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I think you have made the case very well today. Inside the belt- 

 way, you not only need to present the logic, but also you need to 

 stimulate interest and get the attention and the imagination of the 

 American people and this institution. You must help us accomplish 

 that, and there are a number of ways that you can do that. I would 

 say to you that you are not going to have a more cooperative bipar- 

 tisan effort than you have in this session of this Congress. 



The way we can accomplish this is by getting members out to see 

 some of the specific projects that you are working on. We will be 

 happy to host that — perhaps to see the Jason project, which I hap- 

 pened to see a special on, on national television several weeks ago. 

 As a former educator, I was very impressed with what I saw. It is 

 important to get out and see some of the programs underway and 

 see, feel, touch and bring the media along with us in an effort to 

 heighten awareness. Also, we could conduct workshops for staff 

 members on this subcommittee, the full committee, and perhaps in 

 Congress — to to learn more about what is going on and what needs 

 to be done. Also, you could help us write ibid pieces to focus the 

 attention on what the leadership of Congress is doing.This would 

 encourage the media across the country to get involved because, as 

 you know, even though we are all pushing for funding on impor- 

 tant issues, there is a tight squeeze of dollars now. However, we 

 always manage to find a way to fund those things that capture the 

 attention and the imagination of the American people. 



And I agree with the witness today. While we continue to put the 

 amount of money that we are putting into NASA,it does not indi- 

 cate that the initiatives you have put forth today, and have been 

 working on for the last two decades, are no less important than 

 NASA initiatives. In fact, the same people who get on the floor and 

 talk about more government funding for NASA are the same ones 

 who criticize the government for funding submergence research. I 

 think we have got to help you turn that around. I would say to you 

 starting out, use us. I think we can be there for you over the next 

 two years — as a voice and a tool for you to carry that message for- 

 ward and to be the champions of your cause, if you will. 



You have done the research. You are the experts. Your knowl- 

 edge in your testimony was right on the mark. Now you must 

 allow this subcommittee and its members to take your message to 

 the other members of Congress to ensure that the importance of 

 undersea research is realized. I think that this is doable; not only 

 through an authorization bill, but also through an awareness proc- 

 ess that has got to occur along with legislation. Education is clearly 

 needed. Clearly, NASA and the space program have done that very 

 successfully, and in turn, have grabbed the attention of the Con- 

 gress. 



In regard to the issues being discussed today — both Dr. Fox and 

 Dr. Earle discussed the need for a national strategy. Dr. Fox, in 

 your testimony, you discussed the need for a deep submergence 

 strategy and implementation plan. Who should be the lead agency? 

 Should it be NOAA? Should it be a consortium? Should we as the 

 members of this committee get the full Merchant Marine Commit- 

 tee to encourage a panel to come together and prepare a national 

 plan? Could this serve as a rallying point for where undersea re- 

 search is going and what amount of money we should request to 



