134 NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 



Mr. Lenno^t. It is pending now ? 



Senator Bartlett. Pending. 



Mr. Lennon. Thank you, sir. We wanted to consider that if it 

 had passed the Senate, and hopefully it will be passed at an early date 

 so we can consider it during these hearings. 



Senator Bartlett. With Senator Magnuson as its author and as 

 chairman of the committee I suspect it will be passed very soon. 



Mr. Lennon. Send it over so we can consider it here. 



Senator Bartlett. All right. I think it will be on its way soon. 



Mr. Lennon". Thank you very much. Senator. 



Off the record, Mr. Reporter. 



(Discussion off the record.) ) 



Mr. Lennon. We will move to the next distinguished Member of 

 the Congress, according to the list furnished me, the Honorable Bob 

 Wilson of California. 



Senator Bartlett. Before I leave the witness chair, Mr. Chairman, 

 let me express my thanks to you and every member of the committee 

 for allowing me to appear. 



Mr. Lennon. We are delighted to liave you now and always. 



Congressman, we have known for a long time of your great interest 

 in the law and the various ramifications and facets of oceanography 

 and particularly as it affects the great State of California. We are 

 delighted to have you. Are you going to stay with your statement ? 



STATEMENT OF HON. BOB WILSON, A REPRESENTATIVE IN 

 CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA 



Mr. Wilson. Yes, Mr. Chairman, I would like to. It is a brief 

 statement. 



Mr. Lennon. You may proceed, sir. 



Mr. Wilson. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members of the com- 

 mittee, for giving me this opportunity. If it is not inappropriate be- 

 fore I read my testimony I would like to express my best wishes to 

 the chairman of the full committee. He was a neighbor of mine in 

 this building for about 8 years. He is one of the most genteel, dis- 

 tingaiished, and I must say beloved Members of Congress and I know 

 every one of his colleagues wishes him full and speedy recovery from 

 his recent serious illness. 



Mr. Lennon. Thank you. We know too that if he were in Wash- 

 ington and physically able he would be attending the sessions of this 

 subconnnittee. He always demonstrated a great interest in it and I 

 Avould like to report for the committee that according to reports he 

 is getting along j ust fine. Things are very hopeful. 



Mr. Wilson. That is the best news of the year. 



Mr. Chairman, Ave are here to work out a means to start our Gov- 

 ernment on a much needed full-scale program of oceanography. I, 

 among others, haA*e proposed tliat a Federal Oceanographic Agency be 

 established. It would be the focal point, the information and direc- 

 tional center for an organized productiA^e schedule of projects that 

 ATOuld be A^aluable in many ways to the United States. 



In introduced the bill H.E. 921 on the first day of this session of Con- 

 gress. It is similar to legislation that AA'as introduced in the last ses- 

 sion of Congress. 



