NATIONAL MARINE SCIENCES PROGRAM 



THURSDAY, AUGUST 17, 1967 



House of Representatives, 

 Subcommittee on Oceanography of the 

 Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, 



Washington, D.O. 



The subcommittee met at 10 :10 a.m., pursuant to call, in room 1334, 

 Longwor'th House Office Building, Hon. Alton Lennon (chairman of 

 the subcommittee) presiding. 



Mr. Lennon. The meeting will please come to order. 



As the first order of business this morning, I want to recognize in 

 the audience a distinguished scientist, a former consultant to the 

 Oceanography Subcommittee, Capt. Paul Bauer. Captain, we are 

 delighted to have you with us this morning. 



Captain Bauer. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Lennon. This morning we are holding the first of a series of 

 hearings on the status of our national marine sciences program. 



A little over a year ago, as all of you will recall, the Marine Re- 

 sources and Engineering Development Act of 1966 was enacted after 

 several years of wha)t we believed to be very thorough and compre- 

 hensive study. That act set forth a declaration of national policy and 

 national objectives for a long-range program. Key features of the act, 

 designed to implement its far-reaching objectives, were the establish- 

 ment of a National Council on Marine Resources and Engineering 

 Development and the establishment of a Commission on Marine 

 Science, Engineering, and Resources. 



This Council, with the Vice President as its Chairman, and eight 

 Cabinet-level members, is responsible under the law and under the act 

 that we referred to for advising and assisting the President in all 

 aspects of current marine science activities of the Federal Government. 



The Commission, on the other hand, composed of 15 members ap- 

 pointed by the President, not more than five of whom are from the 

 Federal Government, is responsible and specifically charged under the 

 act for developing a long-range marine science program for the future. 



One year ago today, the Comicil on Marine Resources and Engineer- 

 ing Development came into being. It is their anniversary. It is, there- 

 fore, I think, particularly significant that these hearings should begin 

 today with the executive secretary, the distinguished Dr. Edward 

 Wenk, Jr., to testify on behalf of the Council. 



We believe the Council and the new Commission have had sufficient 

 time to begin implementation of the law and gain functional experience 

 under it. Therefore, we commence these hearings with the thought 

 that our committee should be brought up to date on developments in 

 the national marine science program. 



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