USC 1 and 2

29 USC Ch. 1: LABOR STATISTICS
From Title 29—LABOR

CHAPTER 1—LABOR STATISTICS
SUBCHAPTER I—BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
Sec.

1.
2.
2a.
2b.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

9.
9a.
9b.

Design and duties of bureau generally.
Collection, collation, and reports of labor statistics.
Omitted.
Studies of productivity and labor costs in industries.
Commissioner; appointment and tenure of office; compensation.
Duties of Commissioner in general.
Bulletin as to labor conditions.
Annual and special reports to President and Congress.
Repealed.
Unemployment data relating to Americans of Spanish origin or descent.
SUBCHAPTER II—SPECIAL STATISTICS
Authorization of special studies, compilations, and transcripts on request; cost.
Credit of receipts.
Rules and regulations.

SUBCHAPTER I—BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

§1. Design and duties of bureau generally
The general design and duties of the Bureau of Labor Statistics shall be to acquire and diffuse among the people of
the United States useful information on subjects connected with labor, in the most general and comprehensive sense
of that word, and especially upon its relation to capital, the hours of labor, the earnings of laboring men and women,
and the means of promoting their material, social, intellectual, and moral prosperity.
(June 13, 1888, ch. 389, §1, 25 Stat. 182; Feb. 14, 1903, ch. 552, §4, 32 Stat. 826; Mar. 18, 1904, ch. 716, 33 Stat.
136; Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 141, §3, 37 Stat. 737.)
Editorial Notes

Codification
Act June 27, 1884, created Bureau of Labor in Department of the Interior.
Section 1 of act June 13, 1888, created Department of Labor and outlined its general design and
duties, and section 9 of that act transferred Bureau of Labor to Department of Labor.
Act Feb. 14, 1903, placed Department of Labor under jurisdiction and made it a part of Department of
Commerce and Labor.
Act Mar. 18, 1904, changed name of Department of Labor to Bureau of Labor in Department of
Commerce and Labor.
Act Mar. 4, 1913, created Department of Labor and transferred Bureau of Labor from Department of
Commerce and Labor to newly created Department of Labor, redesignating such transferred Bureau as
Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of functions of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of Labor, with
certain exceptions, to Secretary of Labor, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 6 of 1950, §§1, 2,
15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1263, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

§2. Collection, collation, and reports of labor statistics
The Bureau of Labor Statistics, under the direction of the Secretary of Labor, shall collect, collate, and report at least
once each year, or oftener if necessary, full and complete statistics of the conditions of labor and the products and
distribution of the products of the same, and to this end said Secretary shall have power to employ any or either of the
bureaus provided for his department and to rearrange such statistical work, and to distribute or consolidate the same
as may be deemed desirable in the public interests; and said Secretary shall also have authority to call upon other
departments of the Government for statistical data and results obtained by them; and said Secretary of Labor may
collate, arrange, and publish such statistical information so obtained in such manner as to him may seem wise.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics shall also collect, collate, report, and publish at least once each month full and
complete statistics of the volume of and changes in employment, as indicated by the number of persons employed, the
total wages paid, and the total hours of employment, in the service of the Federal Government, the States and political
subdivisions thereof, and in the following industries and their principal branches: (1) Manufacturing; (2) mining,
quarrying, and crude petroleum production; (3) building construction; (4) agriculture and lumbering; (5) transportation,
communication, and other public utilities; (6) the retail and wholesale trades; and such other industries as the Secretary
of Labor may deem it in the public interest to include. Such statistics shall be reported for all such industries and their
principal branches throughout the United States and also by States and/or Federal reserve districts and by such
smaller geographical subdivisions as the said Secretary may from time to time prescribe. The said Secretary is
authorized to arrange with any Federal, State, or municipal bureau or other governmental agency for the collection of
such statistics in such manner as he may deem satisfactory, and may assign special agents of the Department of
Labor to any such bureau or agency to assist in such collection.
(Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 141, §4, 37 Stat. 737; July 7, 1930, ch. 873, 46 Stat. 1019.)
Editorial Notes

Amendments
1930—Act July 7, 1930, inserted second par.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Census Data on Women-Owned Businesses; Study and Report
For provisions requiring Bureaus of Labor Statistics and the Census to include certain data on womenowned businesses in census reports, and requiring a study and report on the most cost effective and
accurate means to gather and present such data, see section 501 of Pub. L. 100–533, set out as a note
under section 131 of Title 13, Census.

