30 PEOVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM IN OCEANOGRAPHY 



Should the bill receive favorable consideration, we recommend that 

 it be amended to provide that nothing in the bill is intended to limit 

 the authorit}^ vested in the Secretary or other officials of this Depart- 

 ment, or in other officials or agencies of the executive branch, under 

 •existing law. In our view, section 11 of the bill might possibly be 

 construed to limit the Department's current authority in the radiation 

 field. In view of the importance of our role in promoting radiological 

 health protection, the amendment is suggested, in event of the bill's 

 enactment, to remove any possible doubt as to the legal basis for the 

 continuation of currently assigned functions. 



We are advised by the Bureau of the Budget that there is no objec- 

 tion to the presentation of this report from the standpoint of the 

 adm inis t ra t ion 's program . 

 Sincere!}', 



(Signed) Wilbur J. Cohen, 



Assistant Secretary. 



Department of State, 

 Washington, August 23, 1961. 

 Hon. Herbert C. Bonner, 



Chairman, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, 

 House of Representatives. 



Dear Mr. Chairman: In your letter to the Secretary of August 4, 

 1961, 3^ou asked for comments concerning S. 901, 87th Congress, 1st 

 session, the Marine Sciences and Research Act of 1961. 



While the Department is in accord with the purposes and intent of 

 the proposed legislation, it is our view that enactment of the bill is 

 unnecessary. This opinion is based upon the fact that the Federal 

 Council for Science and Technology has set up an Interagency Com- 

 mittee on Oceanography, which has developed a sound oceanographic 

 research program for the United States. The Interagency Committee 

 on Oceanography has been successful in coordinating the current and 

 planned U.S. activities in this scientific area. 



Recently the Department designated the Secretary's science adviser 

 to participate as an observer at meetings of the ICO. This repre- 

 sentation sponsors Department consideration of the international 

 features of oceanographic research programs designed by the ICO. 

 The Department has had and will continue to have an interest in 

 securing the cooperation of other countries for expeditions and surveys 

 in international and territorial waters. 



It is desirable both for foreign relations and for the advancement of 

 knowledge which will be of benefit to mankind that the U.S. efforts in 

 marine science be strengthened. Such strengthening will be achieved 

 by adoption of the expanded national programs in oceanography 

 recommended by the President in his recent messages to the House 

 and the Senate. 



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, 



Brooks Hays, 

 Assistant Secretary 

 (For the Secretary of State) . 



