NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 



WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1965 



House of Representatives, 

 Subcommittee on Oceanography of the 

 Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, 



Washington D.C. 

 The subcommittee met at 10:15 a.m., pursuant to recess, in the 

 caucus room. Cannon House Office Building, Hon. Alton Lennon 

 (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. 



Mr. Lennon. The committee will resmne its hearings from the 

 recess of yesterday. 



Our first witness this morning, is our friend and colleague from 

 Massachusetts, and a very able member of this committee. Congress- 

 man Hastings Keith. I believe you have authored one of the bills we 

 are considering today. 



STATEMENT OP HON. HASTINGS KEITH, A REPRESENTATIVE IN 

 CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS 



Mr. Keith. Yes, Mr. Chairman, I am the sponsor of H.R. 6009 and 

 I greatly appreciate the opportunity to make this brief statement. 

 As a member of the subcommittee and one who ardently supports an 

 expanded national oceanographic program, I want to note that I am 

 going to remain as objective as possible in the consideration of all 

 of these bills. Like you, I am anxious to hear the testimony- of not 

 only my colleagues, who have sponsored these 16 or 17 bills, but also the 

 departmental witnesses and the experts from science, education and 

 industry. 



My bill is companion to bills filed by Senator Bartlett, who testified 

 yesterday, and Congressman Ralph Rivers. It would "provide a pro- 

 gram of marine exploration and development of the resources of the 

 Continental Shelf.'' It would do this by creating a special commission 

 and funding a special exploration and development fund. 



Within the past few days, we have received the various departmental 

 reports requested by the chairman. Frankly, I was rather dis- 

 appointed to learn that they are signing the same old song — the words 

 to which go something like this — "While the Department is in favor of 

 the purpose of the bill, it is believed that its functions would overlap 

 the duties and responsibilities currently vested in other offices and 

 agencies." Anotlier version is to the effect that the idea may be a good 

 one, but it would be "premature" at this time. 



In short, we have received tlie customary plea from the executive 

 branch as in other years and with other bills, for retention of the status 

 quo. 



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