OCEANOGRAPHY 65 



However, a coordinating body already exists in the Federal Council for Science 

 and Technology, and its recently established subcommittee is known as the 

 "Interagency Committee on Oceanography." 



The Federal Council for Science and Technology was established on March 

 13, 1959, by Executive Order 10807. The Council is composed of policy making 

 officials of the various departments and agencies of the Federal Government 

 having responsibilities in the field of science and technology. 



The Council's principal function is to consider problems and developments in 

 the fields of science and technology and related activities affecting more than 

 one Federal agency or concerning the overall advancement of the Nation's science 

 and technology, and to recommend policies and other measures (1) to provide 

 more effective planning and administration of Federal scientific and technological 

 programs. (2) to identify research needs including areas of research requiring 

 additional emphasis, (3) to achieve more effective utilization of the scientific and 

 technological resources and facilities of Federal agencies, including the elimi- 

 nation of unnecessary duplication, and (4) to further international cooperation 

 in science and technology. 



In keeping with this function, the Federal Council established on March 3, 

 1960, as a permanent subcommittee, the Interagency Committee on Oceanography. 

 This Committee is composed of representatives of Federal agencies having a vital 

 interest in the field of oceanography. The composition and general purpose of 

 this subcommittee is, for all practical purposes, identical to that suggested in 

 H.R. 10412. 



It is the Department's view that the establishment of a coordinating body, as 

 proposed in H.R. 10412, would be a duplication of an already existing and func- 

 tioning committee and is not required, therefore, in the coordination of policies 

 and programs in the important field of oceanographic science. 



For the above reasons, the Department recommends against enactment of H.R. 

 10412. 



We have been advised by the Bureau of the Budget that there would be no 

 objection to the submission of this report to your committee. 

 Sincerely yours, 



Phiup a. Rat, 

 Undersecretary of Commerce. 



Admii'al Pierce. "We are in full accord Tvith the purposes sought to 

 be served by these legislative proposals. Oceauoofraphy requires the 

 skill and kno^vledge of scientists trained in a variety of specialized 

 disciplines. Our work in this field calls for the cordinated utilization 

 of the organization and facilities of a number of Govennnent agencies. 

 In view of these needs, the Federal Council for Science and Tech- 

 nology^, early this year, set up an Interagency Committee on Oceanog- 

 raphy. Dr. Wakelin of the Navy Department is chairman and 

 Admiral Karo represents the Department of Commerce on this Com- 

 mittee. Either Admiral Karo or I have attended each of the meet- 

 ings held by the Committee to date. 



It is our purpose, and i\\Q purpose of the other members of the 

 Committee, to see to it that a well -coordinated program of research and 

 systematic survey in oceanography to meet our national needs is 

 carried out. This Committee operates at the highest levels among 

 the agencies having an interest in the development of knowledge about 

 the oceans and facilities for carrying out the work needed to be done 

 to achieve this purpose. In the Interagency Committee on Oceanog- 

 raphy we have a suitable apparatus for assuring the best utilization 

 of Government facilities for research in oceanography and avoiding 

 unneeded duplication of effort among the various Government agen- 

 cies. This Committee has made some considerable progress along 

 these lines and we expect that, as it continues to function, our oceano- 

 graphic activities will be better directed toward achieving an expanded 

 and balanced program of research and operations. 



