MARINE SCIENCES AND RESHARCH. ACT 45 
by the Secretary of Defense for the preparation of a report thereon 
expressing the views of the Department of Defense. 
The purpose of S. 2692 is as stated in the title. 
While the Department of Defense concurs in the objectives of this 
bill, it does not consider enactment of S. 2692 necessary to achieve 
these objectives. In general, the agencies of the Department already 
have adequate legislative authority to continue and expand research 
in the marine sciences. In this connection it should be noted that 
the expenditures of the Navy for oceanography are expected to increase 
from $17 million in 1960 to $23 million in 1961. For the Government 
as a whole expenditures will increase from $38 million in 1960 to $56 
million in 1961. ; 
If, however, favorable consideration is given to S. 2692 the Depart- 
ment of Defense would have the following suggestions to offer regard- 
ing the provisions of such proposed enactment: 
Sections 2 and 3 of the bill propose to establish a division of Marine 
Sciences in the National Science Foundation in which there is an 
interagency committee ostensibly to develop and encourage continuing 
national policy and program for the promotion of oceanography. 
The establishment of such a division should be based on the needs and 
desires of the Foundation. It does not seem appropriate, however, to 
extend the National Science Foundation’s authority into applied 
research activities, the establishment of which the proposed Division 
might authorize. The National Science Foundation should continue 
to support basic research and programs to strengthen scientific research 
potential in all of the sciences including specialized fields such as 
oceanography which may from time to time require particular em- 
hasis. 
The Subcommittee on Oceanography of the Federal Council for 
Science and Technology has proposed that under the Federal Council 
a permanent interagency committee be established to exercise program 
control and coordination of the national oceanography program. The 
subcommittee, as a precedent for this form of management, has 
demonstrated its effectiveness in the 6 months of its existence. 
Section 7 of the bill provides for the establishment within the 
Department of Commerce of a National Oceanographic Records 
Center. The Subcommittee on Oceanography has recommended, and 
it is generally accepted in the scientiic community as being more 
appropriate, that the National Oceanographic Data Center be estab- 
lished at the Hydrographic Office with joint policy guidance and 
financial support to be provided by the Navy, the Coast and Geodetic 
Survey, the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, the National Science 
Foundation, and the Atomic Energy Commission. This permits the 
utilization of existing facilities, equipment, and personnel. The ex- 
pansion of the present physical plant can be more rapidly accomplished 
and at considerably less expense than the establishment of a second 
installation. 
It is recommended that provision be made for such joint policy 
guidance and financial support as is necessary to insure that all of the 
Federal requirements are fulfilled. This can be accomplished by 
revision of section 6 to provide for participation and financial support 
of a National Oceanographic Records Center by the Bureau of Com- 
mercial Fisheries, and revision of sections 8(a) and 8(b) to provide 
for similar support and participation by the Coast and Geodetic 
Survey. 
