Letter reply to me from my representative regarding US metrication progress (or the lack thereof):
July 1, 2008 Dear Mr. Woelflein, Thank you for contacting me about the United States' use of the metric system. I truly appreciate hearing from you, and I am working hard to stand up for New Hampshire's interests in Congress. I understand your support for the metrication of the United States. In 1988, the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act was signed into law. This legislation designated the metric system as the preferred system of weights and measures for United States trade and commerce. This law requires all federal agencies to use the metric system in procurements, grants, and other business-related activities, except when it is impractical or is likely to cause significant inefficiencies or loss of markets to U.S. firms. Some United States Government agencies have determined that it is impractical to convert particular activities to metric at this time. The Government Accountability Office found that metric conversion problems encountered by Federal agencies frequently involve opposition from the private sector or the public. There is currently no legislation before the House of Representatives on the issue of the conversion to the metric system. Please know that if any legislation on this issue comes to the House floor for a vote, I will keep your views in mind. I encourage you to continue to contact me about the issues that are important to you. Please feel free to visit my website at www.hodes.house.gov where you can share your ideas with me, learn about the services I can provide to you, and sign up for my periodic e-mail updates on what I am doing to help New Hampshire. Sincerely, Paul Hodes Member of Congress -- John An Lár Literally "the middle" or "the center" and used on Irish bus and highway signs to denote the town center as destination. In North America we might say "downtown."
