SIRS:

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85-00988R000400060051-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 26, 1999
• Sequence Number: 51
• Content Type: LETTER

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMENCE
Office of the Secretary
Washington, O.C. 20230
THE HONORABLE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
THE HONORABLE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SIRS:
I have the honor to transmit to you the Report on the U.S. Metric Study,
which was conducted by the National Bureau of Standards of the Department
of Commerce.
Thousands of individuals, firms and organized groups, representative of our
society, participated in the Study. After weighing the extensive evidence pre-
sented by these participants, this report concludes that the United States should
change to the metric system through a coordinated national program.
I agree with this conclusion, and therefore recommend
-That the United States change to the International Metric System delib-
erately and carefully;
-That this be done through a coordinated national program;
-That the Congress assign the responsibility for guiding the change, and
anticipating the kinds of special problems described in the report, to a
central coordinating body responsive to all sectors of our society;
-That within this guiding framework, detailed plans and timetables be
worked out by these sectors themselves;
-That early priority be given to educating every American schoolchild
and the public at large to think in metric terms;
-That immediate steps be taken by the Congress to foster U.S. participa-
tion in international standards activities;
-That in order to encourage efficiency and minimize the overall costs
to society, the general rule should be that any changeover costs shall
"lie where they fall";
-That the Congress, after deciding on a plan for the nation, establish a
target date ten years ahead, by which time the U.S. will have become
predominantly, though not exclusively, metric;
-That there be a firm government commitment to this goal.
The Department of Commerce stands ready to provide whatever further
assistance the Congress may require in working out a national plan and putting
it into effect.
Respectfully submitted,
Maurice H. Stars
Secretary of Commerce
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Approved For Release 2001/08/09 : CIA-RDP85-00988R000400060051-7
 Approved For Release 2001/08/09 : CIA-RDP85-00988R000400060051-7
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