28 PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM IN OCEANOGRAPHY 



committees of the Congress, and it is believed imdesirable to deal 

 with such a complex and far-reaching problem in a piecemeal fashion. 

 Moreover, it is believed that mandatory application of the principle 

 of section 21(e) in all cases would only hamper and discourage, and 

 may even impede, the conduct of research and development in ocean- 

 ography and many other fields having oceanographic application, 

 such as are contemplated m sections 13-16 of S. 901. 



In summary, the Interagency Committee on Oceanography is 

 accomplishing the objectives which this act seeks to achieve. There- 

 fore, for the reasons stated, the Department of Defense believes that 

 this legislation is not necessary. 



This report has been coordinated within the Department of Defense 

 in accordance with procedures prescribed by the Secretary of Defense. 



The Bureau of the Budget advises that, from the standpoint of the 

 administration's program, there is no objection to the presentation of 

 this report for the consideration of the committee. 

 Sincerely yours, 



Egbert E. M. Ward, 

 Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy, Chief of Legislative Ajfairs 



(For the Secretary of the Navy). 



Department op Health, Education, and Welfare, 



Washington, January 4, 1962. 

 Hon. Herbert C. Bonner, 



Chairman, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, 

 House oj Representatives, Washington, D.C. 



Dear Mr. Chairman: This is in response to your request for a 

 report on S. 901, a bill to advance the marine sciences, to establish 

 a comprehensive 10-year program of oceanographic research and 

 surveys, to promote commerce and navigation, to secure the national 

 defense, to expand ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources, to au- 

 thorize the construction of research and survey ships and laboratory 

 facilities, to expedite oceanographic instrumentation, to assure system- 

 atic studies of effects of radioactive materials in marine environments, 

 to enhance the public health and general welfare, and for other 

 purposes. 



As indicated by its title, the bill would establish a broad 10-year 

 program of oceanographic research and surveys through the facilities 

 of existing Federal departments and agencies. It is similar to S. 2692, 

 86th Congress, which was introduced to carry out the policy expressed 

 in Senate Resolution 136, passed on July 15, 1959, which, inter alia, 

 commended to the President and to interested agencies the report of 

 the Committee on Oceanography of the National Academy of Sciences- 

 National Research Council, and concurred in a number of recommen- 

 dations of that Committee which would result in the expansion of basic 

 and applied oceanographic research (in part through the construction 

 of shore facilities), the training of additional oceanographic scientists, 

 the conduct of certain ocean surveys, a revamping and expansion of 

 the Nation's oceanographic research fleet, an investigation of the 

 effects of radioactivity in oceans, and numerous related programs. 



In accord with his message on natm-al resources, in which he 

 indicated his intention "to send to the Congress for its information 



