NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 29 



H.K. 5654 would set forth national objectives for oceanographic 

 and marine activities and would establish a National Oceanographic 

 Council composed principally of Cabinet-level officers. The Council 

 would advise and assist the President by surveying present oceano- 

 graphic activities, developing an oceanographic program, coordinat- 

 ing the agencies' oceanographic activities and annually comparing 

 Federal oceanographic accomplishments against the Council's oceano- 

 graphic program. The Council would be authorized to employ an 

 executive secretary and staflF. H.R. 5654 would also require the 

 President to report annually to Congress on his oceanographic pro- 

 gram and on present accomplishnaents. 



The Department strongly supports improvement in and greater 

 emphasis for the national oceanographic program. However, we 

 doubt that H.K. 5654 would have enough beneficial effect upon 

 oceanographic activities to offset the detrimental effect it would 

 have upon the administration of oceanography as a whole. 



The Interagency Committee on Oceanography has had considerable 

 success in coordinating and stimulating Federal oceanographic 

 activities, and we are therefore not aware of overriding reasons for 

 replacing it. The proposed National Oceanographic Council would 

 not change the realities involved in setting priorities and apportioning 

 limited funds among less limited demands within the agencies. 

 There is no reason to beheve that Council review of the national 

 oceanographic program before its submission to the agencies would 

 keep any agency from balancing its oceanographic program needs 

 against the needs of its other programs. On the other hand, creation 

 of the proposed Council would place additional demands directly 

 upon Cabinet officers and agency heads who already have heavy 

 burdens of responsibihty. 



If the Council supplants the Interagency Committee on Ocean- 

 ography, the limited amount of personal time which the Council 

 members could devote to Council activities might result in less con- 

 sideration of oceanography within the executive branch than presently 

 exists. If the Council and the Interagency Committee on Ocean- 

 ography both exist there will be substantial duplication of efforts 

 and possible conflict of proposed programs. We think it is better to 

 leave oceanogTaphic planning and coordination in the hands of the 

 poHcy and operating officials who work with the oceanographic 

 program, serve on the Interagency Committee on Oceanography and 

 who are thus most qualified to advise the President on its needs. 



For these reasons, the Department strongly favors the objectives of 

 the bin but is opposed to the establishment of a Council to accomplish 

 these objectives. If the bill were amended to permit the President 

 to establish such mechanisms as he believes necessary to accomphsh 

 these objectives, we would favor the bill. 



We have been advised by the Bureau of the Budget that there 

 would be no objection to the submission of our report from the 

 standpoint of the administration's program. 

 Sincerely, 



Burt W. Eoper 

 (For Robert E. Giles). 



