OCKAN SCIENCES AND NATIONAL SECURITY 27 



to give seientists and educators throughout the Nation an opportunity to study 

 it during the congressional recess and to present their views. As a result the 

 committee has received many fine comments from many scientists. 



The Federal agencies to which the bill was sent also for comment, have not 

 been equally responsive, and some Government officials, it is reported to me, 

 have taken the view that no legislation is needed at all. 



In this connection I will refer to a letter from the Chief of Naval Operations, 

 written to me on June 16, 1959, in which he said in part, and I quote: 



"The interest of the Congress in this vital area is timely since legislative assist- 

 ance will be required if all the recommendations of the Harrison Brown committee 

 are to be implemented for a sustained 10-year effort." 



The resolution referred to previously, reflecting the importance 

 which the Senate attributed to the problem of oceanic research, 

 follows : 



86th Congress Q "DT?C! 1 QA 

 1st Session ^J- -Cvil/ia. ioD 



IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 



June 22, 1959 



Mr. Magnuson (for himself, Mr. Engle, and Mr. Jackson) submitted the fol- 

 lowing resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Interstate and 

 Foreign Commerce 



RESOLUTION 



Whereas expanded studies of the oceans and the ocean bottoms at all depths 

 are vital to defense against enemy submarines, to the operation of our own sub- 

 marines with maximum efficiency, to the rehabilitation of our commercial fisheries 

 and utilization of other present or potential ocean resources, to facilitating com- 

 merce and navigation, and to expand our scientific knowledge of the waters cov- 

 ering 71 per centum of the Earth's surface, life within these waters, and phenomena 

 which effects climate and weather; and 



Whereas several other nations, particularly the Union of Soviet Socialist Re- 

 publics, are presently conducting oceanic studies of unprecedented magnitude on 

 a worldwide basis, utilizing larger, more numerous, and more modern ships and 

 more scientific and supporting personnel than ever before; and 



Whereas a Committee on Oceanography, comprised of eminent scientists from 

 universities and nongovernmental institutions, appointed by the National 

 Academy of Sciences-National Research Council, has prepared a report outlining 

 objectives and recommending a comprehensive program of oceanographic research 

 to be carried out at nominal cost over a period of ten years; and 



Whereas the Office of Naval Research of the Department of the Navy, observing 

 that there has been no effort to improve the Nation's research fleet'in the past 

 fifteen years, and that there is need for more oceanographic scientists, laboratories, 

 specially designed ship and shore facilities, has prepared a report recommending 

 a ten-year, long-range program for oceanographic research which has been ap- 

 proved by the Chief of Naval Operations; and 



Whereas the Coast and Geodetic Survey of the Department of Commerce, 

 directed by statute to conduct hydrographic surveys, seismological investigations, 

 magnetic and gravimetric observ^ations, and other scientific operations, but 

 restricted generally to coastal waters and Hmited in its work in these waters by 

 obsolescence of its research ships, has drawn up plans to rehabiUtate its scientific 

 vessels and broaden the area in which it can operate, subject to departmental and 

 Bureau of the Budget approval; and 



Whereas the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries of the Fish and Wildlife Service 

 of the Department of the Interior, faced with a drastic diminution of a valuable 

 food supply and resource and an actual decline of ships and facilities for fisheries 

 exploration and research at a time when Soviet Russia, Communist China, 

 Japan, and many other nations are expanding fisheries research intensively, has 

 a plan, which still waits departmental and budget approval, to replace its present 

 small and overage vessels over a ten-year period: Now, therefore, be it 



Resolved, That the Senate — 



(1) commends the report of the Committee on Oceanography to the 

 President, the Bureau of the Budget, and to the heads of the five departments 

 and nine agencies which would participate in the ten-year program of ocea- 

 nographic research recommended by the Committee, for their study and 



