Survey from joining us here at this table. I took the liberty of consulting with 

 the leaders of these agencies about today's hearing and asked them provide me 

 statements of their agency's role in ocean science and technology to be presented 

 before the committee. I have attached each of these statements to my testimony. 



We have also heard today that changes in the way we utilize and value our 

 oceans and coastal areas are now driving the potential for many new applications 

 of ocean science and technology and placing many new demands on the Nation's 

 investment in these areas. Changes in world geopolitical structure, movement 

 of population within our own borders to the coasts, and the increasing reliance 

 on the seas for food and other material goods are leading to new economic 

 sectors, the need for new technological capabilities and educational 

 methodologies and increasing concern about the impact of man's activities on 

 the marine environment. 



These changes have taken place during an era of level funding of the basic 

 oceanographic research. As shown in the attached graph, Federal funding for 

 basic ocean research has remained constant for the past 12 years ($525 million in 

 constant FY1995 dollars), even as the total investment in basic research in the US 

 has doubled. As a result, ocean sciences now represent less than 4% of the total 

 Federal basic research budget, down from 7% in FY 1982. 



But where do we go from here? The 7% investment of ten years ago gave us 

 outstanding products. The decline of this level by one-half is simply not 

 adequate to support the needed high quality scientific research "waiting in the 

 wings" especially in light of the ever broadening scope of applications for ocean 

 research. Clearly a stronger investment is needed for the broader set of 

 challenges before us in the next millennium. 



As Dr. Alberts has teshfied, in 1992 the Ocean Studies Board of the National 

 Research Council (NRC), recognizing the need to revisit the status, roles and 

 plans of the oceanographic community, convened several meetings and 

 prepared their assessment. Their report, entitled "Oceanogrzphy in the Next 

 Decade: Building Nev/ Partnerships," has been a watershed event in the direction 

 of this community. The objectives of the study were to "document and discuss 

 important trends in the human, physical and fiscal resources available to 

 oceanographers, ... to present the best assessment of scientific opportunities 

 during the coming decade, . . . and to provide a blueprint for more productive 

 partnerships" (NRC, 1992). 



The report of the National Research Coioncil was particularly timely in that it 

 dealt with the redefinition of the oceanographic commimity in the context of 

 society's changing needs. In opening remarks launching the National Research 

 Council's report its Chairman, Dr. Frank Press, cited the marked changes taking 



