# § 278b. Working Capital Fund
**(a)** **Utilization** June 29, 195064 Stat. 275
The Institute is authorized to utilize in the performance of its functions the Working Capital Fund established by the Act of ().
**(b)** **Availability of Fund** The working capital of the fund shall be available for obligation and payment for any activities authorized by this chapter, and for any activities for which provision is made in the appropriations which reimburse the fund.
**(c)** **Reimbursements** In the performance of authorized activities, the Working Capital Fund shall be available and may be reimbursed for expenses of hire of automobile, hire of consultants, and travel to meetings, to the extent that such expenses are authorized for the appropriations of the Department of Commerce.
**(d)** **Credits** section 273 of this title
The fund may be credited with advances and reimbursements, including receipts from non-Federal sources, for services performed under the authority of .
**(e)** **“Cost” defined** As used in this chapter, the term “cost” shall be construed to include directly related expenses and appropriate charges for indirect and administrative expenses.
**(f)** **Distribution of earnings; restoration of prior impairment** *Provided*
The amount of any earned net income resulting from the operation of the fund at the close of each fiscal year shall be paid into the general fund of the Treasury: , That such earned net income may be applied to restore any prior impairment of the fund, and to ensure the availability of working capital necessary to replace equipment and inventories.
---
**Source Credit**: (Mar. 3, 1901, ch. 872, § 12, as added Aug. 3, 1956, ch. 906, § 2, 70 Stat. 959; amended Pub. L. 95–322, § 2(a), July 21, 1978, 92 Stat. 395; Pub. L. 99–73, § 5(a), July 29, 1985, 99 Stat. 172; Pub. L. 100–418, title V, § 5115(a)(1), Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1433.)
## Editorial Notes
### References in Text
Act of (), referred to in subsec. (a), was the Deficiency Appropriation Act, 1950. Provisions thereof relating to Working Capital Fund are not classified to the Code.
### Prior Provisions
A prior section 12 of , as added by , , related to equipment purchased by Department of Commerce to carry out investigations, prior to repeal by act .
### Amendments
1988—Subsec. (a). substituted “Institute” for “National Bureau of Standards”.
1985—Subsec. (f). struck out “first” after “may be applied”, and inserted provisions relating to working capital for replacement of equipment and inventories.
1978—Subsec. (a). struck out “, and additional amounts as from time to time may be required for the purposes of said fund are authorized to be appropriated” after “()”.
## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
### Effective Date of 1985 Amendment
Amendment by effective , see , set out as an Effective Date note under .