170 OCEANOGRAPHY 1961 — PHASE 3 



Mr. Bauer. At this time, Mr. Chairman, I would like to introduce 

 into the record the remarks of the Bureau of the Budget on H.R. 

 4276. 



Mr. Miller. Without objection. 



(The information referred to follows :) 



Executive Office of the President, 



Bureau of the Budget, 

 Washington, B.C., May 9, 1961. 

 Hon. Herbert C. Bonner, 



Chairman, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, 

 Souse of Representatives, Washington, B.C. 



My Dear Mr. Chairman : This is in reply to your letter of February 15, 

 1961, requesting the comments of this office with respect to H.R. 4276, a bill to 

 expand and develop the aquatic resources of the United States including the 

 oceans, estuaries, and rivers, the Great Lakes and other inland waters, to 

 enhance the general welfare, and for other purposes. 



This bill would establish a National Oceanographic Council to develop and 

 coordinate a long-range program in oceanography. Among its responsibilities 

 the Council would establish a National Oceanographic Data Center and a 

 National Instrumentation Test and Calibration Center. 



In his letter of March 29, 1961, to the Speaker of the House, the President 

 outlined a national program to strengthen oceanography on a long-term basis. 

 He announced that additional funds were being requested for a number of 

 agencies in 1962 to provide almost a doubling of the current year's level of effort 

 in oceanography. 



This national program was developed under the auspices of the Interagency 

 Committee on Oceanography of the Federal Council for Science and Technology 

 and through coordination of the plans and programs of the Federal agencies 

 concerned with oceanographic research and ocean surveys. Significant progress 

 in coordinating the efforts of several agencies has been achieved by the Inter- 

 agency Committee on Oceanography as illustrated by the oceanographic pro- 

 gram recommended by the President. This, in turn, is part of a broader 

 integration of scientific activities undertaken by the Federal Council for Science 

 and Technology. 



Regarding the Council proposed in H.R. 4276, the Bureau generally considers 

 it undesirable to have interagency arrangements for the management of com- 

 mon activities fixed by statute in view of the necessity for providing flexibility 

 to meet the unforeseen needs of the future and for assuring clear Presidential 

 authority over the management of the executive branch. This is particularly 

 true in the case of national programs in science, such as oceanography, where 

 the pattern of organization over the long term is still evolving and is under 

 active study. 



With regard to the establishment of the National Oceanographic Data Center, 

 this center has already been established under those agencies involved in 

 oceanography and, accordingly, the provisions of the bill regarding this center 

 are not necessary. 



Consideration is still being given to the need for and nature of a National 

 Instrumentation Test and Calibration Center or centers. Should such a center 

 or centers prove desirable, they can be established under existing legislative 

 authority. 



Finally, with regard to authorizing the Smithsonian Institution to initiate 

 a program in oceanography, it should be noted that the Smithsonian Institution 

 is already authorized to conduct such a program. Further study of the appro- 

 priate role of the Institution in this field is being conducted at present. 



For the reasons given above, enactment of H.R. 4276 would not be consistent 

 with the administration's objectives. 

 Sincerely yours, 



Phillip S. Hughes, 

 Assistant Director for Legislative Reference. 



Mr. Batter. Now, Mr. Hughes, with respect to the Bureau's posi- 

 tion on H.R._ 4276, you point out there is in existence a National 

 Oceanographic Data Center, and the center has already been estab- 

 lished under those agencies involved in oceanography, and accord- 



