39 



Tliank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Rogers of Florida. Mr. Edwards ? 



Mr. Edwards. Dr. Wenk, to what extent has the Council been in- 

 volved in the sea grant college program ? 



Dr. Wenk. The sea grant program was established as an amendment 

 to the original Marine Resources and Engineering Development Act. 

 This was done because even though the legislation gives the authority 

 to the National Science Foundation to administer the sea grant pro- 

 gram, it gives the responsibility for policy guidance to our Council. 



Last fall, soon after the Council was activated, working closely with 

 the National Science Foundation, we endeavored to develop a set of 

 criteria, on which basis awards for sea grants could be made. These 

 criteria were developed over a period of 3 or 4 months and find their 

 way, in fact, to a chapter in this report of the President, although 

 they are not explicitly identified as such. 



Mr, Edwards. Page 57 ? 



Dr. Wenk. That is correct. On the bottom of page 60 and the top 

 of page 61 is essentially an abstract of the nature of a sea grant program 

 that we visualized arising from this legislation. On page 62 and page 

 63 are set forth a set of criteria on the basis of which the applications 

 from potential recipients of the grants would be evaluated. 



This broad guidance — and it is broad — was provided the National 

 Science Foundation and worked out with them. It was my understand- 

 ing that at the present time they are converting these broad terms into 

 an explicit announcement, that will be made available within the next 

 week or so. 



Mr. Edwards. Do you feel, then, that the sea grant program is going 

 forward as you would hope and that it is going in the right direction ? 



Dr. Wenk. Well, it's a little early to tell how this is working. No 

 grants have yet been awarded. Authorization Congress provided in 

 the act required a cycle of appropriations in order to implement the 

 legislation. 



The administration on its own initiative proposed to reprogram $1 

 million of fiscal 1967 money already appropriated, but this required 

 mformal approval of the Appropriations Committee; this was ob- 

 tained about 6 weeks ago. 



The National Science Foundation for fiscal year 1968 has $4 million 

 earmarked for the sea grant program. 



The House in passing the NSF appropriations this year went on 

 record explicitly supporting this sea grant program, and indicating 

 that any cuts that it proposed to the NSF should not be taken in this 

 sector. 



Mr. Edwards. In other words, we went along with the $4 million ? 



Dr Wenk. You went along with the $4 million and, in fact, pro- 

 tected it rather uniquely in comparison with other parts of the NSF 

 program. 



It is my understanding that the Senate within the past few davs has 

 acted smiilarly. This appropriation will be resolved in conference very, 

 very shortly and I am sure signed into law. 



Mr. Edwards. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Rogers. Dr. Wenk, I want to join in saying that I think your 

 statement has been most helpful. There are some questions, however, 

 that I woLild like to get into, if I may, to be rather more specific on 

 what the Council is domo". 



