68 



Caribbean $2,009,500 



New Jersey $1,739,000 



Alaska $1,000,000 

 Centers Total $13,868,500 



National Office $2,129,500 



Program Total $15,998,000 



In addition, the Appropriations Committee allowed for some earmarking and protected each 

 Center from receiving any less than 93% of its previous year's budget. This, coupled with an 

 additional NOAA internal tax, reduced the National Office budget by 27%. In addition to 

 administration, the National Office is responsible for diving safety studies (the only part of 

 NURP that is presently mandated by law), support of the deep-diving submersible ALVIN and 

 technology development. 



Mr. Chairman, the Centers and hundreds of scientists applaud the efforts of the House of 

 Representatives, and particularly this Committee and Subcommittee, to finally legitimize this 

 Nation's undersea program. Were it not for some misunderstanding in the Senate last Congress, 

 the "National Undersea Research Program Act of 1992" would now be law. We believe a new 

 bill introduced this year and passed by both Houses of Congress will go a long way to help 

 ensure the Program's inclusion in future budgets prepared by the Administration. This is 

 absolutely essential to assure stability in the Program's and each individual Center's research 

 projects. Of course, having an authorization number does not guarantee that the White House is 

 going to include the Program in the next budget, but it does send a message that undersea 

 research is here to stay. 



There is one major point that I would like to be recorded concerning the draft bill based on the 

 1992 Act. Subsections (e)(3) and (f) of Section 106 address the establishment of a new Center at 

 a different institution and the merger of Centers if believed to be necessary by the Secretary. 

 Although the intent of this particular language is admirable, it puts the Centers in jeopardy of 

 being merged or eliminated based on politics rather than sound scientific principles. It is too 

 easy for a biased review committee, for instance, to make recommendations to establish or 

 merge a Center that is in their favor, either geographically or prograiranatically. I would suggest 

 eliminating this language or providing very specific and solid guidelines in a new bill that would 

 give little reason for misinterpretation by the Undersecretary, Committee or the General 

 Counsel. With the Committee's permission I would like to develop and submit, in cooperation 

 with the other Center directors, additional language that would set guidelines for your 

 consideration. 



Mr. Chairman, I will close by complimenting both Houses of Congress for their foresight and 

 support of undersea research over the years. Without the support of Congress we would now be 

 conducting our work through a glass-bottom bucket. Thank you. 



