973 
the memorandum from the President to the Ash Commission in which 
he specifically and definitively asked them to review the Commission’s 
report, and particularly as it related to the recommendation of the 
Commission for a central Government structure which is referred to as 
NOAA. 
To continue the continuity of the record so that you will see how 
we are so often frustrated, as we were with the opportunity of con- 
sidering your statement before you testified today, this was the 19th 
of May. 
On the 10th of September, this month, we asked the Commission 
if it had considered the President’s request and asked them to con- 
firm our request for this information by letter. 
The gist or the guts of the letter is that “We hope to launch a 
study at the request of the Presideit sometime within the next month 
or two.” 
That would put it into October or the 11th of November. Then they 
go on to say: “After we get into the problem, we will be in a better 
position to estimate how long it may take.” 
What are we talking about, Mr. Secretary? Here they received a 
specific request by the President on the 19th of May. Witness after 
witness has alluded to it and referred to it, that that is the reason 
for your failure to take any definitive effort. 
This is typical of the Department of Commerce, the Department of 
Transportation, and the Department of the Interior, the affected 
agencies. They have all relied upon: “Mr. Chairman and gentlemen 
of the committee, the President requested on May 19 the Ash 
Commission * * *,” 
The Ash Commission says on September 11 that in the next month 
or two they may get organized so that they can consider it and after 
they get organized, perhaps then they could project the time it will 
take. 
T just want you to get it in the record. 
You may think you are frustrated with the Bureau of the Budget. 
We are frustrated with the Bureau of the Budget and with the people 
who have the responsibility to respond to the request of the Chief 
Executive, it seems to me. 
I will tell you what I would do with the Ash Commission if I were 
President. 
Well, we can’t exactly say what we would do, but I would say what 
I would try to do. 
Now you may proceed. 
Dr. Froscu. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 
Your letter to Mr. Laird of April 25 requested his attendance at 
hearings as well as his general views on the report. This letter was 
referred to me and my answer forwarded my personal views on the 
report at that time. Those views represented generally the Depart- 
ment of Defense view of the report which I will explain shortly. 
I must emphasize that the views I am expressing today are those 
of the Department of Defense and not necessarily the same as the 
position being developed by the administration as a whole. 
Since the Commission report pertains to civil functions to such an 
extensive degree, a substantial number of comments pertain to some 
of the civil marine missions of the Department of Defense. As you 
