518 NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 



Essentially, the new Department would carry the President's Re- 

 organization Plan No. 2 to a logical conclusion. Included in this new 

 Department would be the U.S. Maritime Administration, U.S. Coast 

 Guard, U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, U.S. Weather Bureau, the 

 National Oceanographic Data Center, the Coastal Engmeering Re- 

 search Center, the Sea- Air Interaction Laboratory, the Central Radio 

 Propagation Laboratory — all existing agencies — and a new Bureau 

 of Marine Fisheries formed by the Environmental Division of the 

 Fisheries, responsibilities of the present Fish and Wildlife Service. A 

 new Coordinating Office of Marine Geology and Mineral Resources 

 would also be established. 



These are the major agencies concerned with marine and atmospheric 

 affairs. There are many other agencies such as the Geological Survey, 

 Bureau of Mines, Public Health Service, etc., concerned with missions 

 in the marine environment, but it is thought to be unwise to separate 

 the marine functions from these present agencies at the time. 



In addition, this bill does one other thing: it provides for the 

 establishment of a joint committee of the Congress to be the forum for 

 the consideration of the future direction and role of Government in 

 marine and atmospheric affairs. This I believe necessary if this vital 

 area of national program need is to be properly communicated to the 

 people. The parameters of discussion, the range and scope of the 

 problems, and the scientific, resources, and social areas of inquiry 

 are too broad for consideration within the frameweork of existing 

 committee structures in either the House or the Senate. 



Mr. Chairman, this then is the direction of the legislation I propose. 

 In closing, let me emphasize again my intentions. These are to help 

 focus national attention on the problems and opportunities before this 

 Nation in the marine world and lower atmosphere around us. 



I hope that the strength and imagination traditionally inherent in 

 our people will fuse with our renewed efforts in this field to conquer 

 our last frontier on this earth. 



In closing, may I remind my colleagues of the words of our late 

 President John F. Kennedy as he said, "Knowledge of the oceans is 

 more than a matter of curiosity. Our very survival may hinge upon 

 it." Now may I add that knowledge alone is not enough, our survival 

 may well hinge on our occupation and use of the vast marine world 

 around us. 



Mr. Casey. Thank you very much for a very interesting and in- 

 formative statement. 



Mr. Hathaway. Thank you for allowing me to present my state- 

 ment. 



Mr. Casey. We are pleased this morning to have Dr. Leland 

 Haworth, who is Director of the National Science Foundation, as our 

 next witness, and he will be accompanied, I understand, by Dr. Richard 

 G. Bader, who is Program Director for the oceanography program, 

 and Dr. William Benson, Head of the Earth Sciences Section. Both 

 of those are in the Division of Mathematics and Physical Science. 



Doctor, if you would like for them to join you at the table there we 

 will be delighted to have them. 



