843 
In other words, are you willing to speak personally, as distinguished 
from your official position? Are you willing to speak personally on 
the record? 
Tf not, I do not want to embarrass you—are you willing to give us 
a more affirmative, a more urgent and more affirmative support for 
NOAA or something like NOAA, than your own testimony here would 
indicate ? 
Dr. Wenxk. Well, Mr. Mosher, first let me say that the statement 
pared it as executive secretary of the Marine Council. 
Inevitably, each of us becomes influenced by what we discuss with 
other people, so this may have reflected the views of others, but it was 
prepared as the view of the executive secretary. 
It was cleared by the Bureau of the Budget, and I will say that 
their constraint on this testimony was minimal. So, therefore, it does 
represent my viewpoint. 
I feel obliged to respond candidly to any questions you may ask, 
and in this regard I would not separate these as an Administration 
view versus your witness’ view. I will simply answer any question that 
you may ask, and I will be as candid as I can. 
WITNESS SUPPORT OF NOAA 
Mr. Mosuer. Well, your view is largely affirmative toward the 
proposed NOAA ? 
Dr. Wenx. As I indicated in the testimony, given the premise of 
the Commission that marine affairs deserves a higher priority in our 
scale of priorities than exists today, and I per sonally believe that 
Mr. MosnHeEr. ae agree with that premise / 
Dr. Wen. I do, indeed. Given that premise, then I believe, as I 
said in the testimony, I strongly believe that the proposal by the Com- 
mission. provides in general terms an organization more suited to meet. 
those goals than the present organization today. 
I will not equivocate in that statement. 
Mr. Mosuer. Mr. Chairman, I believe that the committee is on the 
right track in picking up the ball and running with it and not wait- 
ing for recommendations from the Ash Commission or the administra- 
tion. J am glad that you are conducting these hearings. I think we. 
may have to take, as we have done in the past, take some very vigorous 
initiatives despite hesitancy in the administration, 
PRIORITIES FOR MARINE SCIENCE 
Dr. Wenk, on page 19 you use a rather strong phrase. You say there: 
is absolutely no expectation that the budget increases contemplated by 
the Commission, there is absolutely no expectation that those can be 
realized in the short run and the near future. 
It may be that within the executive branch there is absolutely no 
expectation, but I am inclined to think that within the Congress in 
thinking of rearranging the priorities, the Congress might decide to. 
cut some place else in order to find these budget increases. I, for one, 
am not willing to ey that it is impossible for us to create NOAA 
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