825 
dent for consideration by agencies when developing their fiscal year 
1971 and future programs and priorities—Commission proposals 
which could be implemented, if merited and if within national pri- 
orities, without any major reorganization. These were: 
1. To foster wise and productive use of coastal resources by (a) 
establishing a Federal grant program to encourage creation of 
State authorities for coastal area planning and management, (0) 
establishing coastal zone laboratories, and (c) planning regional port 
development. 
2. To expand ocean exploration of coastal and deepsea resources 
and weather forecasting services to serve a wide range of public and 
private interests. 
3. To improve the economic position of the U.S. fishing industry to 
meet foreign competition. 
4. Toestablish national regional laboratories and provide a stronger, 
more stable base of support for these laboratories, academic research, 
and manpower training. 
5. To encourage development of ocean resources with a minimum of 
international conflict, by U.S. initiatives defining a legal regime for 
the deep ocean floor. 
6. To initiate a long-range Federal contract program in basic 
marine technology, so as to develop a capability to work in the entire 
marine environment; for example, a Continental Shelf laboratory. 
The Vice President also recommended that the Commission pro- 
posal to create a separate agency should be evaluated in the con- 
text of a broader review of Federal organization, taking into account 
related environmental and natural resources areas, and maritime 
transportation. 
Mr. Lennon. May I interrupt you at this point to ask unanimous 
consent that there be inserted in the record at this point a letter ad- 
dressed to the President of the United States, dated March 27, 1969. 
I ask unanimous consent to introduce at this point a letter directed 
to the President of the United States, dated March 27, 1969, by our 
Vice President, and I will only read the first paragraph: 
On February 17, you requested the National Council on Marine 
Resources and Engineering Development to review recommendations 
of the Commission on Marine Science, Engineering and Resources 
set forth in their report “Our Nation and the Sea,” in consultation 
with Messrs. DuBridge, Burns, Mayo and Ellsworth. I am pleased to 
transmit the following comments: 
(The letter follows :) 
OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT, 
Washington, March 27, 1969. 
THE PRESIDENT, 
The White House, 
Washington, D.C. 
My Dear Mr. PRESIDENT: On February 17, you requested the National Coun- 
cil on Marine Resources and Enigneering Development to review recommenda- 
tions of the Commission on Marine Science, Engineering and Resources set 
forth in their Report Our Nation and the Sea, in consultation with Messrs. Du- 
Bridge, Burns, Mayo and Ellsworth. I am pleased to transmit the following 
comments. 
REPORT STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES 
The Commission’s Report is a timely evaluation of the significance of the 
oceans, domestically and internationally, in relation to economic growth, to 
improved quality of the environment, and to international understanding. It 
