250 NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 



allegedly knowledgeable on the subject of tlie functions and the 

 responsibilities of the interagency on oceanography, and Ave were asked 

 the question, "Well, doesn't the National Science Foundation have a 

 member on this interagency committee on oceanography?" 



"No." 



Then about 6 weeks later, we would hear another witness before the 

 committee, and we would ask him. "Now, does HEW have a member on 

 the committee?" 



And they would search frantically through the list. "No." 



We would say, "Why don't you put one on there?" because, under 

 the budget, they get so much money for some facet of it ; and they did, 

 and if it hadn't been for this committee, in its hearings, back in 1961 

 and 1962, and thereafter, and we were sort of an oversight committee. 



Now we have got this problem with respect to financing our funding. 

 It is spread across everj^ committee in this Congress. 



Dr. HoLLOMON. There are four major, aren't there, really? 



Mr. Lennon. Now, the Department of Commerce doesn't have to 

 go to a legislative committee for authorization for funding. 



Dr. HoLLOMON. That is correct. 



Mr. Lennon. That is a continuing thing. 



Dr. HoLLOMON. That is correct. 



Mr. Leistnon. On the other hand, when the Department of Defense 

 Avants two oceanographic A^essels, they have to come to the Committee 

 on Armed Services for authorization. And the same thing is here, 

 there, and yonder. 



Now, you spoke of the ships that you were building. In fiscal 1966, 

 there wasn't a nickel in the President's budget for shipbuilding in the 

 Denartment of Commerce for oceanography, was there? 



Dr. HoLLOMON. That is correct, sir. 



Mr. Lennon. You say, that is a fact ? 



Dr. HoLLOMON. That is a fact. 



Mr. Lennon. Well, we didn't get much help there, then, did we ? 



You couldn't go to the Appropriations Committee when you didn't 

 have an authorization for ship construction, Avhen it was not in the 

 President's budget, but if you had an authorization committee, and 

 it had authorized on the basis of whateA^er need you may hav^e proposed 

 before that authorization committee, you might haA^e got a ship on the 

 way in 1967 that would liaA^e been launched in 1969. 



Dr. HoLLOMON. Mr. Chairman, to go to your original question, 

 which was, do you think that the Congress should take action to define 

 this matter, Avhich is, I think, th.e original question, my A^ew of this 

 matter is this : It is clearly Avithin the authority, the broad legal 

 authority of the Secretary of Commerce, and I suppose other agencies 

 of the country; it is my vicAv — and this is a personal view — if the 

 Congress is, as you appear to be, concerned tliat this hasn't been 

 accepted, and that this is not clearly defined, then it would be mv 

 suggestion that you consider whether clarifying legislation is required. 



Mr. Lennon. Well, of course, the Congress has that responsibility. 

 But tlie fact remains, sir, that in all of the bills that haA^e been intro- 

 duced on this subject this year, this Avas the only one that got the con- 

 sensus — I say that advisedly — of faA^orable reports from all of tlie 

 agencies of the Federal GoA^ernment and the ExecutiA^e Office of the 

 President, on up or down, or however way you Avant to tenn it, so you 



