368 OCEANOGRAPHY 1961 — PHASE 3 



The Bingham Oceanographic Laboratort, 



Yale University, 

 New Haven, Conn., March 13, 1961. 

 Hon. George P. Miller, 

 Chairman, Subcommittee on Oceanography, 

 Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, 

 House Offloe Building, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, B.C. 



Dear Mr. Miller : Thank you for the copy of H.R. 4276 that you sent me. I 

 am deeply gratified, as are the other members of the National Academy of 

 Sciences Committee on Oceanography, that you have taken so much interest 

 in this field which v^^e regard as important both scientifically and for the future 

 w^elf are of the Nation. 



Your bill will accomplish much of what is needed in the way of legislative 

 action to strengthen this field. It has my heartiest personal endorsement. I 

 note, however, in comparing your bill with the one that has been introduced into 

 the Senate, that although there is agreement on major aims, there are many 

 differences in minor details. I sincerely hope it will be possible in the course 

 of time to reconcile these differences of opinion and find a course of action 

 that will be agreeable to all concerned. 

 With best wishes. 

 Sincerely yours, 



Gordon A. Riley. 



U.S. Army Chemical Corps Research and Development Command, 



U.S. Army Chemical Research and Development Laboratories, 



Army Chemical Center, Md., March 14, 1961. 

 Hon. George P. Miller, 



Chairman, Subcommittee on Oceanography of the Committee on Merchant Ma- 

 rine and Fisheries, House Office Building, Washington, B.C. 



Dear Representative Miller : Thank you very much for your recent com- 

 mimication concerning the Oceanographic Act of 1961 with the enclosed copy of 

 H.R. 4276. You ask for my comments on this proposed legislation. 



I am extremely interested in having such a bill passed with all due speed. 

 I think that the time is overdue for the United States to insure adequate de- 

 velopment of the aquatic and marine resources of this Nation. The general 

 point of view of the bill is mind sound. It resembles very much the Senate 

 bill 901 entitled "Marine Sciences and Research Act of 1961." The Senate 

 bill is expressed in greater detail than is your bill but essentially they both 

 intend to do the same thing. 



In any such legislation it is important that the biological aspects of the matter 

 be properly considered. The Great Lakes and our surrounding oceans will be, 

 in the future, an important if not essential source of food and raw materials. 

 These vital resources will be wasted if we do not plan now for their exploitation 

 in a scientific manner. The biological aspects of the problem are critical ; I am 

 pleased to note that your bill specifically insures that adequate support will 

 be forthcoming for biological studies. 



I assure you that I am thoroughly sympathetic with the aims and methods 

 proposed in this bill. I would be glad to exert any effort which I could to aid 

 its passage. So I hope that you will feel free to call on me in any capacity 

 in which I can serve to facilitate the early passage of this legislation. 



For your information, on May 1, 1961, I will be leaving these laboratories 

 to take up a new position as dean of the graduate school and professor of 

 biology in Kent State University, Kent, Ohio. Consequently you can see how 

 I am vitally interested in the educational and i-esearch support aspects of this 

 bill. Will you please keep me informed concerning the progress which this 

 legislation makes. 



Again assuring you of my continued interest and my sincere offer of support, 

 I am, 



Cordially yours, 



Charles G. Wilber, Ph. D., 

 Chief, Experimental Zoology, Branch, 



Directorate of Medical Research. 



