NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION H 



a more unified approach to the oceanography program among the 

 Federal agencies. The Committee considers such an approach to be 

 especially desirable with reference to those elements of the program 

 that involve the missions of several different agencies, for example, 

 the study of air-sea interactions, the development and use of deep- 

 diving vehicles and other means of deep-sea investigation, and the study 

 of ocean resources. 



While the Committee does not have an adequate basis for recom- 

 mending a particular mechanism for achieving the desired unity of 

 approach, its members feel that efforts at the appropriate level of the 

 executive branch, for example, the Office of Science and Technology, 

 in consultation with the congressional committees concerned, can un- 

 doubtedly result in an effective solution of the problem. 

 Yours sincerely, 



Frederick Seitz, President. 



National Science Foundation, 



Washington, D.G., July 28, 1965. 

 Hon. Herbert C. Bonner, 



Chairman, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, 

 House oj Representatives, Washington, D.C. 



Dear Mr. Chairman: This is in further reply to your request of 

 January 22, 1965, for the views of the National Science Foundation 

 on H.E,. 921, a bUl to establish the National Oceanographic Agency. 



H.R. 921 would establish a national oceanographic agency and 

 transfer to it all functions relating to oceanography and related 

 sciences being carried on by other Federal agencies. The proposed 

 agency would be directed to establish a coordinated Federal oceano- 

 graphic program and to carry out research efforts in this area. 



As you know, a number of Government agencies are engaged in the 

 support of oceanographic activities. Such activities are generally 

 directly related to the primary responsibilities of the agencies con- 

 cerned. Thus, for example, .fisheries aspects of oceanography are 

 undertaken by the Department of the Interior, marine geophysical 

 surveys are conducted by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, and 

 the Department of Defense conducts its oceanographic activities 

 with a view to their defense implications. We do not think it would 

 be feasible, therefore, to attempt to centralize responsibility for the 

 entire Federal oceanographic effort in one agency. At present 

 coordination of the Federal effort is undertaken through the Inter- 

 agency Committee on Oceanography of the Federal Council for 

 Science and Technology. We believe tJiat this responsibility is 

 being carried out in a satisfactory manner. In view of the above 

 considerations, we recommend against enactment of H.R. 921. 



The Bureau of the Budget has advised us it has no objection to the 

 submission of this report from the standpoint of the administration's 

 program. 



Sincerely yours, 



Leland J, Haworth, Director. 



