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The Coast Guard, like every other federal agency, does not operate with an 
unlimited budget. Our apprehension is that the new Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Agency will be so scientifically oriented and so bent upon enviornmental studies 
that the traditional missions of the Coast Guard, which it has carried out so well, 
will be neglected and possibly even abandoned. Our apprehensions in this respect 
are not unfounded. 
The Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency would be completely independent of any 
of the existing departments of the executive branch of the Government. The 
report of the Commission on Marine Science, Engineering and Resources states 
that as an independent agency a freedom of action would be achieved which is 
difficult to obtain within an existing department. The report further indicates 
that the new agency would be composed of organizational elements concerned 
primarily with scientific, technical and service functions necessary for expand- 
ing planned use of the sea and its resources. The primary mission of the new 
agency would be to insure the full and wise use of the marine environment. 
Thus, it is clear that primary emphasis would be placed upon advancing the 
marine and atmospheric sciences. 
Concerning the Coast Guard’s role in the proposed new agency, the report of 
the Commission on Marine Science, Engineering and Resources (Page 237) as- 
Sumes that only in Merchant Marine safety and inspection are the tasks of the 
Coast Guard solely related to transportation. The report admits (Page 238) that 
the needs of marine users, in addition to those of the Merchant Marine, often 
strain the facilities of the Coast Guard. Nevertheless, the report asserts that 
“changes in the Coast Guard and its mission should be encouraged and acceler- 
ated by bringing it within the framework of the national ocean program to be 
lead by NOAA.” The basic point the report attempts to make is that within a 
national oceanic and atmospheric agency the Coast Guard could be used to a 
much greater degree in a more broadly gauged role than is possible within a 
solely transportation context, and “that this can be achieved without curtailing 
its important transportation functions.” On this basic point we strong disagree. 
The report of the Commission on Marine Science, Engineering and Resources 
(Page 237) makes an analysis of Coast Guard activity, the conclusion of which 
is that while most Coast Guard activities relate to transportation, they are 
similarly related to other uses of the sea. While it is probably true that provi- 
sion of aids to navigation, which require 28 per cent of the agency’s budget, is 
critical to the whole span of marine activities, it is essentially a service to ship- 
ping. Ice breaking, which the report classifies with oceanography, meteorology 
and other marine sciences, is essentially a service to commercial shipping and 
only incidentally related to the marine sciences. The Coast Guard is engaged 
in many diversified fields, but nearly all of its activities ; namely, ice breaking, ice 
patrols, search and rescue, aids to navigation, vessel inspection, port security 
and certification of Merchant Marine personnel, relate to shipping. 
When an organization such as the Coast Guard is performing multiple missions, 
priorities have to be established. The Commission on Marine Science and Engi- 
neering Resources would encourage and accelerate changes in the Coast Guard 
and its mission, despite the fact that the facilities of the Coast Guard are already 
often overstrained. It could not be clearer that under an independent agency such 
as that proposed by H.R. 13247, the transportation-related functions of the Coast 
Guard would have a low priority. 
Our Government is based on a system of checks and balances. When the legis- 
lation authorizing the Coast Guard to conduct oceanographic research was 
enacted in 1961, it was evident from the legislative history of the Act that oceano- 
graphic research was not intended to interfere with or take priority over other 
functions of the Coast Guard. Under present law, the Secretary of the depart- 
ment in which the Coast Guard is operating determines the extent to which the 
Coast Guard is to conduct oceanographic research, in the national interest, in 
cooperation with other agencies of the Government. Thus, the Secretary of 
Transportation is permitted to exercise his discretion so as to assure that the 
missions of the Coast Guard, directly affecting transportation and the Department 
of Transportation, will not be neglected. 
We recognize that there is a need for greater research in the marine sciences. 
We believe that the objectives of the proposed National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Agency are meritorious and worthwhile. We do not believe there is any necessity, 
however, for transferring the Coast Guard to the new agency. There is already 
ampie authority in law for the new agency to utilize the facilities of the Coast 
Guard, even though the Coast Guard is operating in the Department of 
Transportation. 
