147 



Mr. Weldon. Thank you, Admiral Watkins. And let me thank 

 each of you for your outstanding testimony. And as we've heard 

 today, not only are we graced with the presence of the major fed- 

 eral agencies involved with ocean jurisdiction, but we also have 

 from Admiral Watkins those agencies who could not be at the table 

 because of the magnitude of the hearing, but who are committed 

 to this process that we're beginning. 



And let me say it is an historic time because, in a bipartisan 

 way, the three subcommittees that are here that share jurisdiction 

 on the issue of oceanography have each committed themselves to 

 work to try to support you legislatively with the kinds of rec- 

 ommendations that you will bring forth to allow us to better coordi- 

 nate our resources. 



Admiral Watkins, as I've discussed with you on several occasions, 

 that may well lead to a piece of legislation such as you've sug- 

 gested, that will not involve massive amounts of new money, per- 

 haps, but simply a better and easier way to coordinate those dol- 

 lars we're already spending and perhaps those resources we're al- 

 ready providing. 



But we will guarantee you one thing, and I will guarantee you 

 this personally from my own standpoint — the focus will be on the 

 oceans as we proceed through 1996 and beyond, and not just in the 

 security area, and Admiral Boorda knows he has our unequivocal 

 support, but also in the environmental area. 



In the meeting in St. Petersburg, meeting with the ambassador 

 for the environment for Canada, John Fraser, and Lord Stanley 

 Clinton Davis from the British Parliament, we discussed the issue 

 of the oceans and we could not understand how our respective 

 countries, if you're a supporter of defense, you're considered per- 

 haps to be against the environment. Or if you're for the environ- 

 ment, perhaps you're not for defense. 



Well, we're going to take a new approach. We're going to be for 

 both. 



We're going to be for those areas where we can cooperate, where 

 we can build new partnerships, build new ways of coordination and 

 understanding, and attempt to tear down some of the barriers that 

 have existed in each of the agencies and operations to better serve 

 the people of this country. 



Excellent testimony. I have a number of questions. I'm going to 

 defer to the chairman of the science subcommittee while I go over 

 and vote. 



We will continue the hearing during that vote so members can 

 go over. 



You're not going to stay? Okay. Then we're all going to go over 

 and vote together and we'll be back in five minutes. 



We'll recess the hearing. 



[Brief recess.] 



Mr. Weldon. The subcommittees will be reconvened. Would the 

 distinguished panelists take their chairs so that we can begin ques- 

 tioning? 



Our intent is to proceed right through the noon hour and to allow 

 members to ask questions so that our witnesses may get on with 

 theii* schedules, which we know are very busy. 



So we will just continue to proceed through the question session. 



