©2 national oceanographic program legislation 



Department of State, 

 Washington, July 80, 1965. 

 Hon. Herbert C. Bonner, 



Chairman, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, 

 House oj BexJresentafives. 



Dear Mr. Chairman: In your letter to the Secretary of March 

 22, 1965, you asked for comments concerning H.R. 6457, 89tb Con- 

 gress, 1st session, introduced by Mr. Ashley. 



The Department of State is in full agreement with the necessity 

 for joint planning and coordination of the multiple oceanographic 

 activities sponsored by the various governmental agencies. Only in 

 this way can an effective, integrated, truly national program be 

 developed. It was for this purpose that the Interagency Committee 

 on Oceanography was established in 1960 by the Federal Council for 

 Science and Technology. Its membership represents each of the 

 departments and agencies proposed for the National Oceanographic 

 Council except the Office of Science and Technology. From the 

 standpoint of foreign relations, the Department believes the existing 

 structure has effectively protected and furthered its interests. It 

 defers to the judgment of the various operational agencies whether 

 the proposed Council will more adequately promote their domestic 

 missions and whether, if approved, the Council should be in the Office 

 of Science and Technology. 



If the bill is considered favorably, the following modifications are 

 suggested: 



It is noted that Section 3 (b) contains no provision for alternate 

 members. Since it may be expected that departmental representa- 

 tives will not be able to attend all meetings of the Council, it is 

 suggested that the section be amended to provide that a representative 

 on the Council may designate alternates. 



Section 3 (c) provides that the President designate a representative 

 of the Council to serve as Chairman. It is suggested, instead, that 

 a full-time Chairman might be designated by the President with 

 the advice and consent of the Senate. The scope and magnitude of 

 the national oceanographic effort demands the full attention of a high 

 level policy officer. It is not believed an Executive uSecretary can 

 serve this purpose since his functions are primarily administrative 

 rather than decisionmaking. 



Section 3 (d) (5) provides that the Council will be responsible for 

 coordinating all Federal activities in combating natural and manmade 

 phenomena adversely affecting pjublic welfare and including storms, 

 floods, seismic activities, pollution, and radioactive fallout. This 

 section considerably exceeds the responsibility of the present Inter- 

 agency Committee on Oceanography. It encompasses many areas 

 presently outside the national oceanographic program and includes 

 many activities directly related to the primary missions of several 

 agencies, some of which have only a limited connection with oceanog- 

 raphy. It is suggested that this section be eliminated or the stated 

 activities be restricted. 



Section 3(e) provides for an Executive Secretary. If the suggestion 

 for a full-time Chairman is accepted, an amendment of this section 

 would be necessary providing for the Chairman to head the staff. 



Section 4(a) provides that the Council may engage in international 

 cooperative activities. The Department believes this section is 



