120 NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 



I do not feel strongly about the structure and I want to emphasize 

 that, but I do feel strongly that the mission of the new agency must 

 be sufficiently broad to unify the program and centralize responsibil- 

 ity. It is my conviction that until this is done we will continue to fail 

 in our program on the oceans. 



Mr. Chairman, in an effort to save some time of the connnittee I did 

 not read the entire text of my statement and I should like permis- 

 sion to have it placed in the record in full. 



Mr. Lennon. Without objection the full text of the Senator's state- 

 ment will be placed in the record at tliis point. 



(The statement referred to follows :) 



Statemeistt by Hon. E. L. Bartlett, a U.S. Senator From the State of Alaska 



Mr. Chairman, your committee is to be congratulated for undertaking a com' 

 prehensive review of tlie U.S. oceanographic and marine resources program. 

 This is a significant and enormous task. 



The committee is considering numerous legislative measures relating to ocean- 

 ography and ocean resources development. The diversity of purposes and ap- 

 proaches reflected in these bills demonstrates clearly that there are many in 

 Congress who feel that the present ocean program is seriously inadequate. 

 Indeed, one might well ask whether we have anything that might properly be 

 termed an oceanographic program. A serious and concerted program in this area 

 Avill certainly require something better than our present uncoordinated efiEorts^ — ■ 

 represented by a scattering of some 22 separate agency requests for funds. 



Several bills before this committee are concerned with improving the coordina- 

 tion of present oceanographic activity. Others are directed toward a broad 

 reorganization of all of the Federal Government's ocean-related activities. One 

 I)ill focuses on the legal problems of ocean resource development. Several pro- 

 posals similar to S. 1091, which I introduced in the Senate, would create a new 

 agency with a broad mission of marine exploration and development. 



What is the reason for the flood of oceanographic legislation introduced this 

 session? What is the basis of this obvious congressional discontent with our 

 present effort? I will suggest an answer. It is, in my opinion, a failure of this 

 administration to respond effectively either to the recent advances in the field 

 of marine technology and ocean resource development or to recent changes in 

 the international law of the sea. Other nations have not been as hesitant. 

 The Soviet Government supports extensive oceanographic expeditions for the 

 explorations of mineral resources ; recent reports tell of their discovering 

 manganese nodules on the floor of the Mediterranean Sea. The British have 

 recently organized a commercial oceanology study group which will investi- 

 gate the prospect of developing the mineral resources of the sea. 



marine technology and resource development 



The U.S. oceanographic activity has thus far been directed primarily toward 

 learning more about the oceanic environment. In many respects we have 

 been successful in this scientific effort. It is because of this success, among other 

 reasons, that the fociis of our effort in the future will shift to the utilization of 

 the ocean and ocean resources. The oceans are being recognized more and 

 more as a source of wealth and as a profitable field for industrial enterprise. 

 Yesterday we were interested in oceanography primarily as a science and our 

 activity was centered in the several universities and private institutions in- 

 terested in studying the oceans. But today we are thinking more about man's 

 working and living on the ocean floor, about the engineering and technological 

 problems related to harvesting the resources of the seas. 



I will make no elaborate attempt here to outline for the committee the many 

 and varied ocean resources that are today within our reach. I would point out 

 that fresh water fi-om the sea itself is of enormous potential value. The United 

 States has recently undertaken an accelerated saline water conversion program, 

 important to the thirsty residents of New York, as well as to drought-stricken 

 farmers and ranchers in southern California. This program should be strength- 

 ened and accelerated. 



