Abridged Chronology of Events Related to Federal 



Legislation for Oceanography 



1956-65 



PART I.— CHRONOLOGY 



August 9, 1956. Rear Adm. Rawson Bennett, acting for Office of Naval 

 Research and three other Federal agencies, requested President 

 Detlev Bronk, National Academy of Sciences, to appoint a 

 committee representing the scientific community to provide 

 advice and guidance on needs and opportunities of oceanographic 

 research (Note 1). 



November 1957. First meeting of Committee on Oceanography, 

 National Academy of Sciences (NASCO) . 



Ajpril 29, 1958. Agreements formulated by U.N. Conference on the 

 Law of the Sea, Geneva, concerning sovereignty over territorial 

 sea, contiguous zones, and Continental Shelf. 



December 27, 1958. White House released report by the President's 

 Science Advisory Committee on "Strengthening American 

 Science" that recommended establishment of a Federal Council 

 for Science and Technology to coordinate programs involving a 

 large number of Federal agencies. This report also mentioned 

 oceanography as an example of several fields warranting special 

 stimulation. 



January 1, 1959. Long-range planning for Navy oceanography 

 embodied in report TENOC (Ten Years in Oceanography) 

 endorsed by Adm. Arleigh A. Burke within budget limits con- 

 sidering other Navy needs (Note 2) . 



86th Congress 



February 15, 1959. NASCO released its summary of 12-volume 

 report on "Oceanography, 1960-1970," recommending that the 

 Federal Government assume responsibility for accelerating 

 a national program of research, surveys, education, and construc- 

 tion of facilities by approximately doubling the level of effort 

 over the next 10 years. Increases in expenditures were proposed 

 from about $24-$30 million for the base year 1958 to roughly 

 $80 million per year for the 1 960-69 decade (Note 3) . 



February 17, 1959. House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee 

 established Special Subcommittee on Oceanography. 



March 3 to June 2, 1959. Hearings convened by House Merchant 

 Marine and Fisheries Committee, under Special Subcommittee on 

 Oceanography chaired by Congressman George P. Miller, on 

 "Oceanography in the United States," testimony invited from 42 

 Government, university and industry witnesses concerning 

 NASCO goals and proposals. 



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