859 
ways that were unpredictable, but all in terms of interpreting this 
mandate of the Congress of trying to make the ocean serve people. 
We were able to emply that mandate to bring about a remarkable 
transition from what had previously been only scientific oceanography. 
When you go through to this next step of trying to achieve the goals 
which the Commission set forth with the increased funding, I come 
back again to my earlier point. 
I believe that a consolidation of these elements—now in several dif- 
ferent agencies and each at a relatively lower level in each agency— 
that this consolidation would gain the greater effect that the Commis- 
sion proposed. 
FUNDING FOR MARINE PROGRAMS SINCE THE COUNCIL WAS ESTABLISHED 
Mr. Curnean. Mr. Lennon has referred to the gains that the Com- 
mittee hoped to achieve by creating the Council. Can you give us some 
idea of how the funding in oceanography has increased since the crea- 
tion of the Council ? 
Dr. Wenx. Yes. I can’t recite this from memory, but my recollec- 
tion, Mr. Clingan, is that the fiscal year immediately preceding the 
activation of the Council the funding level was around $333 million. 
That is fiscal 1966. The proposed level for fiscal 1970 was over $520, 
but in view of the number of cuts it may end up being around $500. So, 
even allowing for some minor ajustments in accounting, there has been 
in those 4 years of from 40- to a 50-percent increase. 
Mr. Crinean. And you would attribute this to the coordinating 
effect of the Council ? 
Dr. Wenx. I don’t want to claim full credit for this, because the 
agencies themselves developed programs and in turn are obliged to 
defend their budgets to the Bureau and to Congress. But I think it 1s 
fair to say that the Council—the leadership provided by its chair- 
man—and the effect that it has in the Executive Office inevitably had 
some effect of not just getting more money, but relating to marine is- 
sues to our national concerns. This is what we tried so ‘hard to do: to 
point out that the quality of our environment and economic growth, 
national security, and keeping our evolving international affairs free 
of conflict, depend significantly on the oceans. This was elevating this 
whole enterprise above its previous concern when it was focused al- 
most entirely on science. So, if I were to look back in terms of what 
the Council has done itself, that rather than just getting more funds 
we oriented science to serve social and economic eoals. But we did get 
more money, too, 
ECONOMIC BENEFITS FROM MARINE INVESTMENTS 
Mr. Crinean. Thank you. One other question. Let me say that it is 
my understanding that the whole program has to do with encouraging 
incentive for industry to move into the oceans by providing programs. 
Is that correct ? 
Dr. Wenn. Yes, sir. 
Mr. CriInean. Now, would this not result in a substantial increase 
in gross national products? 
Dr. Wenx. I believe it would without any question. 
26-563 —70—pt. 228 
