NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 159 



In summary, Mr. Chairman, I believe that the creation of a National 

 Commission on the Exploration and Development of the Continental 

 Shelf would be a good step in the right direction and one that could 

 be taken in the immediate future without disrupting the existing 

 national oceanographic program. 



On the other hand, since I favor the maximum effort in the opening 

 of this final frontier, I will be listening with great interest to subse- 

 quent testimony on all of these bills. My objective, as I know is the 

 case with my distinguished colleagues on the subcommittee, is to come 

 out of this series of hearings with the best possible bill and the one that 

 does the most to give our oceanographic program the goals, emphasis, 

 and administrative and financial authority suited to meet the great 

 challenges and opportunities of the years just ahead. 



One final comment. Wliile I earlier indicated that the Depart- 

 mental reports on H.R. 6009 were negative, I should point out that 

 there was one notable exception — that was the report of the Depart- 

 ment of State, which offered some suggestions for amended language 

 with respect to the definition of the Continental Shelf which I think 

 are constructive and which I feel should probably be incorporated in 

 the bill. 



In addition to these technical suggestions, the State Department, 

 in a report signed by Assistant Secretary Douglas MacArthur II, made 

 this observation, which I think is very significant: 



The Department would interpose no objection to the enactment of the bills 

 from the standpoint of foreign relations. In fact, the Department believes that 

 the bills might prove most useful in the development of oceanic capability and 

 use which would not only provide a source of raw material for our economy, as 

 the bills contemplate, but forestall domination of the ocean by forces inimical to 

 our welfare. 



Mr. Lennon. Thank you, Mr. Keith, for a very informative and 

 enlightemng statement. If there are no questions at this time, I would 

 like to proceed as expeditiously as possible. 



I wonder. Congressman Huot, if you would come back to the 

 witness stand, and if at this time, if you care to bring your technical 

 assistant with you, would he just take that chair and move it right over 

 there, so if there are any questions that you might desire to defer to 

 him, for any technical answers. 



Your bill, that you introduced and spoke so eloquently on yesterday, 

 H.R. 7798, is identical with the Senate bill, I believe, which, I under- 

 stand, now has been reported out of the Commerce Committee of the 

 Senate. 



STATEMENT OF HON. J. OLIVA HUOT, REPEESENTATIVE IN CON- 

 GRESS EROM THE STATE OP NEW HAMPSHIRE; ACCOMPANIED 

 BY CHARLES SKILLAS— Resumed 



Mr. HuoT. Yes, and it is also identical to Mr. Fascell's and the 

 Fulton and Hanna bills. 



Mr. Lennon. H.R. 5654, and Mr. Fulton's H.R. 6512, and that of 

 Mr. Hanna of California, 7301. 



Mr. HuoT. Mr. Chairman, if I may, I would like to introduce the 

 gentleman who is with me, Mr. Charles Skillas, who is a consultant to 

 the Seacoast Regional Plan in Maine and New Hampshire. 



