168 NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 



Mr. Casey. Well, I certainly appreciate your interest, Bob, and I 

 know we can count on you to help any way on your side of the aisle 

 and, after all, this is a bipartisan effort at something, I think, that 

 I can agree with you, that it is a groat national interest, and belongs 

 in the Federal realm. 



Thank you. 



Mr. Wilson. Thank you. 



Mr. Lennon. Thank you, Mr. Casey. 



Mr. Rogers ? 



Mr. Rogers. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



I, too, think that you have made a real contribution to the con- 

 sideration of the committee in pointing up, I think, very factually, 

 the problem we face. We do need a committee here that has a re- 

 sponsibility for the entire field, rather than having it spread, and we 

 need someone to deal with it. 



Now, I also share your feeling on the Inter- Agency Committee. I 

 think it has done a good job. I think it lias been very helpful, able, 

 and has shown some real leadership there. Jim Wakelin has been 

 very effective. 



And, one of the concerns I have about forming the council is that 

 we just upgrade the interagency approach, which may be helpful. 

 I don't see that it would do any harm, perli^aps, but I think eventually 

 we are going to have to have some agency that we can deal with, and 

 T think maybe you are just about 2 or 3 years ahead of what we are 

 ready to do yet, and I think we need a really comprehensive, effective 

 study from all elements of those concerned with oceanography, not 

 just a governmental group study, but put it on a level where it will 

 really have some impact when the report comes out to suggest orga- 

 nizations, to suggest funding, and goals, and then, as soon as this 

 adequate study has been made, where we will know how to tie in the 

 various groups that are now doing that work in oceanogi^aphy, then 

 I think we can proceed ; and it may be we may want to start- out with 

 a separate agency — I do not think quite on the stature of NASA, prob- 

 ably, to start out with, but one which maybe could do basic research 

 that could be used by all of the various departments now engaged, 

 and start pulling in,' but I do think what you are suggesting essen- 

 tially is going to have to come about in some form, but I think with 

 an adequate study, this is tlie first basis, and the first step toward that. 



Thank you. 



Mr. Lennon. Mr. Pelly, you are just in time to question your friend 

 and colleague, our friend and colleague. 



Mr. Pelly. Mr. Chairman, I want to apologize for being late. It 

 is very difficult to be at two committees at the same time, and I tried 

 to save the best part, the icing, for the last ; namely, your committee. 



Mr. Lennon. Thank you. 



Mr. Felly. I am at least here in time to express to my colleague 

 from California my gratification for his interest. I think our com- 

 mittee went down close to his district at La Jolla, and to the wonderful 

 University of California Scripps Oceanographic Institute, that we 

 are very much interested in, and I know I will have a chance to read 

 your testimony later on, Mr. Wilson. I won't take more time of the 

 committee. 



Mr. Lennon. Mr. Downing. 



