NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 93 



We believe that there is a growing need for a perspective in which 

 the oceanographic programs of the Federal Government can be more 

 clearly seen in relation to each other and in relation to the national 

 goals which they support. All of these bills contain some features 

 which could be helpful in carrying out a national oceanographic pro- 

 gram. The position of the executive branch, however, is that H.R. 

 2218 should be enacted, but that the enactment of any of the other 

 bills would be premature at this time. This position is based on the 

 premise that the President's Science Advisory Committee's Panel on 

 Oceanography is at the present time making the kind of investigation 

 and study that is contemplated by H.R. 9064. When the Panel com- 

 pletes its study and submits its report Congress can more appropriately 

 decide whether additional legislation dealing either with a further 

 study or with a revised governmental organization to administer the 

 national oceanographic program should be enacted. 



The recommendation that legislative action should be deferred is 

 not intended to cast any doubt on the importance of the subject. 

 President Johnson has recently stated his intention that the United 

 States shall maintain leadership in ocean science and technology and 

 their economic, military, and social apphcations. 



The Bureau of the Budget has advised that there is no objection 

 to the presentation of this report from the standpoint of the adminis- 

 tration's program. 



Sincerely yours, 



Clarence F. Pautzke, 

 Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior. 



National Academy of Sciences, 



Washington, D.C., April 23, 1965. 

 Hon. Herbert C. Bonner, 



Chairman, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, 

 House oj Representatives, Washington, D.C. 



Dear Congressman Bonner: Over the last 3 months you have 

 been kind enough to refer to us for our information, and such comment 

 as we might wish to make, several bills having to do with the Federal 

 Government's arrangements for developing, coordination, and funding 

 the national oceanographic program. 



Our Committee on Oceanography has welcomed the opportimity 

 to review these bUls. The Committee has long recognized the need 

 for 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 

 undoubtedly result in an effective solution of the problem. 

 Yours sincerely, 



Frederick Seitz, President. 



