709 



23 



Unique Huidles 



The value of partnerships is defined in terms of the guiding principles outlined above. 

 Additionally, the partnerships proposed by the CORE Interagency Partnership Initiative 

 serve as particularly efficient mechanisms for overcoming hurdles, some of which are 

 unique to the oceanographic commvmity. Some of these singular hurdles are: 



Funding mechanisms - Ocean science is primarily supported through grants 

 and contracts from government agencies. The lack of a long term foundation 

 of support (e.g. 'hard money' for faculty positions at research universities) 

 dictates that there be mechanisms (including leveraging the infrastructure 

 investments in oceanographic research and development in the military and 

 industrial sectors) to maintain the long term continuity of the community. 



Funding trends - As shov^Ti in Figure 1 the US Federal funding for basic 

 research in ocean sciences effectively has been halved (by virtue of remaining 

 flat) for nearly two decades, while the total Federal support of basic research 

 has nearly doubled. Given the broaderung mission of ocean sciences (Table 1) 

 we are increasingly out of balance. The dollars are shrinking while the 

 research requirements grow. 



Multiple Committee Jurisdiction in Congress - Priniary funding for the conduct 

 of basic research in the ocean sciences emanates from the Congress of the 

 Uruted States. Nine Federal agencies seek funding from Congress for ocean 

 science and technology associated with their missions (Table 1). But, to 

 address fvmding needs of each of these rune agencies, over forty committees 

 and subcommittees of the House and Senate are involved in carrying out 

 their relevant authorization and appropriation responsibilities. As a result, 

 unless there is some clear integrating or cross-cutting process for Capitol Hill 

 when dealing with the broad national policy and programmatic issues 

 surrounding ocean science and technology, any mearungful partnership 

 arrangement limited solely to other stakeholders would lack substance. 

 Better horizontal integration of broad ocean science and technology policy 

 and programs across the many Federal agencies, is necessary if we are to 

 maintain our lead in this critically important area and at minimum cost. This 

 is particularly true during the post cold war reappraisal of national priorities 

 imder more constrained budgets. This hurdle to our efforts in ocean science 

 and technology needs addressal by the legislative and executive branches in 

 cooperation. 



