NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 315 



STATEMENT OF DR. ROBEET W. MORSE, ASSISTANT SECRETARY 

 lOF THE NAVY FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT; CHAIRMAN, 

 INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE ON OCEANOGRAPHY; ACCOMPANIED 

 BY CAPT. J. EDWARD SNYDER, JR., SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO DR. 

 MORSE; CAPT. T. K. TREADWELL, DEPUTY OCEANOGRAPHER OF 

 THE NAVY; REAR ADM. JOHN K. LEYDON, CHIEF OF NAVAL 

 RESEARCH; ROBERT ABEL, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, ICO; AND 

 THE PANEL CHAIRMAN OF THE ICO; DR. KEITH KRAUSE, PUBLIC 

 HEALTH SERVICE, HEW 



Dr. Morse. Yes, sir; there are a variety of people here whom we 

 will call up as questions come up. 



Mr. Lennon. You have a prepared statement. Do you want to 

 read it, please, sir ? 



Dr. Morse. Mr. Chairman, I do have a prepared statement. I will 

 abreviate it some perhaps, because so much ground has already been 

 covered. 



First, I would like to express for the Interagency Committee on 

 Oceanography membei's our appreciation for this opportunity to dis- 

 cuss the organization of the national oceanographic program. We 

 can appreciate the task which you have set yourselves in reviewing 

 all of the existing proposed legislation concerning oceanography. 



Naturally the oceanographic community is heartened by the great 

 interest displayed in our program by the Congress of the United 

 States as evidenced by the numerous bills which have been proposed 

 this session. The fact remains that it is a forbidding task and one 

 which merits our complete cooperation and willingness to participate 

 optimistically and with open minds. 



Although this is my first appearance before your committee, I am 

 aware of your strong initiative in bringing the deficiencies of our 

 Nation's program in oceanography in the past several years has been 

 impressive. 



We have achieved a considerable buildup of capital fixtures, in- 

 cluding laboratories, classrooms, and ship bases. We have doubled 

 the size of our oceanographic fleet and probably quadrupled its total 

 effectiveness. We have achieved substantial improvements in in- 

 strmnentation of all kinds. College enrollment in oceanography has 

 quadrupled since 1958 and several new institutions have established 

 programs in oceanography. 



Mr. Chairman, with your permission, I would like to make a few 

 comments concerning the various bills already proposed and what 

 they may portend for oceanography in the United States generally. 

 Commendably, they are all trying to accomplish the same purpose 

 and that is to utilize the seas around us in the best interest of the 

 peoples of the United States. 



The question is. How best to implement this policy? The spec- 

 trum of organization proposed in these bills runs from the single 

 agency concept to a continuation of the present confederation which 

 appears loosely knit in the eyes of some, and highly effective in others' 

 view. 



I stated to the Senate last February that I was completely new to 

 this business. However, a year's experience as Chairman of the ICO 

 has allowed me to form certain conclusions concerning our organiza- 

 tion's effectiveness and the possibilities of improvement thereto. 



