The text of the bill below is as of Dec 23, 1975 (Passed Congress).
You are reading a bill enacted 17,447 days ago. In the intervening time subsequent legislation may have amended or repealed the provisions below.
PUBLIC LAW 94-167—DEC. 23, 1975 89 STAT. 1003
Public Law 94-167
94th Congress
An Act
To direct the National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Dec. 23, 1975
Year, 1975, to organize and convene a National Women's Conference, and for [H.R. 99241
other purposes.
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatwes of the
United States of America in Congress assemhled, International
Women's Year,
FINDINGS national
conference.
SECTION 1. The Congress hereby finds that—
(1) International Women s Year, and its W o r l d P l a n of
Action, have focused attention on the problems of women through-
out the world, and have pointed to the need for an evaluation of
the discrimination which American women face because of their
sex;
(2) the Bicentennial year of 1976 is a particularly appropriate
time for the United States to recognize the contributions of
women to the development of our country, to assess the progress
t h a t has been made toward insuring equality for all women, to
set goals for the elimination of all barriers to the full and equal
participation of women in all aspects of American life, and t o
recognize the importance of the contribution of women to t h e
development of friendly relations and cooperation among nations
and t o the strengthening of world peace; and
(3) a national conference of American women, preceded by
State conferences, is the most suitable mechanism by which such
an evaluation of the status of women and issues of concern t o them
can be effected.
DUTIES o r COMMISSION
SEC. 2. (a) The National Commission on the Observance of Inter-
national Women's Year, 1975, established by Executive O r d e r 11832
on J a n u a r y 9, 1975 (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the "Com- 3CFR
mission"), is hereby continued. T h e Commission shall organize and 1971-1975
convene a national conference to be known as the National Women's Comp., p. 937.
Conference (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the "Conference"). National
T h e Conference and S t a t e or regional meetings conducted in prepara- Women's
tion for the Conference shall be held in such places and at such times Conference.
in 1976 as the Commission deems appropriate.
(b) T h e Commission shall consult with such National, State, and
other organizations concerned with women's rights and related matters
as the Commission considers necessary to carry out the purpose of
this Act.
COMPOSITION AND GOALS OF T H E CONFERENCE
SEC. 3. ( a ) T h e Conference shall be composed of—
(1) representatives of local. State, regional, and national insti-
tutions, agencies, organizations, unions, associations, publications,
and other groups which work to advance the rights of women;
and
89 STAT. 1004 PUBLIC LAW 94-167—DEC. 23, 1975
(2) members of the general public, with special emphasis on
the representation of low-income women, members of diverse
racial, ethnic, and religious groups, and women of all ages.
(b) The Conference shall—
(1) recognize the contributions of women to the development
of our country;
(2) assess the progress that has been made to date by both the
private and public sectors in promoting equality between men
and women in all aspects of life in the United States;
(3) assess the role of women in economic, social, cultural, and
political development;
(4) assess the participation of women in efforts aimed at the
development of friendly relations and cooperation among nations
and to the strengthening of world peace;
(6) identify the barriers that prevent women from participat-
ing lully and equally in all aspects of national life, and develop
recommendations for means by which such carriers can be
removed;
(6) establish a timetable for the achievement of the objectives
set forth in such recommendations; and
Conference (7) establish a committee of the Conference which will take
committee. steps to provide for the convening of a second National Women's
Conference. The second Conference will assess the progress made
in achieving the objectives set forth in paragraphs (5) and (6)
of this subsection, and will evaluate the steps taken to improve
the status of American women.
Public meetings. (c) All meetings of the Conference and of State or regional meet-
ings held in preparation for the Conference shall be open to the
public.
