NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 475 



seiitatives from Government, five from industry, and five from uni- 

 versities, institutions, or laboratories, and so forth. 



It so happens that there is pending before tliis committee, and you 

 commented on it already, H.l\. 9064, I believe that is your bill, Mr. 

 Rogers, identical to the Senate bill, or it was before it was amended 

 in the Senate. 



Mr. EoGEES. Yes, sir. 



Mr. Lennon. Well, there are three bills: Mr. Fascell, of Florida, 

 H.R. 5654, and H.R. 6512, and H.R. 7301 by Mr. Ilanna, of California, 

 and H.R. 7798 by Mr. Huot, of New Hampshire. 



At the time of the introduction of those bills on this side of the Hill, 

 they were identical with the Senate bill 944. Since then, however, 

 the Senate bill, as I miderstand it, has been amended to create a 

 commission. 



You will recall that we passed here in the House legislation year be- 

 fore last that is identical to H.R. 2218, the bill that is now before us, 

 and it, of course, was not even considered by the committee in the 

 Senate. 



So, it would look like to get legislation, and I am inclined to believe 

 that the executive branch sort of hopes that we do not get any, period, 

 but it would look like now at this time in the session that there is 

 going to have to be a consensus between the two bodies with respect 

 to legislation that both bodies will pass. 



I was thinking about the possibility of H.R. 2218 being amended to 

 provide, it provides for an advisory commission, counsel may correct 

 me if I am incorrect, but it does provide for an advisory connnission 

 to the President, but my recollection is it only provides for a minimum 

 of seven. 



Mr. Dkewky. That is correct. 



Mr. Lennon. And it is permissive only, a minimum of seven. '\Vliat 

 would you think. Doctor, if 2218 was amended to provide for a Presi- 

 dential Advisory Commission, not on a permissive basis but a directive 

 basis such as some of this other legislation provides for ? 



To authorize and direct the President to appoint an Advisory Com- 

 mission of not less than 15 members, 5 of them should come from 

 Government, 5 of whom should come from industry, and 5 who should 

 come from your laboratories and miiversities and that segment of the 

 interested people in oceanography ? 



Dr. SEroMAN. Mr. Chairman, first, before I respond directly to that 

 inquiry, I do not think we would have a great deal of problem with 

 the provision which is in S. 944 on the Commission, which is merely 

 an authority to create such a commission, without expressly requiring 

 it. _ 



Certainly I would say we are openminded on the latter proposition 

 which the chairman has advanced. Our principal problem, as you 

 know, has been the fact that there is a panel of the Science Advisory 

 Committee currently studying oceanographic programs. We were not 

 objecting to the creation of a connnission in principle but our objection 

 was related rather to timing. 



It seemed that we would be able better to judge what the charter 

 of the Commission ought to be and where it should concentrate its 

 efforts after we had the report from the panel of the President's Sci- 

 ence Advisory Committee. 



