46 ADVANCEMENT OF JVIARINE SCIENCES 



of research, surveys and education in the marine sciences; recommend 

 contracts, grants, loans, or other forms of assistance to facihtate 

 these programs, cooperate with and encourage the cooperation of 

 scientists and educators, the National Academy of Sciences — Na- 

 tional Research Council, and the appropriate government agencies; 

 foster interchange of information, and evaluate the scientific aspects of 

 marine research, surveys and related programs undertaken by the 

 Federal Government, or those receiving assistance from the Federal 

 Government in the program authorized by the act. 



The declaration of policy substantially follows Senate Resolution 

 136, unanimously approved by the U.S. Senate during the first session 

 of the 8Gth Congress, with the exception of the references to the 

 National Science Foundation aiid the formation of a Division of 

 Marine Sciences within that agency. 



Provisions relating to the National Science Foundation and creation 

 of a Division of Marine Sciences, however, were included in S. 2692, 

 86th Congress, a bill very similar to S. 901 and having identical objec- 

 tives, which was approved by your committee during the second 

 Session of the 86th Congress and passed bv the Senate on June 23, 

 1960. 



The National Science Foundation v.^as established by act of Con- 

 gress in 1950 to promote the progress of science, advance the national 

 health, prosperity and welfare and, among other purposes secure, 

 the national defense. 



Among its duties and responsibilities as set forth in the National 

 Science Foundation Act are those of — 



(a) Developing and encouraging the pursuit of a national 

 policy for the promotion of basic research and education in the 

 sciences. 



(6) Initiating and supporting basic scientific research by 

 making contracts or other arrangements for such research. 



(c) Awarding scholarships and fellowships in sciences. 



(d) Evaluating scientific research programs undertaken by 

 agencies of the Federal Government. 



(e) Correlating research programs of the Foundation with those 

 undertaken by individuals and by public and private research 

 groups. 



(/) Providing a central clearinghouse for information involving 

 all scientific and technical personnel in the United States and its 

 territories and possessions. 



(g) Initiating and supporting, at the request of the Secretary 



of Defense, specific scientific research activities in connection 



with matters relating to the national defense by making contracts 



or other arrangements for tlie conduct of such scientific research. 



(h) Initiating and supporting a program of study, research, 



and evaluation in the field of weather modification. 



The National Science Foundation is required to report regularly 



to the Congress and the President. 



Duties of the agency relate exclusively to science and education in 

 the sciences. 



The Foundation has far-reaching responsibilities in initiating, 

 forwarding, and evaluating scientific programs. 



Till' organic act provided for certain divisions and divisional com- 

 mittees within tl)e Foundation and for the establisliment of new 

 divisions and divisional committees. 



