NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 193 



Mr. Pelly. Well, I must say that originallyj I had an idea of a 

 great new agency, and I finally became convinced that President 

 Kennedy was wise when he wanted to step up this program, but he 

 wanted to move slowly to be sure that we did it in a proper way, and 

 I have come to the conclusion after listening to your testimony that 

 you favor following out that program. He certainly — the late Presi- 

 dent, certainly — was enthusiastic, and was responsible, in my opinion, 

 for our stepped-up program. 



But I have come to the conclusion that I support your approach 

 to this thing, and the approach of our chairman, Mr. Lonnon, whose 

 legislation we have been discussing. I certainly think you made a 

 very fine statement and, as I say, I certainly agree with you. 



Dr. HoLLOMON. Thank you, sir. 



Mr. Pelly. Thank you. 



Mr. Lennon. Mr. Rogers? 



Mr. Rogers. Thank you very much. 



I am sorry I was late, Mr. Hollomon. I am sorry I was not here 

 to hear you read your statement. I tried to look over it quickly here. 

 I do intend to go over it thoroughly. 



Just from what I have heard, and I may not have heard it all, it 

 seems to me your position is that things are going along pretty well, 

 and if we have got to enact something, we should enact a bill like 

 2218, and you don't think that is too necessary, and that the studies 

 are going along, and probably things will be worked out if we will 

 just appropriate a little more in the areas that are now getting the 

 money. 



Is that about your testimony ? 



Dr. Hollomon. I think it is, in part. I think that I should like 

 to make clear that it may be desirable for the Congress explicitly to 

 identify the agencies of Government that have and should take the 

 leading responsibility for the oceanographic program. 



Mr. Rogers. Well, now, how are we going to do that, unless we 

 have a really high level group to come in and study this thing, with 

 the backing of the President, put some public attention on the whole 

 problem, as we have seen in national commissions before? 



For instance, heart, cancer, and stroke. They have the De Bakey 

 group, which is appointed by the President, has focused national at- 

 tention, and now legislation has come forth. What is wrong with 

 that approach ? 



Dr. HoLLOMON. My own view is that this is certainly a possible 

 approach to the problem. My feeling at the moment is you have a 

 committee here now discussing and Congress discussing and analyzing 

 what is going on, and if the Congress, in its wisdom, is dissatisfied 

 with the level of the ejffort, there are two major programs that ought 

 to be supported. They are clearly — it seems to me, at any rate — 

 clearly identifiable. 



One of these is the problem, and a very important problem, of 

 exploration for resources, determining what is there, how much it is 

 worth to get it out. 



Mr. Rogers. Who should do this? 



Dr. HoLLOMON. It seems to me — ^this is an opinion that I express 

 personally — it seems to me that the Interior Department has the nat- 

 ural resources responsibility, and that this is a responsibility that 