Consumer Price Index for Older Americans
Pub. L. 100–175, title I, §191, Nov. 29, 1987, 101 Stat. 967, provided that: "The Secretary of Labor shall,
through the Bureau of Labor Statistics, develop, from existing data sources, a reweighted index of
consumer prices which reflects the expenditures for consumption by Americans 62 years of age and
older. The Secretary shall furnish to the Congress the index within 180 days after the date of enactment
of this Act [Nov. 29, 1987]. The Secretary shall include with the index furnished a report which explains
the characteristics of the reweighted index, the research necessary to develop and measure accurately
the rate of inflation affecting such Americans, and provides estimates of time and cost required for
additional activities necessary to carry out the objectives of this section."

Prison Statistics Report
Joint Res. June 17, 1940, ch. 389, 54 Stat. 401, authorized Bureau of Labor Statistics to furnish a report
to Congress before May 1, 1941, on kind, amount, and value of all goods produced in State and Federal
prisons.
Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of functions of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of Labor, with
certain exceptions, to Secretary of Labor, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 6 of 1950, §§1, 2,
15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1263, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

§2a. Omitted
Editorial Notes

Codification
Section, act Feb. 24, 1927, ch. 189, title IV, 44 Stat. 1222, which related to collection of statistical reports
through local special agents, was from an appropriations act for the Departments of State, Justice, the
Judiciary, and Departments of Commerce and Labor for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1928, and was
not repeated in subsequent appropriation acts.

§2b. Studies of productivity and labor costs in industries
The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor is authorized and directed to make
continuing studies of productivity and labor costs in the manufacturing, mining, transportation, distribution, and other
industries.
(June 7, 1940, ch. 267, 54 Stat. 249; Aug. 30, 1954, ch. 1076, §1(27), 68 Stat. 968.)
Editorial Notes

Codification
Provision of this section authorizing appropriations of up to $100,000 for studies by the bureau in the
first fiscal year was omitted.

Amendments
1954—Act Aug. 30, 1954, repealed second par. which required Secretary of Labor to submit annually to
Congress reports of findings under this section.
Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions
For transfer of functions of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of Labor, with
certain exceptions, to Secretary of Labor, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 6 of 1950, §§1, 2,
15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1263, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

§3. Commissioner; appointment and tenure of office; compensation
The Bureau of Labor Statistics shall be under the charge of a Commissioner of Labor Statistics, who shall be
appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate; he shall hold his office for four years,
unless sooner removed, and shall receive a salary.
(June 27, 1884, ch. 127, 23 Stat. 60; June 13, 1888, ch. 389, §2, 25 Stat. 182; Mar. 18, 1904, ch. 716, 33 Stat. 136;
Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 141, §3, 37 Stat. 737.)
Editorial Notes

Codification
Act June 13, 1888, raised salary from $3,000 to $5,000 per annum.
Act Mar. 18, 1904, changed name of Department of Labor to Bureau of Labor.
Act Mar. 4, 1913, authorized the substitution of "Commissioner of Labor Statistics" and "Bureau of
Labor Statistics" for "Commissioner of Labor" and "Bureau of Labor", respectively.

Words "of five thousand dollars per annum" at end of section were omitted as superseded by the
Classification Acts. See sections 5101 et seq. and 5331 et seq. of Title 5, Government Organization and
Employees.
Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions
For transfer of functions of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of Labor, with
certain exceptions, to Secretary of Labor, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 6 of 1950, §§1, 2,
15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1263, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

§4. Duties of Commissioner in general
It shall be the duty of the Commissioner of Labor Statistics to ascertain the effect of the customs laws, and the effect
thereon of the state of the currency, in the United States, on the agricultural industry, especially as to its effect on
mortgage indebtedness of farmers. He shall also establish a system of reports by which, at intervals of not less than
two years, he can report the general condition, so far as production is concerned, of the leading industries of the
country. He is also specially charged to investigate the causes of, and facts relating to, all controversies and disputes
between employers and employees as they may occur, and which may tend to interfere with the welfare of the people
of the different States. He shall also obtain such information upon the various subjects committed to him as he may
deem desirable from different foreign nations, and what, if any, convict-made goods are imported into this country, and
if so from whence.
(June 13, 1888, ch. 389, §7, 25 Stat. 183; Aug. 23, 1912, ch. 350, §1, 37 Stat. 407; Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 141, §3, 37 Stat.
737; May 29, 1928, ch. 901, §1(110), (111), 45 Stat. 994.)
Editorial Notes

