Definition of "Impairment" in 15 U.S.C. 278b(f)

The National Bureau of Standards questioned whether the term "prior impairment" as used in 15 U.S.C. 278b(f) could include impairment caused by inflation. The agency currently finances its operations in part by charges to users for its services; this earned net income must be paid annually into the Treasury except where "applied first to restore any prior impairment" of the working capital fund. The Bureau cannot retain its profits to offset increased costs caused by inflation, and it cannot calculate depreciation of facilities and equipment based on replacement costs in order to achieve greater capital.