ADVANCEMENT OF MARINE SCIENCES 95 



research and survey ships and laboratory facilities, to expedite ocean- 

 gi'aphic instrumentation, to assure systematic studies of effects of 

 radioactive materials in marine environments, to enhance the public 

 health and general welfare, and for other piuposes, has been assigned 

 to this Department by the Secretary of Defense for the preparation 

 of a report thereon expressing the views of the Department of Defense. 



The purpose of the proposed bill is as stated m the title. 



The Department of Defense subscribes to the objectives of this bUl 

 and indeed recognizes the salutary effect v\'hicli congressional inquiry 

 into the state of the marine sciences has in this area by its emphasis 

 on oceanography as a program requued in the national interest. The 

 Department, however, is opposed to the enactment of S. 901 for 

 reasons stated in the subsequent paragraphs. 



The bill proposes to establish a Division of Marine Sciences in the 

 National Science Foundation in which an interagency committee 

 would be formed to develop and encourage a continuing national 

 policy and program for the promotion of the marine sciences. There 

 is already in existence an Interagency Committee on Oceanography, 

 established in January 1960 by the Federal Councd for Science and 

 Technology m recognition of the fact that oceanography is., indeed, 

 an area which requires emphasis and support at the highest level. 

 The Interagency Committee on Oceanography has effectively pro- 

 vided the coordinatmg mechanism among Government agencies en- 

 gaged in oceanographic activities for the development of a meaning- 

 ful national program. Its mission is similar to that which the bill 

 proposes for the National Science Foundation division and hicludes, 

 additionally, the very vital function of coordinated budget plannmg 

 so as to recommend to the Council the level of funding required each 

 year to support the program. Basically, the Interagency Com- 

 mittee on Oceanography develops an annual program incorporating 

 its best judgment as to balance and emphasis in terms of both long- 

 range scientific needs, requirements of Government agencies, and 

 fiscal resources. 



The membership of the Committee comprises those Federal agencies 

 which have the major interests in Federal oceanographic programs. 

 Its working panels, organized to consider each of the areas high- 

 lighted in the bill, include members from all of the Federal agencies 

 engaged in the marme sciences. In addition, the scientific commu- 

 nity is represented both within the Committee and m its several 

 panels by the National Academy of Sciences. 



In his letter to the Presidmg Officers of the Senate and House on 

 March 29, the President of the United States recommended a $97 

 million fiscal year 1962 national oceanographic program. The Inter- 

 agency Committee on Oceanography served as the focus for the for- 

 mulation of this program. This program provides a substantial 

 growth over the $55 million level of effort in fiscal year 1961. 



Those aspects of S. 901 which relate to the specific delineation of 

 development items, shipbuilding tonnages, and money authorizations 

 emphasize areas which will see many modifications over the years. 

 Such specific delineation may, in fact, be restrictive to a progi'am 

 which fundamentally should be sufficiently flexible to accommodate 

 program reorientation resulting from changes in agency requirements 

 and technological advances as they occur and appear unwarranted. 



