92 ADVANCEMENT OF MARESTE SCIENCES 



The Bureau of the Budget advises that, from the standpoint of the 

 administration's program, there is no objection to the presentation 

 of this report for the consideration of tlie committee. 

 Sincerely yours, 



Brooks Hays, 

 Assistant Secretary 

 (For the Secretary of State). 



The Secretary of the Treasury, 



Washington, April I4, 1961. 

 Hon. Warren G. Magnuson, 



Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, 

 U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 



My Dear Mr. Chairman: Reference is made to your request for 

 the views of this Department on S. 901, to estabhsh a program of 

 oceanographic research. 



The Coast Guard presently has limited authority in the field of 

 oceanography, such as providing meteorological services from floating 

 ocean stations and studving ice and current conditions in the North 

 Atlantic Ocean (14 U.S.C. 90; 46 U.S.C. 738a(a)). Under its limited 

 authority, the Coast Guard has been conducting oceanographic work 

 on its eastern seaboard lightships and has been taking soundings and 

 bathythermograph readings. 



The President, in his letter to the President of the Senate dated 

 March 29, 1961, relating to a national oceanographic program, recom- 

 mended that statutory Imiitations restricting participation by the 

 Coast Guard in oceanographic research be removed. The Coast 

 Guard, with its fleet of vessels and other units, is particularly well 

 adapted to assist in this scientific endeavor. General statutory sanc- 

 tion to conduct and engage in oceanographic programs would make 

 possible a greater contribution by the Coast Guard in that activity. 



There is also pending before your committee S. 1189, which is de- 

 signed to give the Coast Guard such general authority to conduct 

 oceanographic research. The Department has submitted a report on 

 that bill which recommended its enactment with certain amendments. 

 Favorable consideration of that proposal would provide the Coast 

 Guard adequate authority in the oceanographic field, and the enact- 

 ment of S. 901 is considered unnecessary. 



The Bureau of the Budget has advised that there is no objection to 

 the submission of this report from the standpoint of the administra- 

 tion's program. 



Very truly yours, 



A. Gilmore Flues, 

 Acting Secretary of the Treasury. 



