34 NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 



tions arising from oceanography and related fields are considered by 

 the President's Science Advisory Committee and discussed with the 

 Chairman of ICO. These links between oceanography and the points 

 of decision in the executive branch give considerable strength and flex- 

 ibility to the existing system. 



The ICO has to its credit a number of significant accomphshments. 

 ICO has: (1) surveyed all significant oceanographic and marine sci- 

 ence activities, including the programs of all Federal departments and 

 agencies; (2) developed a comprehensive, long-range program of 

 oceanographic and marine science activities of Federal agencies, and 

 has transmitted this program to Congress; (3) served as the means of 

 fixing responsibihty for major oceanographic activities of Federal 

 agencies; (4) provided for effective cooperation among Federal agen- 

 cies; (5) resolved difi^erences among agencies; and (6) reviewed an- 

 nually all oceanographic activities of Federal agencies, and transmitted 

 to Congress annually a report on Federal oceanographic activities. 

 These are the functions that would be assigned to the proposed Na- 

 tional Oceanographic Council. Whether they would be performed 

 more effectively by the proposed Council is open to question. 



The bill raises a general question relating to the structure of the 

 executive branch for dealing with questions of science poUcy. The 

 Office of Science and Technology was estabhshed with the concur- 

 rence of the Congress to advise the President on all matters relating 

 to science and technology and to coordinate the activities of the 

 Federal agencies. The bill raises in principle the desirabihty of estab- 

 lishing a series of national councils, for areas of high importance to 

 science and technology, which report directlj'' to the President. This 

 way of organizing to deal with problems of science and technology 

 would raise complicated problems, both for the President and for the 

 major departments. 



It seems to me that at this time, questions of scientific and tech- 

 nological substance relating to oceanography should take precedence 

 over questions of organization. A prerequisite to decisions relating 

 to the future development of oceanography is a thorough analysis of 

 the state of the field, identification of points of priority in terms of 

 science, technology, and resources, and the potential contributions of 

 all parties (industry, government, universities, foundations, and 

 private laboratories) to the field. A study group composed of out- 

 standing scientists is being established under the auspices of the 

 President's Science Advisory Committee to review these questions. 

 They are also under study by the National Academy of Sciences 

 Committee on Oceanography. It would seem prudent to withhold 

 judgments on organizational matters untU the results of these studies, 

 plus the results of any inquiries that may stem from congressional 

 action, are available. 



The net effect of the considerations noted above is to leave me 

 unconvinced of the advantages of the National Council approach to 

 the organization of the Federal Government's activities in ocean- 

 ography. At this time, it seems to me that concentration upon means 

 of making the essential elements of the existing system more effective 

 is the wiser course. This would be done under H.R. 2218, and it is 

 for this reason that my favorable comment on that bill was sent to 

 you on February 17, 1965. 

 Sincerely yours, 



Donald F. Hornig, Director. 



