138 NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 



The Ways and Means Committee worries about the Treasury De- 

 partment. The Interior Committee worries about the Interior De- 

 partment and their fisheries, research, and so forth. This is the major 

 problem. Until we get an agency of Government and a committee 

 that is the champion of that agency up here on the Hill, we are just 

 going to be spinning our wheels. 



Of course when you start taking away responsibilities from various 

 agencies they always buck it. It is going to take really a united effort, 

 not only by Congress, but by the President before we come through 

 with this. 



I remember what happened with NASA. I was on the Armed 

 Services Committee, as I am today and serve with your distinguished 

 chairman. Incidentally, I think the Under Secretary is missing us 

 today over there on the testimony on the Reserve merger, but I believe 

 that the Defense Department resisted the creation of NASA in every 

 possible way. The Navy didn't want their Vanguard program taken 

 away from it, and the Air Force had visions of trips to the moon too, 

 but wisely the Congress and the administration said, "You have to give 

 up some of your responsibility as it relates to peacetime activity and 

 put it into the National Aeronautics and Space Administration," and 

 concurrently with that a special committee was set up, the Space Com- 

 mittee, so-called, that would be the champion of that new agency. 



Until we just realize that we have to take these forward steps we are 

 going to be doing a lot of debating Mr. Chairman, on this whole 

 subject. I think oceanography is so vital to our future, surely from a 

 defense standpoint, but also from a living standpoint, that I think one 

 of the first steps should be tliis connnittee should change its name to the 

 Merchant Marine and Oceanographic Committee so it would clearly 

 be the committee that has the responsibility for oceanography on the 

 Hill without any question. Then an attempt ought to be made through 

 an agency of the type I visualize to bring as man}- of the current 

 responsibilities under its jurisdiction and have it look to this com- 

 mittee. If this would happen I know our future expansion of oceano- 

 graphic research would be tenfold over what it is now. 



Mr. Lexxon. Let me say that I have great respect for you, Mr. 

 Wilson, having had the privilege of servmg with you smce the first 

 of the year on the Armed Services Committee. I know you are 

 Imowledgeable and dedicated and you are certainly articulate and you 

 make sense to me. We are delighted to have you. 



Off the record, Mr. Reporter. 



(Discussion off the record.) 



Mr. Lennox. Mr. Rogers? 



AVe are delighted to have our own member who over the years has 

 shown great interest in this whole field. He has sort of carried the 

 torch for this committee since he has been a member and we are 

 grateful to you, Mr. Rogers, and look forward with a great deal of 

 pleasure in anticipation of your statement. 



STATEMENT OF HON. PAUL G. ROGERS, A REPRESENTATIVE IN 

 THE CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA 



Mr. Rogers. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I do appre- 

 ciate your courtesy in allowing me, and I appreciate the gentleman 

 from California for allowing me to testify at this time, because we 



