192 NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 



This committee might also consider the degree to which the missions 

 of civilian agencies should be strengthened by additional legislation. 



This brings me to my last point — the matter of appropriations. 

 Over the last few years, total expenditures for oceanography by the 

 civilian departments and agencies of the Federal Government have 

 hovered close to $70 million each year. This figure takes in all the 

 agencies except the Department of Defense and covers their expendi- 

 tures for oceanographic research, ocean surveys, ship construction, 

 and ship operations. 



But what has been happening over the last few years is that the cost 

 of operating oceanographic ships have been rising and claiming a con- 

 tinually larger share of each year's expenditures for oceanography — 

 which means that the money being spent on oceanographic research has 

 in reality either declined or not risen very rapidly, and so I would urge 

 the Congress to look at Federal research programs in oceanography 

 very carefully and in a less fragmented way than in the past — to insure 

 that adequate funds are authorized and appropriated to carry out these 

 programs as the (Congress wishes them carried out. 



Mr. Chairman, this concludes my statement. 



I want to thank you for the opportunity to appear here today, and 

 express my own personal appreciation to you and your commit'tee for 

 looking into this very complicated and important subject. 



Mr. Lennon. Well, Dr. HoUomon, we are just as pleased to have 

 you. 



I think you have given us a rather comprehensive and accurate 

 picture of the situation as I, personally, see it. 



Mr. Pelly, questions, please, sir? 



Mr. Pelly. Dr. HoUomon, in the final part of your statement, you 

 refer to the increasing costs of operating oceanograpic ships. 



Would you spell that out a little? 



Dr. HoLLOMON. The general problem is the following : We have two 

 factors that are involved. First, the Congress has authorized for the 

 oceanographic program the construction and operation of new ships 

 that we did not have before. Every time you build a new ship— take 

 the case of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, which has now and is now 

 building new ships — we add approximately a million or a million and 

 a half dollars to the yearly cost of the oceanographic program, just for 

 that operation. And that ^oes on forever, essentially, as long as we 

 operate the ship. So, that is one aspect of the problem. 



The second aspect of the problem is that the cost of pay of people in 

 the maritime industry rises and rises to some degree somewhat faster 

 than does the average salary of people, and many of these ships, both 

 civilian and Government ; that is, private and Government ships, have 

 had to deal with the rising cost of maritime labor. Both of these are 

 factors in the rising cost. 



Mr. Pelly. Actually, however, isn't it true that much of this is 

 simply an expanded program ? It is not the increased general cost of 

 operating an oceanographic vessel ; it is the cost which has gone up due 

 to the fact that we now are having these other agencies do oceano- 

 graphic work. 



Dr. Hollomon. Part of it is that, and part of it is the increased cost. 

 Both factors are involved. 



