15 



fense cutback. It is something we are still working on with our 

 naval counterparts. 



I don't know if you want to add something. 



Mr. Weldon. Before you do that — and I will let you respond— 

 one of the things I would add is that several of us serve on both the 

 Armed Services Committee and the full Committee and this Sub- 

 committee, and we would like you to keep us appraised as to your 

 interactions with the Navy, what is happening there; and then \ye 

 can take appropriate action not just as leaders on this Subcommit- 

 tee and Committee but also in the Armed Services Cornmittee to 

 try to address the concerns that you have from the civilian side. 

 We do not want to see the Navy do something precipitously that 

 will adversely affect what you are attempting to accomplish. And 

 we know you will not have the funding to take over the operation 

 of the lUSS. 

 Ms. JosEPHSON. Right. 



Dr. OsTENSO. Yes, Mr. Weldon, I can elaborate on that just a 

 little bit. 



We are working closely with the Navy at all levels. At the high- 

 est level. Secretary Brown has sent a letter to the Secretary of De- 

 fense asking before he precipitously closes the lUSS or over-the-ho- 

 rizon radars, that we sit down and talk and look at their broad use 

 for civilian applications; and he has responded he is going to do 

 that. 



You are, I am sure, quite aware of the strategic environmental 

 R&D program, and as we speak, three proposals that have been 

 prepared jointly by NOAA and the Navy are going forward to that 



source of funding because it clearly fits the spirit of the 



Mr. Green. Doctor, could you state your name for the record? 

 Dr. OsTENSO. I am sorry, my name is Ned Ostenso. I am the As- 

 sistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. 



So we have a very ongoing dialog at all levels of the Navy, and 

 we are getting a very positive response from the Navy. 

 Mr. Weldon. Just keep us informed. 

 Mr. Ostenso. We will. 

 Mr. Green. Thank you, Mr. Weldon. 



There is a proposal in the National Performance Review legisla- 

 tion to establish innovation funds to improve efficiency. Can you 

 enlighten the Subcommittee as to how and what that involves? 



Ms. JosEPHSON. No, I cannot. I am sorry. I can go back and 

 submit something for the record, but we have not been involved in 

 that at this point. 



Mr. Green. I also notice, and you testified last week, and also in 

 the National Performance Review it mentions, NOAA will experi- 

 ment with private competition to fulfill your mission. I know we 

 had a hearing last week, but just so the record will reflect your in- 

 tention, if you would just briefly state your discussion last week at 

 the hearing when we had a number of panelists. 



Ms. JosEPHSON. Prior to the National Performance Review, we 

 had made a request in the 1994 budget for $2 million for the Na- 

 tional Ocean Service to do a vessel charter experiment, to give us 

 experience with chartering, and that is under way in fiscal year 

 1994. 



