458 NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 



Mr. Casey. Thank you very much, gentlemen, for your help in this 

 matter. 



Dr. Kavanagh. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Casey. We will next hear from Vice Adm. William D. Shields, 

 Assistant Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard. He is accompanied by 

 Rear Adm. William W. Childress, Chief, Office of Operations, and 

 Lt. Comdr. Eugene A. Delaney, Chief, Oceanographic Branch, Office 

 of Operations. 



We welcome you again, Admiral, and we are pleased that you could 

 be here this morning. 



You have a very short statement, Admiral. You may do what you 

 desire with it. 



STATEMENT OF VICE ADM. WILLIAM D. SHIELDS, ASSISTANT COM- 

 MANDANT, U.S. COAST GUARD; ACCOMPANIED BY REAR ADM. 

 WILLIAM W. CHILDRESS, CHIEF, OFFICE OF OPERATIONS; AND 

 LT. COMDR. EUGENE A. DELANEY, CHIEF, OCEANOGRAPHIC 

 BRANCH, OFFICE OF OPERATIONS, U.S. COAST GUARD 



Admiral Shields. It is about four pages, sir. I would like to read 

 it at your pleasure. 



Mr. Casey. That is fine. 



Admiral Shields. Mr. Chairman, members of the subcommittee, 

 I appreciate this opportunity to appear before you today. Admiral 

 Roland regrets that he was unable to appear during these hearings. 

 He and I are concerned, just as you are, with the development of a 

 sound national oceanographic program. 



The Congress has shown, in many ways, its deep interest in the 

 science of oceanography and its sincere belief that this science and the 

 development of ocean resources should be emphasized. For 2 years 

 I was a member of the Interagency Committee on Oceanography. 

 Since 1964, Rear Adm. William W. Childress, Chief, Office of Opera- 

 tions, has served on the committee and has kept me informed of the 

 committee's activities. 



The variance among the bills introduced to date certainly indicates 

 many paths which could be followed toward the development of the 

 sound and energetic oceanographic program which we all desire to 

 achieve. But they are also indicative that the ultimate administrative 

 organization required to achieve our aims cannot be wisely determined 

 at this point. 



As you are aware, the Treasury Department favors enactment of 

 H.R. 2218, introduced by the chairman. This bill would authorize 

 the establishment of a permanent Presidential Advisory Committee 

 for Oceanography and would require the President to declare national 

 goals, to designate and fix responsibility for the direction of Federal 

 activities and to resolve differences among the Federal agencies en- 

 gaged in oceanography. 



It is my conviction that this approach is the wisest at this moment 

 in our oceanographic growth. It will result in the delineation of 

 specific goals. I am confident that it xnW also result in the develop- 

 ment of specific agency responsibilities for the various phases of ocean- 

 ographic investigation, survey, and exploitation. To a certain extent, 

 certain agencies are recognized, by virtue of their missions and capa- 



