80 NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 



achieved in planning and coordination is doubtful, owing to the 

 efficacy of the existing ICO system, now in its sixth year of operation. 



Moreover, the bill raises a general question relating to the structure 

 of the executive branch for dealing with questions of science policy. 

 The Office of Science and Technology was established with the concur- 

 rence of the Congress to advise and assist the President on matters 

 relating to science and technology and to coordinate the activities of 

 the Federal agencies. The bill raises in principle the desirability 

 of establishing a series of national councils, for areas of high importance 

 to science and technology, which report directly 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. 



A prerequisite to decisions relating to the future development of 

 oceanography is a thorough analysis of the state of the field, identi- 

 fication 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 outstanding 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 Science's Committee on Oceanography. It 

 would seem prudent to withhold judgments on organizational matters 

 until the results of these studies are available. 

 Sincerely yours, 



Donald F, Hornig, Director. 



Smithsonian Institution, 

 Washington, D.C., June 29, 1965. 

 Hon. Herbert C. Bonner, 



Chairman, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, 

 House of Bepresentatives, Washington, D.C. 



Dear Mr. Bonner: Thank you for your request of May 11, 1965, 

 for the views of the Smithsonian Institution on H.R. 7849, a bUl to 

 provide for the development of ocean resources, to provide for eco- 

 nomic development of the Continental Shelf, to provide for expanded 

 research in the oceans and the Great Lakes, to establish a National 

 Oceanographic Council, and for other purposes. 



This legislation, consisting of three titles, is designated the "Ocean 

 Resources Development Act of 1965." 



Title I of H.R. 7849 sets forth the objectives of the oceanographic 

 and marine science activities of the United States. 



Title II of this legislation would (1) establish in the Executive 

 Office of the President a National Oceanographic Council composed 

 of representatives of Federal departments and agencies engaged in 

 oceanographic and marine science activities; (2) provide that the 

 Council shall serve as the advisory body of the President concerning 

 the performance of functions in the fields of oceanography and the 

 marine sciences, including certain designated functions; (3) authorize 

 the Council to employ a staff; (4) direct the Council to submit to 

 Congress within 1 year from the enactment of H.R. 7849 a compre- 

 hensive legislative program to further oceanography and the marine 



