717 



31 



Deliverables 



The most significant deliverable from this activity will be the specific initiatives 

 identified in this report. The annual statement from the NOLC should outline the nature 

 of the ocean partnerships in the context of a national investment strategy in marine 

 science. Clearly, such a set of initiatives would be primarily responsive to the objectives 

 of the partners (including the commercial interests of the private sector, the educational 

 and research interests of academia, and the mission-oriented needs of the Federal 

 agencies). Consequently, the definition of products, as specified in the report from the 

 NOLC should be required to address the extent to which such nationally relevant 

 mission statements as the Oceanography Policy of the Chief of Naval Operations (1995), 

 and the NOAA Strategic Plan (1995) are being met. 



Specific activities are required to begin the process. The management plan defined in 

 general terms, above, requires the blessing and support of both the Executive Branch and 

 the US Congress. Involvement falls into two categories: facilitation and oversight. 

 Legislative oversight is best provided through the development of a coordinated group 

 of members of Congress with interest in the future of ocean research and education and a 

 recognition of the role such efforts can play in the protection of US interests in national 

 security, economic development, quality of life and education. Such an organization 

 represents the long-term support, supervision and course corrective body needed for 

 maintaining both strength and flexibility in these efforts. The resource exigencies require 

 immediate action in the form of legislation. Arguably the Congressional group alluded 

 to can play a strong role of leadership in the introduction and passage of such enabling 

 legislation. 



CONGRESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT 



This Interagency Partnership Initiative reconvmends the following two specific actions in 

 order to initiate the partnership activities broadly defined above. 



Establish a Congressional Ocean Task Force 



The financial support for research and development of oceanography is largely from 

 public sources, particularly the federal government. Unfortvmately, the message of the 

 worth of oceanography is hidden because of the support role it plays to the ocean-related 

 industries and nahonal defense. If the oceanographic commvmity expects to receive the 

 fuU measure of support for the wide range of investigation topics educational initiatives, 

 and related data bases it requires, convincing arguments must be articulated to decision 

 makers in Congress such that the importance of oceanography is more fully understood 

 and effectively competed in the national budget. 



In the 104th Congress, new committees were formed, particularly the Committee on 

 Resources and the Committee on Science as well as a re-casting of tlie House Armed 

 Service Committee into the National Securit}' Committee. Each of thiese committees has 

 some functional jurisdiction for oceanography. In addition, the oceajiography sector, as 

 previously stated, involves many state, academic, professional and other institutions of 

 interest to members. A forum of information flow is essential for these committees and 

 Members' personal staff. 



