183 



was the undisputed leader in terms of ocean research. Today, I 

 think you mentioned that you might even question that. 



My understanding is that Japan is currently spending significant 

 amounts of money. I think I've heard the figure of a billion dollars 

 being put forward by the Japanese in this area. 



Would any of you care to elaborate? And Dr. Ballard, certainly 

 you. 



Dr. Ballard. France, also. I asked Admiral Watkins that yester- 

 day, if we knew those numbers. 



It's my understanding that, on a gross national product, France 

 invests more in oceanographic work than any nation. 



Do you know if that's true or not? 



Mr. Weldon. Dr. Baker? 



Dr. Baker. There's no question that both France and Japan have 

 made national commitments to both oceanographic research and 

 ocean facilities. 



And as we look outwards from the U.S., I think Bob is exactly 

 right. These are countries that are devoting a substantial fraction 

 of their research to ocean activities. If we don't do something, 

 they're going to be the leaders. 



Mr. Weldon. Is there anyone else who would like to comment on 

 that? 



Yes, Mr. Corell. 



Mr, Corell. I'd just say a word or two about the Japanese. Their 

 investments are growing very rapidly. I've met with the leaders of 

 the Japanese ocean research community only two days ago and 

 they reported to me that their budgetary increases over the next 

 several years at JAMSTEC, which is a part of the science and tech- 

 nology agency, are going to grow at 20 to 25 percent per year. 



They are proposing to the world community to take major steps 

 in support by building a drill ship for ocean drilling. There are 

 many other capital investments that the Japanese are planning or 

 are already making in the ocean. 



One of the leaders there said, you, the United States, have be- 

 come the world leaders in space. It is our intention to be world 

 leaders in the ocean. 



Mr. Weldon. Interesting. And certainly, that's a challenge for us 

 to deal with. 



One other question. And Bruce Alberts, in your testimony. Dr. 

 Alberts, you talk about peer review approach to selecting and fund- 

 ing research projects and that being a foundation of our leadership 

 in science and technology. 



The answer to this is obvious, but a good portion of our current 

 ocean research budget is earmarked by the Congress by individual 

 members. 



I guess the question I would open up for you is should that 

 change? Should earmarking programs be replaced with competitive 

 peer review? 



That's a tough question for you to answer. 



Dr. Alberts. Well, the last day of November, we released an im- 

 portant report called "Allocating Federal Resources for Science and 

 Technology." That was at the request of this Congress. 



I urge you to look at that. It's only 40 pages, 13 recommenda- 

 tions. One of the major ones is that if we want the best value for 



