340 HISTORY OF THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 



The subcommittee continued to place a high priority on develop- 

 ment of a more active Earth Resources Information System. 



On May 2 and 3, 1979, the subcommittee held hearings to review 

 the progress being made by the executive branch in planning for an 

 operational Earth Resources Data and Information Service, and to 

 consider legislation for such a Service. Fuqua stated in opening the 

 hearings: 



There is good reason and evidence to be confident about the health and prospects 

 of the technology of remote sensing and its use. The potential has been demonstrated 

 in geology and oceanography, meteorology, land management, crop prediction, and 

 a host of other disciplines. However, remote sensing of Earth resources involves a 

 number of major policy issues, many of which are of an institutional nature. 



On May 3, Fuqua observed: 



The subcommittee is encoutaged by a recent statement by Dr. Frank Press, head of 

 the Office of Science and Technology Policy, that the administration is committed to 

 an operational Earth resources system. However, no timeframe has been announced 

 and thete appears to be little progress in establishing a lead agency and assignment of 

 roles and responsibilities to Federal agencies and little progress in defining the role of 

 the private sectot. No mechanism has been established to provide on a continuing 

 basis input by users other than Federal users. 



Brown was equally sharp in his reaction: 



I think there may be a mismatch between NASA and at least some Members of 

 Congress in the perception of the urgency with which we should move ahead in this 

 area. * * * I think the executive branch needs to be pushed. That is my personal 

 opinion. 



FUTURE SPACE PROGRAMS 



In 1977 and 1978, the Fuqua subcommittee demonstrated more 

 sharply the difference in initiative between the legislative and execu- 

 tive branches. Despite declining budgets, the Ford administration and 

 the NASA Administrator, Dr. James C. Fletcher, shared a clear under- 

 standing with the committee on the objectives and rationale of the 

 space program. President Carter and his NASA Administrator, Dr. 

 Robert A. Frosch, did not have the same rapport with the committee. 

 The Fuqua subcommittee in particular was disappointed with the fail- 

 ure of high officials in the Carter administration to give inspiring 

 leadership to the space effort. 



When Dr. Frosch made his first appearance before the full com- 

 mittee on January 26, 1978, to discuss the future programs of NASA, 

 he turned off some members with this comment: 



I have been cast in some of the testimony as a conservative bureaucrat. I would 

 like to submit that this is one of the roles I should be playing. 



Fuqua reacted quickly: 



