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Dr. Press. Mr. Weldon, I'm very sympathetic to most of what you 

 said. My PhD thesis was in oceanography. I spent a year on the 

 research vessel Atlantis. I'm a member of the board of the Woods 

 Hole Oceanographic Institution and the Monterey Bay Research In- 

 stitute. 



Oceanography is a very important field. In my book, though our 

 committee didn't do this when we were listing those fields which 

 the country should be pre-eminent in, it would be high on my list. 



It's a very important field for so many different reasons — fish- 

 eries, security, environment, climatic change. It's a key field. 



But in our report, we didn't single out fields by name. We ad- 

 dressed the R&D questions facing the nation, the allocation of re- 

 sources, in a generic sort of way. And we outlined criteria by which 

 certain fields might be identified because of their unusual opportu- 

 nities and the possibility for immense contributions. 



I think oceanography would come in in that fashion, rather than 

 being called out in our report. 



Mr. Mahoney. Oceanography certainly got a big play on this 

 Committee. Marcia McNutt from MIT, who is a leading oceanog- 

 rapher, regaled us with stories about her needs and requirements 

 and priorities literally day after day. 



So whether they got in there by name, they certainly got in there 

 by intent. 



Mr. Weldon. Just one final follow-up. We're looking at the possi- 

 bility of drafting significant legislation this year dealing with the 

 oceans and a renewed ocean focus. 



Given the current budget environment, we don't anticipate large 

 amounts of new money being made available, but we certainly can 

 look at a better utilization of resources. 



My latest understanding was we have something like 10 or 12 

 different agencies, each of which are doing some part of oceano- 

 graphic work, most of which is not coordinated. 



So, if anything, this legislation will look at how can we coordi- 

 nate the Federal Government's response to the issue of promoting 

 the oceans, understanding the oceans and the potential both envi- 

 ronmentally and economically, and how this government can be 

 more responsive to the oceans. 



In my own estimation, the commitment we've made to oceano- 

 graphic efforts is ridiculous compared to what we've spent in terms 

 of outer space. 



So any advice or guidance you've have along that way, as we 

 begin to craft the legislation as a result of these hearings we've 

 been holding, I certainly would appreciate. 



And I thank you. 



Chairman Walker. The time of the gentleman has expired. 



Ms. McCarthy? 



Ms. McCarthy. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Mahoney, it certainly is a delight to see you here today, to 

 greet you, to commend you and all of the participants for an out- 

 standing report. 



While I share some of the concerns, raised by Mr. Brown, I think 

 this is a wonderful document to guide us here in the Congress. I 

 am proud of you for, in your retirement, continuing to do what you 



