Chapter 117. To provide for the advance planning and regulated construction of public works, for the stabilization of industry, and for aiding in the prevention of unemployment during periods of business depression
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CHAP. 117.— An Act To provide for the advance planning and regulated construction of public works, for the stabilization of industry, and for aiding in the prevention of unemployment during periods of business depression. February 10, 1931.[[S. 5776](/us/bill/71/s/5776).][[Public, No. 616](/us/pl/71/616).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, Employment Stabilization Act of 1931. That this Act may be cited as the “Employment Stabilization Act of 1931.” definitions Definitions. Sec. 2. When used in this Act—
(a)“Board.” The term “board” means the Federal Employment Stabilization Board established by section 3 of this Act;
(b)“United States.” The term “United States,” when used in a geographical sense, includes the several States and Territories and the District of Columbia;
(c)“Public works emergency appropriation.” The term “public works emergency appropriation” means an appropriation made in pursuance of supplemental estimates transmitted to the Congress under the provisions of this Act.
(d)“Construction agencies.” The terra “construction agencies” shall mean the following departments, bureaus, and independent agencies and such others as Other designations.the President may designate from time to time: 1085 Of the Department of Agriculture, the Bureau of Public Roads,Under Department of Agriculture. the Bureau of Plant Industry, the Forest Service, the Bureau of Dairy Industry, and the Bureau of Animal Industry; Of the Department of Commerce, the Aeronautics Branch, theDepartment of Commerce. Coast and Geodetic Survey, the Bureau of Fisheries, and the Bureau of Lighthouses; Of the Department of Interior, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, theInterior Department Bureau of Reclamation, and the National Park Service; Of the Department of the Treasury, the Coast Guard, the PublicTreasury Department. Health Service, and the Office of the Supervising Architect; Of the Department of War, the office of the Quartermaster GeneralWar Department., and the office of the Chief of Engineers; Of the Department of Justice, the Bureau of Prisons;Department of Justice. Of the Department of the Navy, the Bureau of Yards and Docks;Navy Department. The Department of Labor;Department of Labor The Post Office Department;Post Office Department. Of the independent agencies, the Veterans’ Administration,Independent agencies. the office of Public Buildings and Public Parks of the National Capital, the District of Columbia, the Architect of the Capitol, and the Panama Canal.
(e)The term “construction” shall include also repairs and alterations,“Construction” defined. and the purchase of such materials, supplies, and equipment as may be necessary as a part of, or incident to, such construction, repairs, or alterations.
(f)The term “authorized construction” shall include those projects“Authorized construction.” which have been specifically authorized by Congress, and those projects which do not require specific legislative authorization, such as repairs and alterations. federal employment stabilization board Federal Employment Stabilization Board. Sec. 3.
(a)There is hereby established a board to be known as theComposition. Federal Employment Stabilization Board, and to be composed of the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary or Labor. It shall be theDuties.To advise the President as to tread of employment, etc.Business depression, etc.Unemployment.To cooperate in formulating advance planning,Prepare reports, etc. duty of the board to advise the President from time to time of the trend of employment and business activity and of the existence or approach of periods of business depression and unemployment in the United States or in any substantial portion thereof; to cooperate with the construction agencies in formulating methods of advance planning; to make progress reports; and to perform the other functions assigned to it by this Act.
(b)The board is authorized to appoint, in accordance with theDirector, experts, and other personal services authorized.Administrative expenses.*Post*, p. 1564. civil-service laws, a director and such experts, and clerical and other assistants, and to make such expenditures (including expenditures for personal services and rent at the seat of Government and elsewhere, for law books, books of reference, and periodicals) as may be necessary for the administration of this Act, and as may be providedSalaries in accordance with Classification Act.Vol. 42, p. 1488; Vol. 45, p. 776.*Ante*, p. 1003.[U. S. C., Supp. IV, p. 25](/us/usc/p25). for by the Congress from time to time. The compensation of the director and such experts and clerical and other assistants shall be fixed in accordance with the classification Act of 1923, as amended. The director and his staff may be domiciled in and attached to one of the executive departments. There is hereby authorized to be appropriatedMay be attached to a department.Permanent annual appropriations authorized. annually such sum as may be necessary for the expenses of the board. basis of action of board Basis of action. Sec. 4.
(a)In advising the President the board shall take intoQuestions to be considered.Construction contracts. consideration the volume, based upon value, of contracts awarded for construction work in the United States, or in any substantial portion 1086thereof, during any three-month period in comparison with the corresponding three-month period of three previous calendar years.
