{"database": "openregs", "table": "congressional_record", "rows": [["CREC-1996-10-21-pt1-PgS12423", "1996-10-21", 104, 2, null, null, "METRIC CONVERSION", "SENATE", "SENATE", "ALLOTHER", "S12423", "S12423", "[{\"name\": \"Claiborne Pell\", \"role\": \"speaking\"}]", null, "142 Cong. Rec. S12423", "Congressional Record, Volume 142 Issue 143 (Monday, October 21, 1996)\n\n[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 143 (Monday, October 21, 1996)]\n[Senate]\n[Page S12423]\nFrom the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]\n\n                           METRIC CONVERSION\n\n Mr. PELL. Mr. President, As my colleagues have heard me say\nmany times before, The United States is the only industrialized country\nin the world that has not converted to the metric system of\nmeasurement. I ask my colleagues to imagine what we are missing by\nbeing so out of step with the rest of the world.\n  The answer is basic: The United States stands to gain untold\nmillions--possibly billions--in export trade we are currently losing\nbecause our non-metric products literally do not fit into international\nmarkets. The U.S. Department of Commerce estimates that U.S. exports\ncould be increased by up to 20 percent by offering metric-sized goods\nto international markets. In a booklet published by the Small Business\nAdministration [SBA] for small businesses considering converting to the\nmetric system, the SBA cites three examples of the trade problems\ncaused by the production of nonmetric goods.\n  Saudi Arabia rejected a shipment of American-made appliances because\nthe power cords were 6 feet long rather than the 2 meter length\nrequired by Saudi law.\n  A Middle Eastern company was forced to rewire all electronic\nequipment imported from the United States because standard American\nwire sizes are different from international standards.\n  Countries around the world have great difficulty finding American\nlumber companies that will produce lumber in metric lengths for use in\nthe construction.\n  In that regard, I strongly believe that the Federal Government should\nlead by example and conduct its business, including all procurement, in\nthe metric system. By doing business and thereby promoting the metric\nsystem, our Government would send a very important and badly needed\nsignal to American businesses and our trade partners around the world\nthat as a nation we are back on track with the conversion process that\nhas already taken place in the rest of the modern world.\n  During the closing weeks of this Congress, I had the pleasure of\nworking with Senator Glenn and Senator Hollings in an effort to\nmoderate antimetric legislation that came before the Senate. Senator\nHollings and I have worked together on this issue for some time--\nparticularly in the all important area of trade. I am confident he will\ncontinue this fight in the years to come.\n  Senator John Glenn--a pioneer in space exploration--is a man of\nscience, a man of the future. During floor debate on unfunded mandates\nlegislation a the beginning of the 104th Congress he gave a most\neloquent defense of the metric system. The metric system is an integral\npart of both science and our future. I hope Senator Glenn will take my\nplace and bring his knowledge and experience to the fight.\n\n                          ____________________"]], "columns": ["granule_id", "date", "congress", "session", "volume", "issue", "title", "chamber", "granule_class", "sub_granule_class", "page_start", "page_end", "speakers", "bills", "citation", "full_text"], "primary_keys": ["granule_id"], "primary_key_values": ["CREC-1996-10-21-pt1-PgS12423"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 8.254280081018806, "source": "Federal Register API & Regulations.gov API", "source_url": "https://www.federalregister.gov/developers/api/v1", "license": "Public Domain (U.S. Government data)", "license_url": "https://www.regulations.gov/faq"}