PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM IN OCEANOGRAPHY 13 



facilities, of the already established National Oceanographic Data 

 Center. 



With the exception of the suggested modification, we defer to the 

 appropriate agencies as to the desirability and advisability of enact- 

 ment of the specific provisions of H.R. 4276. 



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 

 administration's program. 

 Sincerely yours, 



(Signed) Abraham Ribicoff, 



Secretary. 



Department of the Navy, 



Office of the Secretary, 

 Washington, B.C., May 26, 1961. 

 Hon. Herbert C. Bonner, 



Chairman, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, 

 House of Representatives, Washington, D.C 



My Dear Mr. Chairman : Your request for comment on H.R. 4276, 

 87th Congress, 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, has been assigned to this Department by the 

 Secretary of Defense for the preparation of a report thereon expressing 

 the views of the Department of Defense. 



The purpose of the bill is as stated in the title. 



The Department of Defense subscribes to the objectives of this bill 

 and indeed recognizes the salutary effect which congressional inquiry 

 into the state of the marine sciences has in this area by its emphasis on 

 oceanography as a program required in the national interest. The 

 Department, however, is opposed to the enactment of H.R. 4276 for 

 reasons stated in the subsequent paragraphs. 



The bill proposes to establish a National Oceanographic Council to 

 develop long-range plans for and to coordinate the efforts of the 

 Government in the marine sciences. There is already in existence an 

 Interagency Committee on Oceanography, established in January 

 1960 by the Federal Council for Science and Technology in recognition 

 of the fact that oceanography, is, indeed, an area which requires 

 emphasis and support at the highest level. The Interagency Com- 

 mittee on Oceanography has effectively provided the coordinating 

 mechanism among Government agencies engaged in oceanographic 

 activities for the development of a meaningful national program. Its 

 mission is similar to that which the bill proposes for the National 

 Oceanographic Council and includes, additionally, the very vital 

 function of coordinated budget planning so as to recommend to the 

 Council the level of funding required each year to support the program. 

 Basically, the Interagency Committee on OceanogTaphy develops an 

 annual program incorporating its best judgment as to balance and 

 emphasis in terms of both long-range scientific needs, requirements of 

 Government agencies and fiscal resources. 



The membership of the Committee comprises those Federal agencies 

 which have the major interests in Federal oceanographic programs. 

 Its working panels, organized to consider each of the areas highlighted 

 in the bill, include members from, all of the Federal agencies engaged in 