POWERS OF COMMISSION
SEC. 4. The Commission shall—
(1) designate a coordinating committee in each State which
shall organize and conduct a State or regional meeting in prep-
aration for the Conference;
(2) prepare and make available background materials relating
to women's rights and related matters for the use of representa-
tives to the State and regional meetings, and to the Conference;
(3) establish procedures to provide financial assistance for rep-
resentatives to the Conference who are unable to pay their own
expenses;
Regulations. (4) establish such regulations as are necessary to carry out the
provisions of this Act;
(5) designate such additional representatives to the Conference
as may be necessary and appropriate to fulfill the goals set forth
in section 3(b) of this Act;
(6) grant technical and financial assistance by grant, contract,
or otherwise to facilitate the organization and conduct of State
and regional meetings in preparation for the Conference;
Advisory and (7) establish such advisory and technical committees as the
technical Commission considers necessary to assist and advise the Confer-
committees. ence; and
(8) publish and distribute the report required under this Act.
ADMINISTRATION OF COMMISSION
SEC. 5. (a) The Commission may appoint such staff personnel as it
considers necessary to carry out its duties under this Act. Such person-
PUBLIC LAW 94-167—DEC. 23, 1975 89 STAT. 1005
nel shall be appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5,
United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive serv-
ice, except that no individual so appointed may receive pay in excess
of the annual rate of basic pay in effect for grade GS-18 of the General
Schedule. Appointments shall be made without regard to political 5 u s e 5332 note.
affiliation.
(b) The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of contributions
of money, services, or property.
(c) The Commission may use the United States mails under the
same conditions as other departments and agencies of the United
States.
(d) The powers granted the Commission by this section shall be in
addition to those granted by Executive Order 11832. The powers 40 FR 2415.
granted the Commission by Executive Order 11832 may be employed
to fulfill the responsibilities of the Commission under this Act
(e) The Commission, to such extent as it deems necessary, may pro-
cure supplies, services, and personal property; make contracts; expend
funds appropriated, donated, or received in pursuance of contracts
hereunder in furtherance of the purposes of this Act; and exercise
those powers that are necessary to enable it to carry out efficiently and
in the public interest the purposes of this Act.
(f) The powers granted the Commission under this Act may be
delegated to any member or employee of the Commission by the
Commission.
STATE AND REGIONAL MEETINGS
SEC. 6. (a) A meeting in preparation for the Conference shall be
held in each State in accordance with regulations promulgated by the
Commission, except that in the event the amount of time and resources
available so requires, the Commission may combine two or more such
State meetings into a regional meeting.
(b) Any State or regional meeting which receives financial assist-
ance under this Act shall be designed and structured in accordance
with the goals of the Conference set forth in section 3(b) of this Act.
(c) (1) Each State or regional meeting shall select representatives
to the Conference in accordance with regulations promulgated by the
Commission and consistent with the criteria set forth in section 3(a)
of this Act.
(2) The total number of representatives selected under this sub- Representatives,
section shall be apportioned among the States according to population, apportionment.
except that despite such apportionment no State shall have fewer
than ten representatives.
REPORT
SEC. 7. The Commission shall submit a report to the President and
to each House of the Congress not later than one hundred and twenty
days after the conclusion of the Conference, and shall make such re]3ort
available to the general public. Such report shall contain a detailed
statement of the findings and recommendations of the Conference with
respect to the matters described in subsection (b) of section 3. The Presidential
President shall, not later than one hundred and twenty days after the recommen-
receipt of the report, submit to each House of the Congress recom- dations.
mendations with respect to matters considered in such report.
TERMINATION OF COMMISSION
SEC. 8. The Commission shall continue in operation until thirty days
after submitting its report pursuant to section 7, at which time it shall
89 STAT. 1006 PUBLIC LAW 94-167—DEC. 23, 1975
terminate, but the life of the Commission shall in no case extend
beyond March 31,1978.
AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATION
SEC. 9. There are authorized to be appropriated without fiscal year
limitation, such sums, but not to exceed $5,000,000, as may be necessary
to carry out the provisions of this Act. Such sums shall remain avail-
able for obligation until expended.
No funds authorized hereunder may be used for lobbying activities.
DEFINITION
SEC. 10. For the purpose of this Act, the term "State" includes the
District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam,
American Samoa, the Virginia Islands, and the Trust Territory of the
Pacific Islands.
Approved December 23, 1975.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
HOUSE REPORT No. 94-562 (Comm. on Government Operations).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 121 (1975):
Dec. 10, considered and passed House.
Dec. 11, considered and passed Senate.
