XII, Legislation Pending Before the 86th Congress 



The Congress has had a continuing interest in affairs concerning the 

 sea, in the main pursued by following normal activities of executive 

 agencies having juiisdiction over various sectors of oceanic research. 

 The same may be said to be true insofar as congi-essional responsibili- 

 ties are concerned for the appropriation of funds and overseeing their 

 expenditure. 



Soon after release of the National Academ}^ of Sciences report in 

 February 1959, however, deficiencies which were attributed to the 

 current level of effort, and proposals for remedy came to the attention 

 of the Congress. With relationships drauTi of oceanic research to 

 the national security, the implications for Federal spending and for 

 interagency coordination or jurisdiction, the Congress recognized 

 that the problem demanded its early and intensive study. 



Almost immediately, the House of Representatives, through the 

 Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, established a new Sub- 

 committee on Oceanography under chau^manship of Representative 

 George P. Miller. Other standing committees in the House, in par- 

 ticular that on Science and Astronautics, and in the Senate, particu- 

 larly that of Interstate and Foreign Commerce, also began delibera- 

 tions. 



The Subcommittee on Oceanography began an extensive set of 

 hearings on March 3, 1959, and lasting tlu'ough June 2, 1959, to 

 develop background information in more detail on the basis of which 

 the most prudent course of action could be recommended. 



In April 1959, Representative Overton Brooks introduced H.R. 

 6298, the first of a number of bills which in timing and content may 

 be regarded as having been stimulated by the Nx'VSCO report. This 

 bill would amend the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 so as to 

 foster teaching facilities and graduate study in the field of oceanogra- 

 phy as a direct means of relieving the shortage of manpower pin- 

 pointed by NASCO as the most serious limiting factor in any pro- 

 gram expansion. 



In June of 1959, Senator Warren G. Magnuson introduced Senate 

 Resolution 136, presented earlier, that sets forth in strong and forceful 

 language the interpretation which the Senate placed on the impor- 

 tance of oceanography to national security and the intent of the 

 Congress that prompt and planned solutions be made a matter of 

 national policy. The resolution passed unanimously. 



Then, in September, Senator J\lagnuson, speaking for himself and 

 13 other Senators, introduced S. 2692 which may be regarded as an 

 omnibus bill "designed to implement the major recommendations of 

 the Committee on Oceanography calling for a comprehensive 10-year 

 program of oceanographic research and surveys." ^^^ It was referred 

 to the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. Hearings 

 were convened April 20-22, 1960. 



">* Opening statement by Senator Magnuson on hearings of S. 2692, on April 20, 1960. 

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