540 NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 



So, about a year ago we set up a Commission — under our statutory 

 authority to set up certain kinds of Commissions — with certain num- 

 bers and kinds of people, and we deliberately timed that commission 

 so that it could take advantage of the somewhat narrower, in that case, 

 studies of the Academy ; The Commission is not trying to go back into 

 all of the detailed scientific studies that the Academy panel has gone 

 into, but is using the latter's results as one facet of their own study. 



And I think you are perhaps suggesting a similar sort of thing. 



Mr. Rogers. Because, in other words, if we wait now until the PSAC 

 panel comes in — and it will be another year — before we get the Na- 

 tional Commission going on it, this is going to delay us another year. 



You say throughout your testimony, page 9, we are not as well or- 

 ganized for exploitation as for research and exploration. Again, it is 

 essential that we first understand the problems. 



Throughout your testimony you are saying we just do not know 

 where to move it, and I think this is a correct statement. And then 

 you come in and say, we are not ready to go with a Commission yet, we 

 are going to wait until the PSAC panel comes in. 



It seems to me that to not grasp what we need to do in oceanogra- 

 phy — and this is one of our problems and this is why the Congress is 

 set up and why there are so many bills introduced — that there is no 

 one with enough urgency coming forth saying, let us get going and do 

 something. 



I would hope you would reconsider your advice, your agency here, 

 and comment for strong support not only for the bill you support but 

 for a National Commission, but do something to help us direct the 

 ef^or^s and the interests of the entire Nation on this problem, and I 

 would hope that your people will, as I am sure many of them are very 

 familiar with the advances Eussia is making. 



Tlie President said we want to stay ahead, but we are not going to 

 do it unless we know where we are going to go, set some goals and do it. 



I do not think you have the answer right now, I do not think the 

 Congress does right now, I do not think the Navy does right now, 

 and I am sure the other departments do not, because we have gotten 

 conflicting views in spite of the fact that the Budget has tried to 

 straighten them all out. 



We still have personal views. Two say we ought to have two courses 

 here, Interior and Commerce, but the Navy does not agree with that. 

 So here we go around. It seems to me to not be imaginative enough to 

 say, let's get on with what we have to do, is just delaying the whole 

 problem and the solution which we need, and I would hope that you 

 would reconsider and talk with your colleagues in the scientific 

 community. 



This recent meeting here of oceanoghaphers endorsed the idea of a 

 study. Industry itself have had their witnesses here to endorse this, 

 a national commission to get into this problem, and I would hope that 

 the leadership that your organization could exert in this area would be 

 put behind this, too. 



Thank you. Thank you very much. 



Mr. Casey. Mr. Grover, do you have anything ? 



Mr. Geover. No. 



Mr. Casey. Captain Bauer? 



Mr. Bauer. I do have, Mr. Chairman. 



