Mr. Gilchrist. I'd just say something very quick since Mr. Roe- 

 mer mentioned something about the space programs and how we 

 need to coordinate. 



I suppose if all of us, or some of us, were in a space shuttle going 

 out to space and we represented — one person represented the 

 science community, one person represented the government, one 

 person represented the private sector or whatever, that they prob- 

 ably wouldn't craw into each other's corner on the space shuttle. As 

 they traveled through this hostile environment, they would work 

 together to preserve the few resources they had so that they could 

 survive their trip back to earth. 



And I think, to a large extent, the planet earth is in that same 

 infinite, hostile environment. And so it's encumbent upon each of 

 us — the scientists, the military, the private sector, the elected offi- 

 cials, to take the responsibility to contribute as much time, energy 

 and expertise as they can muster to protect what in essence the 

 blood of life in the human body and the water on the planet are 

 the same thing. 



So I look forward to these hearings and I thank the gentleman 

 from Pennsylvania, who may not live in a coastal district, but his 

 district certainly impacts my district because water runs down- 

 hill 



[Laughter.] 



Mr. Gilchrist, (continuing) for calling on this hearing. 



Mr. Weldon. I thank my friend and colleague. 



Mr. Kennedy? 



Mr. Kennedy. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



As most of you know who have watched the news as of late, my 

 state is suffering from a terrible oil spill in Rhode Island. We know 

 first-hand about the importance of studying the ocean so that we 

 can better predict current flows, the impacts of environmental deg- 

 radation and pollution, how this manifests itself in the shell-fishing 

 industry, the tourism industry. 



It's just been an awful reminder in our state as to how precious 

 our natural resources are when something like this happens. 



I can tell you from our hearing on Monday, Mr. Chairman, where 

 you came up to Rhode Island and we had a hearing at the Naval 

 War College, much of the research that's going on currently within 

 the Department of the Navy to research our literal environment, 

 the coastal zone, can have great application in studying the envi- 

 ronmental aspects of the coastal zone. 



And what we're interested in our state is to take the great 

 knowledge base that comes fi*om having the Naval Undersea War- 

 fare Center in our state and the University of Rhode Island, which 

 is pre-eminent in the universities around the country in its study 

 of marine sciences, take the synergy that can come from the two 

 of those and put it to good use in protecting our coastal zone. 



It's already come in handy with this latest oil spill in helping to 

 predict where the oil flow is going and helping to boom off those 

 areas that are most sensitive. 



But I want to add, Mr. Chairman, that I appreciate the oppor- 

 tunity to hear the panelists today and I have som.e other comments 

 and questions later on that I look forward to asking. 



Mr. Weldon. Thank you, Mr. Kennedy. 



