LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL 



House of Represextatives, 

 Committee ox Sciexce axd Astroxautics, 



Washington, D.C., June 10, 1060. 

 Hon. OvERTox Brooks, 

 Chairman, Committee on Science and Astronautics. 



Dear ]Mr. Chairmax: I am forwarding herewith for committee 

 consideration a report, "Ocean Sciences and Xational Security," 

 prepared by Dr. Edward Wenk, Jr., Senior SpeciaHst in Science and 

 Technology, Legislative Reference Service, Library of Congress. 



On April 28 and 29, 1960, this committee held hearings the record 

 of which has been issued under the title, "P'rontiers in Oceanic 

 Research." This was in connection with H.R. 6298, a bill pending 

 before the committee. Dr. Wenk worked in collaboration with Dr. 

 Charles S. Sheldon II, Technical Director, developing the plan for the 

 hearings. In view of Dr. Wenk's background in design of deep-diving 

 submarines and general Ivnowledge of the naval sciences, he was 

 requested to develop a study which would both reflect the findings 

 of the two days of hearings, together with material submitted for the 

 record, and provide a broader view which would give the committee 

 a better perspective of the scientific research needs in this area. As 

 a committee charged with responsibility across the board for consider- 

 ing the research and development programs in all fields of science, a 

 study such as this can be of real help in judging the alternative dis- 

 tributions of the available research funds among all fields of science. 



Dr. Wenk and the committee appreciate the cooperation of respon- 

 sible scientists in Government, the National Academy of Sciences, 

 and in private universities for their review and suggestions given the 

 m.anuscript and galleys before final printing. Although most of their 

 suggestions have been taken into account, they cannot be held ac- 

 countable for the details of the report. The report has also been 

 reviewed by Dr. Sheldon. The committee expresses its thanks to the 

 Legislative Reference Service for the thorough job whicli has been 

 performed. 



The main body of the report, Sections I-XIII inclusive, is what is 

 refeiTed to above. Committee staff has appended Section XIV, Com- 

 mittee Conclusions and Reconnnendations, for possible adoption hj 

 the committee. 



Charles F. Ducaxder, 

 Executive Director and Chief Counsel. 



