836 
through consultation with non-Federal organizations and individual 
experts, joint sponsorship of a seafood industry conference, conduct 
of a conference of 80 non-Federal research laboratories, seminars on 
Government-industry coperation, and a forum on Federal-State co- 
operation dealing with coastal planning. 
Does the Council work? 
Perhaps the first test is whether it is used by the President as a 
staff advisory arm for marine affairs in the role cast for it by the 
legislation : 
To survey policies, plans and programs of participating Federal 
agencies. 
To develop a comprehensive program of marine science activities 
conducted by Federal agencies in cooperation with non-Federal. 
To designate and fix responsibility of participating agencies, in- 
sure cooperation and resolve differences. 
To undertake studies of legal problems related to marine resources. 
To establish long-range studies as to potential benefits. 
To consult with and solicit views of Federal agencies and non- 
Federal interests. 
To coordinate programs of international cooperation. 
To provide policy guidance to the national sea grant program. 
I believe the annual reports prepared by the Council for the Presi- 
dent and the abstract of Council activities cited previously answer 
the questions affirmatively. 
Mr. Lennon. I would interrupt to call your attention to the ques- 
tion you ask the committee and the marine science world: Does the 
Council work? And then you go on to definitively show that it does 
work, and what it has accomplished. 
And yet we would not have had a Council and the many things that 
you have enumerated that the Council is responsible for; were it not 
for the action of the Congress. You are the person to best know what 
the Council has done. 
T have said this many times privately and publicly, and continue to 
say it. Now you say it. You will have to admit that it wasn’t through 
any initiative—in fact, it was over the opposition of the executive 
branch of the Government that you did these things that you set 
forth in such detail that the Council accomplished as a result of the 
Council being created. 
Now, go ahead. 
Dr. Wenx. I must agree, Mr. Chairman, and legislative history 
confirms your comment, the executive branch did oppose Public Law 
89-454 until it was enacted by the Congress. But once it was signed 
by the President, and I think the important thing at that point in 
history is 
Mr. Lennon. The finest thing that ever happened. 
Dr. Wenn. That is right. The Chief Executive should perhaps be 
permitted to change his mind. Although there had been initial oppo- 
sition, immediately after the signing there was complete support for 
this act. 
Mr. Lennon. With that I agree. 
Dr. Wenk. And the progress we have made since that time is recited 
in these few pages in this testimony, I believe the Congress as well as 
those in the executive branch may share some satisfaction In seeing, 