(b)Data furnished by Department of Labor.Indexofemployment. The board may also take into consideration the index of employment prepared by the Department of Labor, and any other information concerning employment furnished the Department of Labor or by any other public or private agency, and any other facts which it may consider pertinent. public works emergency appropriation Public works emergency appropriation. Sec. 5. President to transmit recommendations of board to Congress for, whenever business depression exists. Whenever, upon recommendation of the board, the President finds that there exists, or that within the six months next following there is likely to exist, in the United States or any substantial portion thereof, a period of business depression and unemployment, he is requested to transmit to the Congress by special message, at such time and from time to time thereafter, such supplemental estimates as he deems advisable for emergency appropriations, to be To be expended on authorized construction. etc.expended during such period upon authorized construction in order to aid in preventing unemployment and permit the Government to avail itself of the opportunity for speedy, efficient, and economical Estimates to conform to Budget.construction during any such period. Except as provided in this Act, such supplemental estimates shall conform to the provisions of the Budget and Accounting Act, 1921. works on which appropriation used Sec. 6. Uses specified. Such emergency appropriations are authorized and shall be expended only—
(a)Federal highways.*Ante*, p. 1031. For carrying out the provisions of the Federal Highway Act, as now or hereafter amended and supplemented;
(b)River and harbor improvements. For the preservation and maintenance of existing river and harbor works, and for the prosecution of such projects heretofore and hereafter authorized as may be most desirable in the interest of commerce and navigation;
(c)Flood control.*Ante*, pp. 1032, 1039. For prosecuting flood-control projects heretofore or hereafter authorized; and
(d)Public building projects.Vol. 45, p. 919. For carrying into effect the provisions of the Public Buildings Act, approved May 25, 1926, as now or hereafter amended and *Ante*, p. 1030.supplemented, in respect of public buildings within and without the District of Columbia.
(e)Other authorized construction. For prosecuting such other construction as may now or hereafter be authorized by the Congress, and which is or may be included in the six-year advance plans, as hereinafter provided. acceleration of emergency construction Emergency construction. Sec. 7. Acceleration stimulated to prevent unemployment, etc. For the purpose of aiding in the prevention of unemployment during periods of business depression and of permitting the Government to avail itself of opportunity for speedy, efficient, and economical construction during such periods the President may direct the construction agencies to accelerate during such periods, to such extent as is deemed practicable, the prosecution of all authorized construction within their control. advance planning Advance planning. Sec. 8. Purposes of, declared.For stabilizing industry and employment.
(a)It is hereby declared to be the policy of Congress to arrange the construction of public works so far as practicable in such manner as will assist in the stabilization of industry and employment through the proper timing of such construction, and that 1087to further this object there shall be advance planning, includingPreparation of plans. preparation of detailed construction plans, of public works by the construction agencies and the board.
(b)Each head of a department or independent establishmentSix year advance plan and estimates by each construction agency to be made. having jurisdiction over one or more construction agencies shall direct each such construction agency to prepare a six-year advance plan with estimates showing projects allotted to each year. Such estimates shall show separately the estimated cost of land, the estimatedDetails to be included. cost of new construction, and the estimated annual cost of operation and of repairs and alterations.
(c)Each construction agency shall also prepare a program forEmergency program to be prepared. prompt commencement and carrying out of an expanded program at any time. This program shall include organization plans. ItOrganization plans. shall also include the plans for the acquisition of sites and the preparationAcquisition of sites, advance construction, etc. of advance detailed construction plans for not less than one year in advance, except where in the judgment of the board this would not be practicable.
(d)Such programs, plans, and estimates for the six-year periodPlans, etc., to be submitted. shall be submitted to the board and to the Director of the Bureau of the Budget. The Director of the Bureau of the Budget shall report to the President from time to time consolidated plans and estimates.
(e)Each construction agency shall keep its six-year plan up-to-dateRevision and extension of plans. by an annual revision of the plans and estimates for the unexpired years and by annually extending the plan and estimates for an additional year.
(f)The President is requested each year before recommendingRecommendations of the President. the amount of construction appropriations for the next fiscal year to take into consideration the volume of construction in the UnitedVolume of work to be considered. States, the state of employment, and the activity of general business.
(g)The board shall collect information concerning advanceInformation as to advance plans to be collected, etc. construction plans and estimates by States, municipalities, and other public and private agencies which may indicate the probable volume of construction within the United States or which may aid the construction agencies in formulating their advance plans. Approved, February 10, 1931.