"We must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it — 

 but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor." 



OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES 



Chapter XV 



NATIONAL POLICY PLANNING AND 

 COORDINATION 



From the foregoing discussion it should be clear that marine science affairs 

 embrace a wide range and diversity of public purposes, institutions, special- 

 ized bodies of knowledge, and Federal activities that are parts of the missions 

 of 11 departments and agencies. A need was recognized within the Congress 

 as early as 1960 to turn this fragmented, frequently unsteady, and loosely 

 knit collection of programs into a broadly based, coordinated, and con- 

 tinuing national effort. Some members of Congress also believed there was 

 an absence of a sense of urgency and of a sustaining focus for national 

 leadership. 



Enactment on June 17, 1966, of the Marine Resources and Engineering 

 Development Act (P.L. 89-454) thus became a turning point in Federal 

 administration of marine science affairs. More than 30 legislative proposals 

 since the 86th Congress were combined to provide: 

 — a clear statement of national purpose ; 

 — a new emphasis on Presidential leadership ; 



— an interim cabinet-level Council to assist the President m policy 

 planning and coordination with a full-time professional staff inde- 

 pendent of agency ties; and 

 — a public advisory Commission to identify the Nation's stake in the 

 oceans and to recommend the next steps for the national program. 

 P.L. 89-454 also gave the President responsibility for implementing the 

 legislation by: 



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