OCEANOGRAPHY 1961 — PHASE 3 151 



I consider that our program is well founded and well organized 

 not only through the coordinating processes within the Committee 

 itself, but also due to the increases for oceanography achieved in diffi- 

 cult and complex budget competitions, an essential process in consid- 

 erations relating to the expenditure of public funds. 



The national oceanographic program reflects the growing stature 

 of oceanographic research within the individual governmental agen- 

 cies. It is a particular pleasure for me to acknowledge the con- 

 tributions of the Congress to this growing awareness of the vital im- 

 portance of oceanography to our country. We are especially indebted 

 to Senator Warren G. Magnuson, chairman of the Interstate and For- 

 eign Commerce Committee and to Congressman George P. Miller, 

 chairman of the Subcommittee on Oceanography of the Committee 

 on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, for their encouragement, interest, 

 and support. Each of the several bills which are now under con- 

 sideration has had the salutory effect of attacting and focusing atten- 

 tion to our oceanographic needs. 



It is my belief, however, that the Federal agencies now liave the au- 

 thority necessary to go forth in the marine sciences as required in the 

 national interest without additional and specific legislation. Of 

 course, favorable action on Congressman Miller's bill relating to ex- 

 pansion of Coast Guard functions will provide additional national 

 capabilities, as will favorable action on H.R. 4751, a similar bill re- 

 lating to the activities of the U.S. Geological Survey. Organization 

 for oceanography appears, at this time, not to be a problem, having 

 been resolved within the permanent structure of the ICO. As you 

 know, the members of the ICO occupy highly responsible positions 

 in the organizational structure of the departments, representing the 

 policy, program, and budget authority for their agencies in these 

 areas. They are a group which sincerely believe in an enlarged and 

 coordinated national oceanographic program, a group who recognize 

 the problems, and who have demonstrated exceedingly well the ability 

 to operate in an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding. 



The bill under consideration, H.R. 4276, also proposes to establish a 

 National Oceanographic Data Center and a National Instrumentation 

 Test and Calibration Center. With regard to the Data Center, as 

 I indicated previously, this is now a going organization operating 

 under a formal interagency agreement and administered by the hydro- 

 grapher of the Navy for the sponsoring agencies. With regard to 

 test and calibration facilities, the ICO is currently considering the 

 desirability, means, and methods for providing such facilities to the 

 oceanographic community. 



In the above comments relating to this bill, I do not wish to imply 

 tliat we do not need congressional support. We do need your support 

 in very important ways. We do need your favorable consideration of 

 our budget requests. We do need the benefit of your study of the na- 

 tional program through hearings such as this in order that it remairi 

 responsive to the Nation's requirements. And, we need your assistanc<^ 

 in a problem area highlighted by the President : the training of young 

 scientists. Although increasing numbers of students are being at- 

 tracted to the marine sciences, the fundamental problem of adequate 

 training remains. The educational institutions do not have the capa- 

 bility to accept within their present facilities the necessary enrollment 



