NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 141 



However, we must not allow the impetus now underway to decline 

 into discord among the Nation's oceanography community. We must 

 ^lard against those now agreed that more must be done in the field 

 ±rom reacliing an impasse on how to do it. 



The establishment of a National Commission on Oceanography 

 would do three things : (1) it would provide a thorough review of the 

 Nation's capabilities in the field; (2) it would set long-range goals of 

 specific magnitude; and (3) it would set forth in specific language 

 how those goals can be achieved, including an organizational plan and 

 some measure of the finances necessary for these accomplishments. 



The Commission would allow fair voice for the expression of in- 

 terests representing Government, industry, and the academic com- 

 munity involved. 



The 15-member Commission would be composed of 5 members each 

 representing the above-listed segments of our national oceanography 

 effort. 



At present the Federal Government's research operations alone are 

 scattered through 18 agencies. The Commission would provide an 

 orderly approach to questions concerning expansion of the Nation's 

 efforts in the field. 



The Conmiission proposed in H.R. 9064 would have a temporary 

 life of 2 years from the date of enactment of the legislation. The 

 Commission must file an interim report within 1 year from the date 

 of enactment, and within 2 years from enactment it must file final 

 reconmiendations to the President and the Congress. 



These recommendations would be the fruition of the Commission's 

 survey and appraisal. The Commission would then cease to exist 30 

 days from the date its final report would be submitted. 



I urge favorable action on legislation to establish such a com- 

 mission, and particularly to give the impetus from the Congress to take 

 it out of just a departmental study and to raise it to a level of a 

 Presidential commission responsible not only to the President, but to 

 the Congress itself. 



I am very grateful to the chairman and committee for allowing 

 me to say these few words. 



Mr. Lennon. We are very grateful to you for a very informative, 

 interesting, and I would think a very meaningful statement. 



Mr. Reporter, off the record, please. 



(Discussion off the record.) 



Mr. Lennon. Congressman Fascell, we are happy to have you. 



STATEMEin' or HON. DANTE B. FASCELL, A REPKESENTATIVE IN 

 THE CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA 



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

 mittee. I appreciate the change in agenda which the chairman has 

 outlined which give us the opportunity to discuss this very important 

 matter before the committee. 



I want to conmiend you for taking the time and giving us the oppor- 

 tunity. I hope that I will not be put in the position of saying, Mr. 

 Chairman, and members of the committee, "Let's do something." 



Therefore, even though I may at times have to disagree with some 

 of my colleagues, I would hope that I would lay down a line of reason- 

 ing for whatever it is worth. 



