200 



MAJORITY WHIP 



ARMED SERVICES 



COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION 



I, SUBCOMMJTTIE ON SuftMCC TlUNSPOmAtlOfl 



BnitEd States Senate 



April 17, 1996 



245 East CAPfTot Sttcft 



Suite 226 



JackSun, MS 39201 



• 1 Government Plaza 



Suite 428 

 GuLfPOfcT, MS 39601 



200 E. Washington Street 



Suite 145 



Greenwogo, MS 38930 



Representative Curt Weldon 

 2452 Rayburn HOB 

 Washington, DC 20515 



Dear Curt : 



Thank you for your phone call yesterday regarding the 

 National Oceanographic Partnership Act. I look forward to 

 working with you to push this legislation through the Congress. 



Because Mississippi is home to a significant element of the 

 naval oceanographic mission, I follow the activities, funding 

 requirements and mission needs of the oceanographic community 

 very closely. I believe that understanding the oceans is 

 fundamental to our national security, as well as to our global 

 economic and environmental well-being. Your National 

 Oceanographic Partnership Act is vital to the success of naval 

 operations and helps focus national attention on ocean policy and 

 programs. I think you are on to something -- your efforts will 

 help ensure our world leadership in oceanography is maintained 

 well into the 21st century. 



I am working to include the national security portion of 

 your act in the Senate DOD Authorization bill. While there will 

 be some differences between your stand-alone bill and what I 

 include in the Senate DOD bill, I will help you in conference. 

 You might want to call Bob Smith on this issue as well. He is 

 the Subcommittee Chairman I have been working with on this 

 effort. 



I persoiirtlly Uhink this effort is right on the markl Thanks 

 again for initiating this bill and I will support it from this 

 side of the Capitol . 



Sincerely yours. 



