154 NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 



tional Science Foundation. The Vice President will act as Chairman 

 of this Council. 



A National Oceanographic Council of this type will employ a 

 regular staff headed by a full-time civilian executive secretary ap- 

 pointed by the President whose main function will be to develop a 

 comprehensive program of oceanographic and marine science activities 

 and provide for effective cooperation among all departments and 

 agencies of the Federal Government. 



This Council will submit to Congress within 1 year from its estab- 

 lishment a comprehensive program of proposed legislation in further- 

 ance of oceanography and the marine sciences. 



A $500,000 appropriation is attached to establish operation of the 

 Council. 



In addition, the President will be authorized to submit to the Con- 

 gress in January of each year a report including a comprehensive 

 description of the programed activities and accomplishments of our 

 Nation's commitment to oceanography and a full evaluation of such 

 activities and accomplishments. 



I believe, Mr. Chairman, that this is the proper approach to rectify- 

 ing the lag this Nation is presently experiencing in the field of ocean 

 research and engineering. It is no secret that we know much more 

 about areas hundreds of miles above the ear'th, than about areas 

 Jiundreds of feet below the surface of the ocean. 



The possibilities of new discoveries are simply fantastic and its 

 exploration and utilization is consistent with the scientific and defense 

 goals of the United States. 



The United States has made tremendous gains in the race for space. 

 But we must not be singular in our purpose and now must lay the 

 groundwork for other avenues and the only unexplored avenue which 

 has been literally ignored since the beginning of time is located here 

 on earth and encompasses nearly two-thirds of the earth's surface. 



I would like to stress again that I do not intend to be critical of 

 those agencies now performing the tasks of coordination. But I do 

 intend to stress the unportance of establishing an action body whose 

 main responsibility is directing the necessary research and engineering 

 to fully explore all the potential in the marine field. 



As programs and aims are established by this Council and annual 

 reports submitted by the President are known, we will be clear as to 

 the next approach to make, whether it be further coordination and 

 direction or movement to the next step of funding large operations and 

 encouraging commercial industries to increase their activity in this 

 field. 



Many questions have been asked as to the relation of H.E. 7798 and 

 the national defense. My intentions are solely scientific at this time. 



With the establishment of a National Oceanographic Council and an 

 increase in oceanographic activity, all information gathered and 

 computed would surely complement our national defense commitment. 



Mr. Chairman, admittedly I am not an authority on oceanography 

 and I am sure that you people are better qualified in this area, and I 

 am sure that once you have heard the testimony of Members of Con- 

 gress and experts in this field you will make a decision that will be in. 

 the interest of oceanography. 



