NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 473 



And, Mr. Chainnan, the objection we have to these bills would 

 apply to that part of S. 944, which also provides for a statutory 

 oceanographic council. 



The independent National Oceanographic Council which would 

 be established by H.R. 5654 inevitably would fragment responsibili- 

 ties now assigned to the Office of Science and Technology for advising 

 the President on the coordination of Federal programs relating to 

 science and technology. 



Further, there would appear to be little to be gained by substituting 

 a statutory interagency committee which the Office of Science and 

 Technology has already established in this area. 



H.E,. 6457 attempts to protect the status of the Office of Science 

 and Technology by establishing the National Oceanographic Council 

 within that Office. 



The Oceanographic Council, however, would for all practical pur- 

 poses be an independent entity with its own staff and would not be 

 subject to direction by the Director of the Office of Science and 

 Technology. 



Such an arrangement would confuse greatly responsibilities for ad- 

 vising the President on oceanographic matters. 



I will touch only briefly on H.R. 9064, which would establish a 

 National Commission on Oceanography, and H.E.. 5175, which would 

 provide for a study by the Coast Guard of the legal problems relating 

 to the management, use, and control of the oceans and ocean beds. 



The Office of Science and Technology, in its report to your com- 

 mittee dated July 6, 1965, pointed out that a study similar to that con- 

 templated by H.R. 9064 is currently being conducted by a panel of the 

 President's Science Advisory Committee. 



Consequently, we concur in the view of the Office of Science and 

 Technology that a statutory study commission should not be created 

 at this time. 



We defer to the views of the appropriate agencies concerning the 

 need for the study of legal problems provided by H.R. 5175. 



If such a study is undertaken, it would fall more logically within 

 the province of the Department of the Interior than the Coast Guard 

 whose responsibilities for ocean resources are rather limited. 



In summary, the Bureau of the Budget favors enactment of H.R. 

 2218. We are opposed to the enactment of H.R. 921, H.R. 5654, H.R. 

 5884, H.R. 6457, H.R. 7849, and H.R. 9064 



Mr. Lennon. Mr. Rogers ? 



Mr. Rogers. I wanted to check something, I am sorry I was a little 

 late. I wanted to check the statement, Mr. Chairman, if I may. 



Mr. Lennon. All right, we will return to you. 



Mr. Rogers. Fine, thank you. 



Mr. Lennon. I think it is interesting to note that of the number of 

 witnesses who testified before the subcommittee in the 2 preceding 

 weeks, including Dr. Hornig and Dr. Hollomon, and many others, 

 that this is the first instance, and it is indicative of the Bureau of the 

 Budget, that we use both sides of the paper. 



You are the first witness that has done that ; I commend you ; I think 

 that is fine. [Laughter.] 



Doctor, let me ask you if you have seen this week's issue, rather, this 

 month's issue of the American Legion magazine ? 



53-367--65 31 



