ing within the overall budgets of the agencies assigned to execute the approved 
programs.” 
Accordingly. OSTAC was extremely pleased to note the section in the Com- 
mission’s Report dealing with this question. We endorse the statement on page 
247, that— 
“Activities of the new agency now under the cognizance of several committees 
should. if possible. be the responsibility of a single legislative and appropriation 
committee in each house.” 
We also agree that the assignment of the Director of the National ocean 
agency to his second role of chairing the interagency mechanism would be very. 
helprul to the Congress. As stated earlier, he would be able to testify with 
expertise 0n matters pertaining to all civilian marine programs. Finally, as the 
Commission points out. the biennial report to the public by the National advisory 
committee should provide the opportunity for a broad review by the Congress 
of the progress in achieving National marine objectives. 
The Navy's Role in the Proposed Ocean Program 
Ti can be anticipated with assurance that the Navy will continue to make 
Iajor contributions te knowledge of the oceans and to ocean related technology 
as in the past. These contributions will have major value in the civilian sector 
and. by appropriate liaison with the agency responsible for civilian programs 
through the proposed Federal interagency mechanism, will continue to be a 
major factor in the overall national program. 
Other Commission Recommendations 
OSTAC does not at this time wish to comment on the recommendations in 
the Commission Report not related to Government organization except to empha- 
Size that many of them are of the utmost importance to the Nation. OSTAC 
is, however. reviewing these other recommendations and is presently preparing 
a more detailed critique. 
We suggest that a first step ahead for the Congress is to do what it can to 
expedite the implemeniation of a National advisory commitiee, a National ocean 
agency and the interagency mechanism. Once this is done, these groups can 
examine the Commission’s program recommendations in greater detail, prepare 
a plan of action and provide detailed cost estimates for its pursuance. To make 
this examination and properly prepare a plan (with realistic costs) for the initial 
projects of an expanded National ocean program will require some time (it could 
readily require up to two years). During this period that will be required before 
the National advisory committee and an ocean agency can become fully eizective, 
the expenditures for oceanic programs would be expected to be maintained near 
present levels. awaiting guidance from the advisory commitiee and the ocean 
agency to provide a sound basis for a future expanded program. 
SUAMIALARY 
We endorse the Commission’s recommendations with respect to the need for 
the following: 
(1) A National advisory commitiee for the oceans: however, its voting mem- 
bership should come entirely from non-government entities. State and Federal 
representatives should be non-voting participants. 
(2) A consolidation of certain key ocean functions and agencies of the Federal 
Governmeni, although not necesarily the specific ones recommended by the Com- 
mission. (OSTAC did not have sufficient time to study this problem thoroughly.) 
(3) Housing the proposed Federal consolidation in a National ocean agency. 
(4) A Federal interagency mechanism, to be chaired by the head of the con- 
solidated agency. to facilitate information exchange and to help insure the utiliza- 
tion of the capabilities of the Navy and other Federal agences not in the desig- 
nated National ocean agency. 
(5) Continuation of the present Council until organizational recommendations 
are resolved. 
(6) A focal point for civilian oceanic legislative and appropriation matters 
in each House of Congress. 
(7) An independent staff for the National advisory committee, separate from 
the National ocean agency. if and when the agency is established. 
OSTAC also offers the following observations: 
(1) The creation per se of a National ocean agency at this time does not 
necessarily create new demands for funds from an already hard pressed Govern- 
