268 NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 



Millions of dollars have been appropriated in the past decade to 

 enable man to pierce the lOutermost reaches of space. In addition 

 to the considerations of acquiring scientific knowledge of our uni- 

 verse — leading to later development of its potential resources — we 

 ha-ve lamiched this Nation's military and defense etforts toward the 

 heavens with resounding success. 



Our national security, for almost 200 years a matter of landlocked 

 concern tenuously guarded by the expanse of oceans, has recently be- 

 come a matter of great concern for those who guide our space pro- 

 grams. We have effectively met this challenge, only to be faced with 

 another of equal seriousness. 



Only last week, members of this subcommittee heard Mr. David 

 Strang, a specialist in the field of Soviet oceanography, relate the 

 Soviet Union's formidable program for the study of the world's oceans 

 and continental coastlines. Mr. Strang's I'eport, as well as other avail- 

 able sources of information, indicate such a great Soviet expansion of 

 effort in this area that the ]:)Osition of our leadersliip as explorers of 

 the oceans is in serious doubt. His primary conclusion, that the So- 

 viet Union has oriented a major portion of its oceanographic pro- 

 grams toward the areas of military science, undersea warfare, and 

 defense development, strikes a note of urgency into our present delib- 

 erations. 



It is a foregone conclusion that we can hardly afl:'ord to place second 

 best in any area of endeavor, let alone one of such recognizable magni- 

 tude. 



The objective of the bill I have introduced is to establish a program 

 which will insure the United States mastery of the seas. Without im- 

 posing upon the rights and prerogatives of the legislative and execu- 

 tive branches of our Government, as well as the important interests of 

 private industry, this bill seeks the establishment of a comprehensive, 

 coordinated national program of oceanographic research, exploration 

 and engineering, guided and reviewed by Congress, prosecuted by the 

 executive, and joined in by all the people. Direction of the program 

 is appropriately assigned to the President, who would be aided by a 

 National Oceanographic Council for Science and Technology. 



This bill allows the widest possible latitude to accomplish the aims 

 of the program. These goals, already stated admirably by my col- 

 leagues in both Houses, have included: 



First, the expansion of human knowledge of phenomena in and re- 

 lated to the oceans, the marine environment, and the Great Lakes, their 

 boundaries and contents. 



Second, the preservation of the role of the United States as a leader 

 in oceanographic and marine science and technology. 



Third, the enhancement of the culture, general welfare, and security 

 of the United States. 



To these I have added : 



The exploitation of the oceans, in terms of recovery of mineral and 

 living resources, safer waste disposal, improved recreation, expanded 

 commerce, and extended weather prediction. 



Under the provisions of this bill, members of the Council shall 

 be selected and delegated bv the Presideiit's department heads, thus 

 permitti]ig membership at the highest science policy level of Govern- 

 ment, equivalent to that of the Federal Council for Science and Tech- 



