Summary

National Productivity Act - Title I: Statement of Findings and Purpose - Declares the purposes of this Act, including: (1) to establish a national policy which will encourage productivity growth consistent with economic needs and the needs to protect the environment and the work force; and (2) to establish a National Productivity Center within the Department of Commerce. Provides that it is the continuing responsibility of the Federal Government to use all practicable means, consistent with other essential considerations of national policy, to and coordinate Federal plans, functions, programs, and resources to the end that the Nation may assure for all Americans a sound and productive economy, and meet other specified national objectives. Title II: Cooperation of Agencies; Reports; Availability of Information; Recommendations; International and National Coordination of Efforts - States that Congress directs that, to the extent possible, the policies, regulations, and public laws of the United States shall be interpreted and administered in accordance with the policies set forth in the Act. Directs all agencies of the Federal Government to perform enumerated productivity functions, including to: (1) use a systematic, interdisciplinary approach to insure the integrated use of the natural and social sciences, engineering disciplines, safety and environmental design arts in planning and decisionmaking which may have an impact on productivity; (2) include in every recommendation or report on proposals for legislation, in every major program recommendation contained in the President's budget and other major Federal actions significantly affecting productivity, a detailed statement by the responsible official on impacts on productivity; (3) study alternatives to courses of action in any proposal which involves unresolved conflicts concerning the impact on productivity of proposed actions; and (4) generate and use productivity information in the planning and development of projects and programs to enhance internal productivity. Title III: Directs the President to transmit annually to the Congress beginning July 1, 1975, a productivity report setting forth specified information, including: (1) the status and condition of the major factors affecting productivity; (2) current and forseeable trends in the quality, quantity, management, and use of these elements; and (3) the adequacy of the productive base of the Nation for fulfilling the economic requirements of the Nation in the light of anticipated growth and available resources. Establishes within the Department of Commerce the National Productivity Center. Authorizes the Center to perform enumerated functions, including: (1) to make grants to conduct research on projects pertaining to the purposes described in this title, including the development of new or improved methods, techniques, systems, equipment, and devices to improve and stimulate productivity growth; (2) to make continuing studies and to establish with the National Science Foundation programs of research to develop new or improved methods to stimulate productivity growth; (3) to make recommendations for action which can be taken by Federal, State, and local governments, industry, labor, and other private organizations and persons to improve and stimulate productivity growth; (4) to conduct special workshops and other forums for the presentation and dissemination of information resulting from research and special projects authorized by this title; and (5) to carry out a program of collection and dissemination of information obtained by the Center or other Federal agencies, public agencies, institutions of higher education, or private organizations engaged in projects under this title, including information related to new or improved methods, techniques, systems, equipment, and devices to improve and stimulate productivity growth. Provides that grants authorized may be up to 100 percent of the total cost of each project for which such grant is made. States that funds available for grants in each fiscal year shall be allocated by the Center in accord with percentage formulas. Defines a State Productivity Center as an agency established or designated by a State for the purposes of establishing productivity centers, carrying out plans, demonstrations, programs, projects, and technical assistance consistent with the purposes, policies, and goals of this Act. Authorizes appropriations of such sums as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act, but such sums in the aggregate shall not exceed $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1975; $20,000,000 for fiscal year 1976; and $25,000,000 for fiscal year 1977. Title IV: National Productivity Award, Appropriations - States that the President may award, and present in the name of Congress, an award of appropriate design, which shall be known as the National Productivity Award, to any public or private organization, governmental unit, or individual, which in its performance, has distinguished itself by exceptional efforts and contributions to the growth of the Nation's productivity.

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• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 10 October 1974

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