848 
COUNCIL AS ADVOCATE 
Mr. Rocrrs. Now just a minute. This is a Council on Oceanography. 
Dr. WENK. But it is still in the Executive Office of the President, Mr. 
Rogers. 
Mr. Rocers. Do you think the Council that established our space 
program was not an advocate for the space priority ? 
Dr. Wenk. In the case of the space program 
Mr. Rocers. If you think it was not, I would suggest you review its 
history. 
Dr. WenxK. Well, Mr. Rogers, if I may suggest, I think the reason 
the space program made the progress it did is more because there was 
an operating agency in NASA that was able to make the case as an 
advocate. 
Mr. Rocers. Yes, and that is what we want for oceanography and 
we are not getting the support that we should from the Council to 
establish that. I was hopeful the President would move ahead and 
do it himself, but obviously it is going to be studied, so the Congress 
has to do it. 
Just one more thing, then I will conclude. I am also concerned that 
the Council doesn’t develop into an operating agency. This is not what 
we established it for. We established it for policy and to give push 
to oceanography. When I see activities such as sponsorship of sea- 
foods industry conference, conduct of 80 non-Federal research labora- 
tories seminar on Government-industry cooperation, I am not sure 
but what this may border on agency operation, rather than policy 
determination and leadership. 
Dr. Wenx. May I speak to that point, Mr. Rogers, that these con- 
ferences were entirely for the purpose of consulting with the non- 
Federal interests. The marine program is quite different from the 
space program in that it involves interests and investments by the 
private sector. 
The space program is 98-percent Federal. This marine program is 
perhaps 50-percent Federal, but it also involves State governments, 
involves the fishing industry, the petroleum industry, and so on. 
Mr. Roerrs. I understand that, but I think this is more of the oper- 
ation of an agency to establish these relationships rather than the 
Council. 
Dr. Wenx. I would be pleased to go into detail, Mr. Rogers. One 
of the things I took quite seriously in the act, section 4(b) states, ”In 
the planning and conduct of a coordinated Federal program the Pres- 
ident and the Council shall * * * consult with departments and 
agencies concerned with marine science activities and solicit the views 
of non-Federal organizations and individuals with capabilities in 
marine sciences.” 
Mr. Rocers. I understand that. I understand your soliciting views 
and so forth, but not conducting the seminar, necessarily, or the sea- 
food industry conferences. This goes beyond a solicitation of views, in 
my mind. I won’t pursue that at this time. Thank you, though, Doctor, 
and we appreciate your testimony and you know we all hold you in 
high regard. 
