NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 597 



(Support of the Congress is, of course, vital to the Institution's oceanography 

 program. Established for "the increase and diffusion of Icnovvledge among men," 

 the Institution's charter is quite broad, permitting it to do research in the areas 

 wliere there are opportunities for progress. It reports to a Board of Regents 

 wliich includes members of botli Houses of Congress and maintains close liaison 

 with the legislative as well as the executive branches of Government. 



Generally, the Institution favors any scientific organization or study which 

 leads to broader interest and support of marine research. We must reserve 

 comments on proposed legislation until our Board of Regents has had a chance 

 to study it. The Institution stands prepared to participate in any effort to aug- 

 ment the national effort in the field of oceanography. 



State of California, 



Governor's Office, 

 Sacramento, August 19, 196.5. 

 Hon. Alton Lennon, 



Chairman, Oceanography Suhcommittee, House Committee on Merchant Marine 

 and Fisheries, House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 

 My Dear Congressman : I have reviewed the proposed National Oceanographic 

 Act of 1965, S. 944, and I am most favorably impressed with the proposal. The 

 provisions for expanded research in the oceans and Great Lakes and the estab- 

 lishment of a National Oceanographic Council are greatly needed steps toward 

 asserting the Federal Government's leadership in the Nation's oceanographic ef- 

 fort. The primary legislative objectives of the act, to set forth a policy and pur- 

 pose for our national oceanographic program, and to provide high level guidance 

 and coordination to Government activities under the program, are entirely con- 

 sistent with California's interests in moving forward with its oceanographic 

 program. 



The passage of S. 944 will provide both the basis for Federal leadership in 

 oceanography and the focus through which the oceanographic efforts of Cali- 

 fornia's government, educational and research institutions, and industry may 

 contribute to the national goals set forth in the bill. 



I therefore urge your support in seeing that S. 944 is given favorable consider- 

 ation by Congress. 

 Sincerely, 



Edmund G. Brown, Governor. 



Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 



Office of the Director, 

 Woods Hole, Mass., August 3, 1965. 

 Hon. Hastings Keith, 

 House of Representatives, 

 Washington, D.C. 



Dear Sib : I am gratified to see the interest and concern for the Nation's ocean 

 program which has been evidenced by you and your colleagues. The number of 

 bills now pending in the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries 

 gives clear testimony to the fact that the Members of Congress recognize the need 

 to strengthen the Nation's ocean program and intend to do something about it. 



The national oceanographic program has greatly increased in size in recent 

 years and we are beginning to learn many things about the oceans which were 

 previously unknown. There is a great difference, however, between our present 

 excellent national oceanographic program which is producing basic knowledge 

 about the oceans, and the necessary comprehensive program of the future which 

 will lead to a utilization of this knowledge for the benefit of mankind. I think 

 the time has come when this country should push forward with an ocean engineer- 

 ing program. In some ways it will complement the present oceanographic re- 

 search program, but an ocean engineering program really has quite different 

 objectives and will require different techniques for achieving them. 



There are many reasons why we should have an ocean engineering program. 

 Two of the most cogent, to my mind, are the need to conquer the ocean depths 

 for peaceful purposes and the need to develop the vast resource potential of the 

 oceans. You and your colleagues are all keenly aware of the many arguments 



