260 HISTORY OF THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 



projects tracked through the deep space network. Spacecraft tracking, 

 data telemetry, spacecraft command, voice communication, and tele- 

 vision all figured in these efforts. 



Early in the development of the tracking networks, the com- 

 mittee encouraged closer cooperation with the tracking efforts of the 

 Department of Defense, as well as the establishment of cooperative 

 relationships with foreign countries and tracking facilities with the 

 know-how and reputation of Jodrell Bank in England. A visit by 

 several committee members to Jodrell Bank early in the program 

 helped cement these relationships, and avoid some of the duplication 

 which otherwise would have arisen. 



A good example of how the committee influenced NASA policy, 

 improved coordination with the Department of Defense, saved money 

 for the taxpayers, and instilled a greater measure of common sense into 

 a program occurred in 1963- For several days, the Hechler subcommittee 

 meticulously examined, dollar by dollar, the requested expenditures 

 for tracking and data acquisition. Chairman Miller, visiting the hear- 

 ings, made some observations on the process: 



Chairman Miller. Mr. Chairman, may I say to the committee on those things, 

 we are meeting here, authorizing money which is the upper limit that can be spent. 

 Before any of this money is spent, it has to be appropriated. This is one of the functions 

 of the Committee on Appropriations to determine whether or not $3 million or $1*2 

 million or $24 million or $5 million will be immediately spent for this. This is the 

 upper limit for the thing. Let's not confuse the fact that we are an authorizing 

 committee and not an appropriations committee. 



Mr. Roush. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Rumsfeld. I think that is a good point. However, recently the House con- 

 sidered an authorization bill, and each item was approved by the legislative committee 

 exactly as requested with, in my opinion, insufficient discussion. I think it would be of 

 great value to the members of the appropriations committee if these matters were 

 gone over in some detail by the authorizing committee. 



Chairman Miller. I may say to the gentleman that I think this committee has 

 gone over these items from time to time since it has received this authority with 

 much greater care and skill than any other authorizing committee and there are only- 

 two in the Congress. We still have the matter of appropriating the money for these. 

 Now no one wants to cut you off or interfere with your right to investigate any of 

 these items, but I just point this out to you, that in this field particularly and in the 

 whole field in which we deal, it is almost highly impossible to predicate today 

 what you are going to spend 18 months or a year from now or to get definitive 

 information. * * * 



Mr. Hechler. Mr. Chairman, I have never seen as energetic or broad a committee 

 chairman as would come to take such an interest in what a subcommittee is doing. 

 We certainly appreciate it, Mr. Chairman. 



Chairman Miller. Whenever I say that I want the new members to know that 

 it is in no criticism. I want them to satisfy themselves because that is the only way we 

 can get the basis on which the committee operates. 



Mr. Hechler. Let me complete my thought. I appreciate serving with a sub- 

 committee here which is as energetic and thorough in its work, also. 



