UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE UNITED STATES - 17 
{H. R. 12551, Seventy-first Congress, second session} 
A BILL To provide for the advance planning and regulated construction of certain public works, for the 
stabilization of industry, and for the prevention of unemployment during periods of business depression 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of 
America in Congress assembled, That this act may be cited as the ““ Employment 
stabilization act of 1930.” 
DEFINITIONS 
SEc. 2. When used in this act— 
(a) The term “board” means the Federal Employment Stabilization Board 
established by section 3 of this act; 
(b) The term ‘United States,” when used in a geographical sense, includes 
the several States and Territories and the District of Columbia; 
(¢) 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. 
FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT STABILIZATION BOARD 
Sec. 3. (a) There is hereby established a board to be known as the 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 of Labor. It shall be the 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. ’ 
(b) The board is authorized to appoint, in accordance with the 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 periodi- 
cals) as may be necessary for the administration of this act, and as may be pro- 
vided 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 19283. as amended. 
BASIS OF ACTION OF BOARD 
Sec. 4. (a) In advising the President the board shall take into consideration 
the volume, based upon value, of contracts awarded for construction work in the 
United States, or in any subs’antial portion thereof, during the three months’ 
period preceding action, in comparison with the corresponding three-month 
periods of the two previous calendar years. 
(b) The board may also take into consideration the index of employment 
prepared by the Department of Labor, and any other information concerning 
employment furnished by 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 
Sec. 5. 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 supple- 
mental estimates as he deems advisable for emergency appropriations, to be 
expended during such period upon public works in the United States or in the 
area affected, in order to prevent unemployment and permit the Government 
to avail itself of the opportunity for speedy, efficient, and economical construe- 
tion during any such period. Except as provided in this act such supplementas 
estimates shall conform to the provisions of the Budget and Accounting Act, 1921. 
WORKS ON WHICH APPROPRIATION USED 
Sec. 6. Public works emergency appropriations are authorized and shall be 
expended only— 
(a) For carrying out the provisions of the Federal highway act, as now or 
hereafter amended and supplemented;