Appendix 



The Commission on Marine Science, En- 

 gineering and Resources was established 

 under provisions of Public Law 89^54, 

 enacted June 17, 1966, to "make a compre- 

 hensive investigation and study of all aspects 

 of marine science in order to recommend an 

 overall plan for an adequate national oceano- 

 graphic program that will meet the present 

 and future national needs." Under the Act, 

 the President appointed 15 members to the 

 Commission, including individuals from 

 Federal and State go\-ernments, industrj-, 

 universities, and laboratories engaged in 

 marine scientific or technological pursuits. 

 In addition, the President appointed four 

 advisoi-y members from among the members 

 of the Senate and the House of Representa- 

 tives. The Act provided that these Congres- 

 sional members not participate, except in an 

 advisory capacity, in the formulation of the 

 Commission's findings and recommenda- 

 tions. 



President Johnson announced appoint- 

 ment of members to the Commission on Jan. 

 9, 1967. In addressing the first meeting in 

 February, the Vice President urged the Com- 

 mission to think broadly, to be innovative, 

 and not to be constrained because of fixed 

 attitudes inside or outside government, on 

 what needs to be done. As Chairman of the 

 National Council on Marine Resources and 

 Engineering De^'elopment, the Vice Presi- 

 dent pledged tiie Council's cooperation in the 

 work of the Commission. 



Events Leading to the Commission's 

 Formation 



Appointment of the Coimnission cul- 

 minated a decade of growing interest in the 

 sea and concern that the Nation was not 

 making the most of its marine opportunities. 



The Nation's interest in the sea was re- 

 kindled 10 years ago with the publication by 

 the National Academy of Sciences Commit- 

 tee on Oceanography of the summary volume 

 of its historic 12-volume report, Ocecmog- 

 rapliy. 1960-1970. In this report, a group of 

 eminent scientists described the status of the 

 Nation's marine activities and set forth spe- 

 cific recommendations for the decade in areas 

 of science, technology, education and man- 

 power, supporting services, logistics, re- 

 sources, and international cooperation. A 

 U.S. Navy report. Ten Years m Oceanogra- 

 phy, published in 1959, called attention to the 

 crucial role of the seas in national security 

 and proposed an expanded program for the 

 decade ahead. 



The new wave of interest brought extended 

 Congressional hearings and a resurgence of 

 activity in both public and private circles. 

 Within Government, the Federal Council 

 for Science and Technology fonned the In- 

 teragency Committee on Oceanography. 

 Shortly after coming to office in 1961, Presi- 

 dent Kennedy sent a message to the Congress 

 to propose an expanded effort in ocean sci- 

 ences and request additional funds; the Con- 

 gress responded favorably. 



Despite competition for public attention 

 from the burgeoning space program, medical 

 research, aaid other areas of science and tech- 

 nology, interest in the oceans continued to 

 grow during the 1960's. In 1965, the Presi- 

 dent's Science Advisory Committee formed a 

 Panel on Oceanography to draft goals for a 

 national program, assess current and planned 

 activities, and recommend measures to effect 

 a program consonant with national needs. 

 In June 1966, the Panel issued an important 

 report, [effective Use of the Sea. which in- 

 cluded among other reconnnendations a pro- 

 posal for reorganization of the Executive 