Codification
Section is from act June 13, 1888. Act June 13, 1888, also contained other provisions relating to duties
of former Commissioner of Labor to ascertain cost of producing, in leading countries, articles dutiable in
United States, comparative cost of living, etc., which have been omitted from this section because of act
Aug. 23, 1912, transferring those duties to Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce.
Act Aug. 23, 1912, transferred the duty of former Commissioner of Labor to ascertain the cost of
producing, in leading countries, articles dutiable in the United States, the profits of the manufacturers and
producers of such articles, the comparative cost of such articles, comparative cost of living in such
countries, what articles are controlled by trusts and the effect they have on prices and production, to the
Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce. Text of said act is set out as section 172 of Title 15,
Commerce and Trade.
Act Mar. 4, 1913, authorized the substitution of "Commissioner of Labor Statistics" for "Commissioner
of Labor".

Amendments
1928—Act May 29, 1928, repealed provisions requiring reports to Congress on investigations required
by this section, and is authority for omission of "and report as to" after "ascertain" in first sentence and
"and report thereon to Congress" at end of third sentence relating to information from foreign nations, and
convict made goods.
Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions
For transfer of functions of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of Labor, with
certain exceptions, to Secretary of Labor, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 6 of 1950, §§1, 2,
15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1263, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

§5. Bulletin as to labor conditions

The Commissioner of Labor Statistics is authorized to prepare and publish a bulletin of the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, as to the condition of labor in this and other countries, condensations of State and foreign labor reports, facts
as to conditions of employment, and such other facts as may be deemed of value to the industrial interests of the
country.
(Mar. 2, 1895, ch. 177, §1, 28 Stat. 805; Mar. 18, 1904, ch. 716, 33 Stat. 136; Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 141, §3, 37 Stat. 737.)
Editorial Notes

Codification
Provision of act Mar. 2, 1895, as to printing of the bulletin for distribution is covered by section 1324 of
Title 44, Public Printing and Documents.
Act Mar. 18, 1904, changed name of Department of Labor to Bureau of Labor.
Act Mar. 4, 1913, authorized substitution of "Commissioner of Labor Statistics" and "Bureau of Labor
Statistics" for "Commissioner of Labor" and "Bureau of Labor", respectively.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Statistics of Cities
Commissioner authorized to compile, as part of bulletin of Department, an abstract of main features of
official statistics of cities having over 30,000 population, by a provision of act July 1, 1898, ch. 546, §1, 30
Stat. 648.
Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions
For transfer of functions of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of Labor, with
certain exceptions, to Secretary of Labor, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 6 of 1950, §§1, 2,
15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1263, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

§6. Annual and special reports to President and Congress
The Commissioner of Labor Statistics shall annually make a report in writing to the President and Congress, of the
information collected and collated by him, and containing such recommendations as he may deem calculated to
promote the efficiency of the department. He is also authorized to make special reports on particular subjects
whenever required to do so by the President or either House of Congress, or when he shall think the subjects in his
charge require it. He shall, on or before the 15th day of March in each year, make a report in detail to Congress of all
moneys expended under his direction during the preceding fiscal year.
(June 13, 1888, ch. 389, §8, 25 Stat. 183; Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 141, §3, 37 Stat. 737; Pub. L. 94–273, §5(3), Apr. 21, 1976,
90 Stat. 377.)
Editorial Notes

Codification
Act Mar. 4, 1913, authorized substitution of "Commissioner of Labor Statistics" for "Commissioner of
Labor".

