845 
someone once said, it is a one-dimensional reflection of a multi-dimen- 
sional set of needs and wants of the Nation. It would be difficult to 
portray these in any defined form. I believe insofar as a response 
could be made to your question, two points, No. 1—I think the Presi- 
dent himself enunciates items which he considers of priority atten- 
tion. The mere fact that they become Presidential recommendations 
symbolizes his belief in priorities. 
Mr. Rocrrs. What I am thinking about is a listing. I realize when 
the President makes a statement on something, he considers it im- 
portant. But it is difficult for us in Congress to find out from any 
Administration—not only this one—what the priorities are, and yet 
they are always giving us the answer, “Well, they have to take place 
in the priorities.” Until we get a list of those priorities, it is difficult 
for us to make the judgment, because we may not agree with the 
weighting of priorities. 
Dr. Wenx. Again coming back to the budget as a reflection of pri- 
orities—there is one set of facts that I have found interesting, and I 
would like to share with this committee: Within the total Federal 
funding for research and development of $17 billion per year, only 
3 percent, goes to marine science affairs. Of the $17 billion, 36 percent 
goes to the space program, either civilian or military, 33 percent goes 
to other military, that is other than their contribution to the space pro- 
gram, 10 percent to atomic energy, 6 percent to health, 12 percent for 
all others. This would include agricultural research, transportation 
research and so on. 
So that this, I believe, is one way of saying how the priorities were 
established in the past 
Mr. Rocers. Well, I am asking for them now in the present. I won’t 
pursue this. If you will submit it for the record, I will stop. 
Dr. Wenx. [ shall certainly endeavor to answer your question. In 
short, however, I believe that current approval of the importance of 
the oceans to our Nation would indiciate 3 percent is too low. 
This administration is reviewing priorities in connection with the 
development of the Budget which is now underway. The President’s 
priorities will be reflected in the budget he transmits to the Congress 
in January. 
COMMITTEE’S VIEW OF THE ROLE OF THE COUNCIL 
Mr. Rocrrs. I am concerned we are getting away from what this 
committee and Congress intended when we set up the Council. It 
appears to me that the President’s science adviser is trying to inject 
himself too heavily in this field now and trying to downgrade the 
activity of oceanography. I hope this is not the case and I hope our 
committee will go into this with the science adviser of the President. 
Also, I am concerned by the fact that the Council has not been the 
salesman for oceanography that I think it should have. I think the 
Vice President and the Council should have convinced the President, 
should have convinced the Bureau of the Budget, should have con- 
vinced Mel Laird, Secretary of Defense, who cut our submersible fund, 
that these are essential things for the Nation’s development and it’s 
going to bring economic ruin. 
You know there is a lot of difference when you are just spending 
