I might say that some of you will recall that there was a difference 

 of opinion with respect to creating by this act a so-called National 

 Council. There was some apprehension on the part of the administra- 

 tion that it would be repetitious if the individuals designated by 

 those appointed to the Council at the Cabinet level would be the same 

 individuals who have comparable or similar positions under the 

 White House program for marine sciences. 



I want to make this public statement here now that through the 

 inspiring leadership and, I think, dedication and complete interest 

 under the Chairman of that Council, Vice President Humphrey, we 

 have seen a new order and a new day. I have been privileged to com- 

 municate both by letter and by personal contact with Dr. Wenk and 

 the Vice President, and I know that each meeting of the Council has 

 been well attended by the members of the Council or someone at a 

 responsible level attending as their designee. 



They have done, in my judgment and in the judgment of those of us 

 on the subcommittee, Mr. Mosher primarily, the ranking minority 

 member of this subcommittee, a very fine and excellent serA'ice to this 

 great field that we are talking about today. I might say for the benefit 

 of those who are not privileged to participate as members of the Ad- 

 visory Committee to the National Committee, to which Mr, Mosher and 

 I were designated by the Speaker and ultimately appointed by the 

 President as observers in an advisory capacity, that in the meetings 

 that we have attended of the Commission which meets here on a 

 monthly basis in Washington, as well as other places in the country, we 

 have been tremendously impressed by the leadership of the Chairman 

 of that Commission, Dr. Stratton, a former president of MIT, a 

 former dean at MIT, a former professor at MIT, and now the chair- 

 man of the Ford Foundation. 



He has provided, in our judgment, a significant organizational 

 leadership genius, and we are delighted with the manner and the 

 method and the way that they are proceeding. 



I would like to say, too, that shortly after the act was signed, which 

 I recollect was on June 17 of last year, I wrote to the President and 

 suggested to him that the caliber, the knowledge, the interest, the con- 

 cern and time that could be given by the members of the Commission 

 that he might see fit to appoint would determine the success of the ulti- 

 mate report to the Congress, and to the President of the United States. 



He has in his consideration and appointment of the Commission 

 selected a wide view of the most knowledgeable, interested, and dedi- 

 cated people I know in these fields that we are here to discuss today. 



Now, unfortunately, we do apologize to Dr. Wenk and his associates 

 of the Council and I don't think they have to be reminded of the fact 

 that when a Member of Congress goes to his office at 8 or 8 :30 in the 

 morning or as late as 9, we are immediately involved in long-distance 

 telephone conversations. As I tried to get over here a large group of 

 constituents walked into the office. You just can't say, "Good morning, 

 how do you do," because they come to see us. 



Of course, there are conflicts also of other subcommittees meeting 

 this morning. I think you already know that the House is scheduled 

 to go in at 11 o'clock. That decision was not made until rather late last 

 night. We are trying to get permission to continue our hearings during 

 the session of the House, which we have to get by unanimous consent on 

 the House floor. 



