NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 249 



Dr. HoLLOMAK. I understand your point of view, sir. 



Mr. Downing. Thank you, sir. 



Dr. HoLLOMON. It is w^ell stated, also. 



Mr. Lennon. Mr. Secretary, the o;h\mour and success of our space 

 flio'hts have created an imao-e, particularly among the laymen of the 

 country, that because of the concentration into the single Govern- 

 ment agency, NASA, that a comparable central organization should 

 be established in the whole facet and field and environment of 

 oceanography. 



Dr. HoLLOMON. Yes. 



Mr. Lennon. I realize myself that there is a vast difference, be- 

 cause we were dealing then primarily with three agencies within 

 the Defense Department, and the Defense Department had the final 

 say-so. We didn't have 16 other Federal agencies involved in space. 



But the thing that concerns me, sir, is that the scientists and the 

 engineers and those who for years have been engaged in oceanography 

 are now reflecting, through a series of editorials and public statements, 

 somewhat of the concern that has been shown by the interest of the 

 members of this committee. I have here in front of me an editorial 

 from one of the large papers of one of our great States, in which 

 they quote a recent editorial by the Ocean Science News, and I shall 

 read it for the record. This was August 2 of this year. I quote : 



Apropos of nothing- in particular except one man's frustration, we quote the 

 following outburst as pertinent to the proliferation of committees, panels, 

 societies, study groups, et cetera, that tout themselves as the answer, all to the 

 woes and aspirations of oceanography. Oceanography in the United States 

 is becoming one vast bureaucratic bowl of noodles. The only way to get anything 

 done is to push one of the noodles and hope that this same one comes out at the 

 other end. 



Now, when editorials written by a so-called knowledgeable person, 

 the editor of the Ocean Science News, appears as editorial quotes in 

 editorials across the country, then our peoDle write to Congressmen, 

 write the Members of the House and the Senate, and say, well, why 

 isn't something done? Why don't you bring these various agencies 

 together, and get on the road ? Get the show on the road ? 



So, you can see w^hy the Members of Congress are, at this point con- 

 cerned about what some of us seem to think is perhaps not being quite 

 as aggressive as we should. 



Now if we could go to your statement, on page 3 you say : 



Speaking very generally, oceanography is embraced in two broad areas, one, 

 the description and prediction of oceanic conditions. 



Now, what agencies of the Federal Government should be charged 

 with that responsibility, the description and prediction conditions, in 

 your judgment? 



Dr. HoLLOMAN. In my judgment, Mr. Chairman, that should be 

 clearly defined as the responsibility of the new organization ESSA. 



Mr. Lennon. You say that that should be defined by statute ? 



Dr. HoLLOsiAN. I leave that to the judgment. 



Mr. Lennon ._ Now I want your opinion, and your judgment. 



If Congress is to share, and it has demonstrated a concern, because 

 I remember the hearings of this committee in 1959 and 1960, when the 

 proposal for the interagency on oceanography was proposed, it came 

 into being, and as your hearings continued, the witnesses who were 



