NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 517 



as a national effort and bears little resemblance to the thoughtful 

 design of ICO. 



5. The many segments of the President's program bearing on 

 marine or atmospheric affairs is presented to at least 32 substan- 

 tive and appropriation committees of the Congress. Among these 

 committees there is little communication. 



The consequence of all this — despite ICO's best efforts — is lack of a 

 well-balanced national program of marine and interrelated atmos- 

 pheric affairs or a budget for it. Accordingly, this country does not 

 have a truly national well-directed effort in this vital area of concern. 

 It is for this reason, I submitted H.K.. 10106. 



H.E. 10106 proposes : 



First, the enunciation of the broad national purposes, concepts, and 

 objectives required for a coordinated balanced program in marine and 

 atmospheric affairs. In this, it places emphasis on an acceleration 

 and expansion of marine exploration, technology, and scientific en- 

 deavor. It outlines a Federal role of full partnership and coordina- 

 tion with State, local government, industrial and academic activity in 

 the marine and atmospheric resources and environmental uses. 



Second, it authorizes a marine exploration fund providing for an 

 accelerated exploration program at the Federal level with cost- sharing 

 incentives for the States, academic, and industrial communities. Loans 

 and grants are authorized for purposes of developing, improving and 

 testing the instrumentation, vessels, vehicles, equipment or facilities 

 so vitally needed to implement a progressive program for marine ex- 

 ploration and discovery. 



Third, it authorized a marine and atmospheric research and develop- 

 ment fund for the acceleration of basic research in the component areas 

 of necessary scientific mquiry. This includes : the advance of ocean- 

 ographic engineering, advancement of knowledge pertinent to the 

 geomorpholoty and geology of the Continental Shelf, Great Lakes, 

 and deep ocean floors and, similarly, for the biological life, chemical 

 and physical characteristics of such environs. It also provides for re- 

 search and development related to climatological and meteorological 

 phenomena at the air-sea interface and atmosphere as well as the trans- 

 mission and generation of electrical energy in such environs. 



Fourth, it recognizes that the coordination of our major civilian 

 agencies concerned with marine and atmospheric affairs is essential. 

 Coordination and leadership in this area are indispensable. It recog- 

 nizes three basic areas of Government focus or influence within the 

 framework of our national efforts. These are: (1) Within the De- 

 partment of the Navy representing the marine and related military 

 and security interests of the United States; (2) Within the National 

 Science Foundation and Smithsonian Institution representing the aca- 

 demic interests in such matters; and (3) Within a new Department of 

 Marine and Atmospheric Affairs representing the civilian marine and 

 atmospheric interests and industry. 



In creating this new Department, I believe a moderate, sensible posi- 

 tion is taken between the present fragmented operation which we now 

 pursue and the creation of a massive new NASA-like agency for these 

 environs. 