Amendments
1976—Pub. L. 94–273 substituted "March" for "December".
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Termination of Reporting Requirements
For termination, effective May 15, 2000, of provisions in this section requiring the Commissioner of
Labor Statistics, on or before March 15 each year, to report to Congress on all moneys expended under
the Commissioner's direction, see section 3003 of Pub. L. 104–66, as amended, set out as a note under
section 1113 of Title 31, Money and Finance, and page 124 of House Document No. 103–7.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions
For transfer of functions of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of Labor, with
certain exceptions, to Secretary of Labor, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 6 of 1950, §§1, 2,
15 F.R. 174, 64 Stat. 1263, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

§7. Repealed. Pub. L. 86–3, §§15, 23, Mar. 18, 1959, 73 Stat. 11, 13; Pub. L. 96–470, title I, §110, Oct. 19,
1980, 94 Stat. 2239

Section, acts Apr. 30, 1900, ch. 339, §76, 31 Stat. 155; Apr. 8, 1904, ch. 948, 33 Stat. 164; Mar. 4, 1913,
ch. 141, §3, 37 Stat. 737, directed United States Commissioner of Labor Statistics to assemble and report
on statistical details relating to all departments of labor in Territory of Hawaii.

§8. Unemployment data relating to Americans of Spanish origin or descent
The Department of Labor, in cooperation with the Department of Commerce, shall develop methods for improving
and expanding the collection, analysis, and publication of unemployment data relating to Americans of Spanish origin
or descent.
(Pub. L. 94–311, §1, June 16, 1976, 90 Stat. 688.)

SUBCHAPTER II—SPECIAL STATISTICS

§9. Authorization of special studies, compilations, and transcripts on request; cost
The Department of Labor is authorized, within the discretion of the Secretary of Labor, upon the written request of
any person, to make special statistical studies relating to employment, hours of work, wages, and other conditions of
employment; to prepare from its records special statistical compilations; and to furnish transcripts of its studies, tables,
and other records, upon the payment of the actual cost of such work by the person requesting it.
(Apr. 13, 1934, ch. 118, §1, 48 Stat. 582; Apr. 11, 1935, ch. 59, 49 Stat. 154; June 15, 1937, ch. 349, 50 Stat. 259; Apr.
15, 1939, ch. 71, 53 Stat. 581.)
Editorial Notes

Codification
This section and sections 9a and 9b of this title comprised sections 1 to 3 of act Apr. 13, 1934. Section 4 of
that act provided as follows: "This Act shall cease to be effective one year after the date of its enactment."
The act was temporarily extended by acts Apr. 11, 1935, and June 15, 1937, and was made permanent
by act Apr. 15, 1939.

§9a. Credit of receipts
All moneys hereinafter 1 received by the Department of Labor in payment of the cost of such work shall be deposited
to the credit of the appropriation of that bureau, service, office, division, or other agency of the Department of Labor
which supervised such work, and may be used, in the discretion of the Secretary of Labor, and notwithstanding any
other provision of law, for the ordinary expenses of such agency and/or to secure the special services of persons who
are neither officers nor employees of the United States.
(Apr. 13, 1934, ch. 118, §2, 48 Stat. 582; Apr. 11, 1935, ch. 59, 49 Stat. 154; June 15, 1937, ch. 349, 50 Stat. 259; Apr.
15, 1939, ch. 71, 53 Stat. 581.)
Editorial Notes

Codification
This section and sections 9 and 9b of this title comprised sections 1 to 3 of act Apr. 13, 1934, which were
to terminate one year after Apr. 13, 1934, pursuant to section 4 of act Apr. 13, 1934, set out as a
Codification note under section 9 of this title. Such sections were temporarily extended by acts Apr. 11,
1935, and June 15, 1937, and were made permanent by act Apr. 15, 1939.
1 So in original. Probably should be "hereafter".

§9b. Rules and regulations
The Secretary of Labor shall prescribe rules and regulations for the enforcement of sections 9 and 9a of this title.
(Apr. 13, 1934, ch. 118, §3, 48 Stat. 583; Apr. 11, 1935, ch. 59, 49 Stat. 154; June 15, 1937, ch. 349, 50 Stat. 259; Apr.
15, 1939, ch. 71, 53 Stat. 581; Aug. 7, 1946, ch. 770, §1(16), 60 Stat. 867.)
Editorial Notes

Codification
This section and sections 9 and 9a of this title comprised sections 1 to 3 of act Apr. 13, 1934, which were
to terminate one year after Apr. 13, 1934, pursuant to section 4 of act Apr. 13, 1934, set out as a
Codification note under section 9 of this title. Such sections were temporarily extended by acts Apr. 11,
1935, and June 15, 1937, and were made permanent by act Apr. 15, 1939.

Amendments
1946—Act Aug. 7, 1946, repealed provisions requiring Secretary of the Interior to make annual reports
to Congress.