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fund research? I would like to open this first question to all of you 

 for discussion. Who should be doing a plan, and how should it be 

 convened? Should it be NOAA, or should it be an academic consor- 

 tium, or the research world coming together with government, and 

 what role should the policymakers play in that process? 



Dr. Fox. I think it should cast a wider net than NOAA, although 

 NOAA and the other Federal agencies that have a presence in this 

 research should all be involved. From my own perspective, and it 

 may just reflect my roots, I think the National Academy of Sci- 

 ences historically has often played a role serving as a medium in 

 which studies like this could take place. They serve, I believe, at 

 the invitation of Congress and the Senate, and so maybe requests 

 from you to them to sponsor such an analysis would be the appro- 

 priate way to go. And that, of course, should involve Federal agen- 

 cies, members of academia, industry representation, and policy 

 people as well, I believe, because ultimately it is an integrated solu- 

 tion. That is my perspective. 



Mr. Weldon. Dr. Fox, I am interested in your response. Perhaps, 

 Mr. Chairman, this subcommittee could, along with the support of 

 the full committee, request the individuals here and the research 

 community to help us identify and to come together to begin to lay 

 the groundwork for development of such a comprehensive strategy 

 that would allow us to better do job in terms of networking with 

 our colleagues. Perhaps this is something we could work on in this 

 session of Congress. By working with you and the individuals here 

 today, we could begin to identify who the players are. I assume ev- 

 eryone at this table would be a part of that process. Would anyone 

 else care to comment on that? 



Dr. Earle. I would just like to make the observation about how 

 effective the recommendations of the Stratton Commission were 

 back in the '60's, and that was a cross-cutting group with a lot of 

 influence. It was organized at a high level. Perhaps a Stratton 

 Commission for the '90's could emerge and be really listened to, not 

 just — I mean, there are a lot of committees that have met and 

 made recommendations, but they have not been organized at the 

 level where what they say has an appropriate audience so it has 

 not been as effective as what you are proposing here. 



Mr. Weldon. I agree with that. I suggest that we develop a work 

 group to discuss the beginnings of a comprehensive plan; and along 

 with the support of the Chairman, who has the ear of the Adminis- 

 tration, we could take that plan to the White House and elicit their 

 support in making this a national priority. This would give it the 

 visibility that you all have so eloquently stated is necessary here 

 today. I think that is doable, Mr. Chairman. However, it is only 

 doable if you all are willing to work with us in that regard. 



Dr. Fox. I think you would find no shortage of enthusiasm from 

 those of us here today and a host of colleagues that stand behind 

 us. 



Mr. Weldon. Mr. Chairman, I have another line of questioning I 

 would like to discuss briefly. I have a thousand things I could ask. 

 One particular area that struck me, Dr. Earle, in your testimony, 

 was your discussion about the millions of dollars, probably tens and 

 hundreds of millions of dollars that we have spent through the 

 military for underwater technology. 



