476 NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 



So, I think we do have some problem on the timing here which 

 ought to be considered, but certainly this is a matter, as I say, on 

 which I think we are openminded. 



I do not know that we have any fixed position. 



Mr. Lennon. Now, on the Federal Council of Science and Tech- 

 Tiology, every major agency of the Federal Government is represented 

 by a member; that is true, is it not? 



Mr. Seidman. That is correct; every one that has an interest in 

 oceanography. 



Mr. Lennon. An interest in oceanography. Even the Department 

 of State, I believe, has a representative on the Federal Council. 



Mr. Seidman. There are important international implications. 



Mr. Lennon. That is at the observer level, just as the Bureau of 

 the Budget has a member on the Federal Council, but that is always 

 at the observer level. 



Mr. Seidman. Correct. 



Mr. Lennon. The National Council as provided for in the Senate 

 bill, is, of course, a directive; in other words, it would be established 

 in the Executive Office of the President a national council, and so 

 forth, and it goes on to name them. 



I am mistaken in my impression that the Senate bill 944 requires 

 the President to appoint a commission. I think that is within his 

 discretion as I see it now. 



I stand corrected on that. 



So, your position is that with the existence now of the Federal 

 Council for Science and Technology you have in essence and in sub- 

 stance the same sort of a council that he would have under S. 944; 

 is that a fair statement? 



Mr. Seidman. We do not claim that the Federal Council on Science 

 and Technology is the same sort of council as would be provided by 

 S. 944. Our point is that effective coordination of Federal programs, 

 and particularly developmg Federal programs, can be most effectively 

 dealt with by the President, because the situation changes from time 

 to time, and what might be a satisfactory arrangement today might 

 not be the best arrangement 12 months irom now, and that we can 

 best achieve the goals which I think both this committee and executive 

 branch want to achieve through flexibility in terms of the organiza- 

 tional and coordinating arrangements. The situation with respect to 

 oceanography is common to other areas of science. 



The functions under H.R. 2218, and under the other bills which pro- 

 vide for a statutory council, are almost identical. Under H.R. 2218, 

 they are made the responsibility of the President; the Congress re- 

 quires him to carry them out and report back to the Congress on 

 what he has done, but leaves the particular organizational arrange- 

 ments for determination by the President. 



Mr. Lennon. It seems to be the thinking, apparently on the part 

 of the Commerce Committee in the Senate, which is reflected in the 

 total body of the Senate on the passage of this bill on a voice vote, 

 that perhaps we do not have the coordination at the higher echelons 

 in Government in oceanography that we ought to have. 



So many witnesses have indicated their philosophy that the Federal 

 Council for Science and Technology was devoting so little time and 

 so little of its personnel to the consideration of the overall spectrum 

 of oceanography. 



