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III. LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES 



The past two years have witnessed an increasing Congres- 

 sional interest in oceanographic matters. During the last 

 session of Congress extensive hearings vvere held by the Senate 

 Corpjnittee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, the Subcommittee 

 on Oceanography o£ the House Comiaittee on ilerchant Marine and 

 Fisheries, and the House Science and Astronautics Committee. 

 Hov-'ever, the only bill to receive enactment during the 86th 

 Congress was S. 2482 extending tne area of operation of the 

 Coast and Geodetic Survey from the limits of the continental 

 shelf to the deep and wide reaches of the oceans. A bill 

 S. 2692 covering the general expansion of oceanography, 

 sponsored by Senator ilagnuson and several other Senators, passed 

 the Senate unanimously but did not get to the House floor. 

 Several bills introduced by nep. Miller of California, and 

 others, provided a base for hearings but likewise did not 

 reach the floor. 



Du-ing the current session of the 87th Congress, Senator 

 Magnusoa has introduced a bill, S.901, rather similar to his 

 previous bill. Hearings on this bill were held March 16-18, 

 1961.* Rep. Miller has introduced two bills, H.R. 4276 and 

 H.R. 4340, covering more specific subjects. Hearings on 

 H.R, 4276 were held June 19-22, 1961 and on H.R. 4340 April 27, 

 1961. The House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee has 

 formally reported out H.R. 4340 and a revised version of 

 H.R. 4 276 will soon follov/. 



Oceanography, being split as it is auong several depart- 

 ments and agencies of the government, each with its own legiti- 

 mate and long standing interest in different phases of the 

 subject, does not fit in with the pattern of Congressional 

 Committees, especially on budgeting matters, as a result there 

 is an apparent (and natural but regrettable) lack of coordina- 

 tion between the two Houses of the Congress and their Coinmittees. 



In the Executive Branch, the Interagency Committee on 

 Oceanography of the Federal Council on Science and Technology 

 is operating quite satisfactorily. H.R. 4276 would establish 

 a national Oceanographic Council having similar coordinating 

 responsibilities to the ICO but with broader authority. IJe 

 have recommended that such a council be established with an 



Advisory Committee made up of leading non-governmental 



scientists selected from a slate of nominations prepared by 



the national Academy o f Sciences. 



■•■S.901 was passed by the Senate July 28, 1961, 



