composed of 15 members appointed by the President, including in- 

 dividuals drawn from Federal and State governments, industry, uni- 

 versities, laboratories, and other institutions engaged in marine sci- 

 entific or technological pursuits. The act provided that not more than 

 five members of the Commission shall be from the Federal Govern- 

 ment. In addition, provision was made for four advisory members of 

 the Senate and the House of Representatives. 



The functions of the Commission were to be complementary ta 

 those of the Council and with responsibility to make a comprehensive 

 investigation and study of aU aspects of marine science and to recom- 

 mend an overall plan for an adequate national oceanographic program 

 that will meet present and future national needs. 



As originally enacted, the act provided that the Commission submit 

 to the President, via the Council, and to the Congress, not later than 

 18 months after its establishment, a final report of its findings and 

 recommendations. 



It further provided that the Commission would cease to exist 30 

 days after submission of its final report, and that the Council would 

 cease to exist 120 days after the submission of the Commission's, 

 report. 



In recognition of the enormity of the job that had ,to be done, the 

 Congress, by Public Law 90-242, extended the life of the Commission 

 for 6 months and the life of the Council until June 30, 1969. 



The Marine Science Commission was established in January of 

 1967, after selection by the President of an exceedingly able member- 

 ship, under the distinguished chairmanship of Dr. Stratton. 



The Commission has worked with great concentration and energy 

 for the past 2 years and has met the requirement of the statute by sub- 

 mitting its report to the President and to the Congress on January 9. 



We in Congress, gentlemen, can do no less than to meet as promptly 

 as possible, and with all of the concentration necessary, our responsi- 

 bilities to review the Commission's voluminous report and its numer- 

 ous and far-reaching recommendations. And then we should take such 

 action as we believe is necessary to implement those recommendations^ 



Because of the complexities, and perhaps even potentially contro- 

 versial aspects of the Commission's report, the Chair felt that it was- 

 desirable that members of the subcommittee and other ranking mem- 

 bers of the committee should meet as soon as possible to have this, 

 informal executive meeting and discussion with Dr. Stratton and his- 

 colleagues. 



The Chair has asked Dr. Stratton to be prepared this morning ta 

 give us highlights of the Commission's report and to be available for 

 questioning by the members. 



Hopefully, after the meeting we are having today, we will have a 

 better idea of how we should proceed, and establish a schedule of 

 public hearings. 



Before asking Dr. Stratton to proceed, I want to take this op- 

 portunity to compliment him, his member colleagues, and his very 

 excellent staff for the tremendous work that they have presented to us. 



I might say to you gentlemen who have been members of the sub- 

 committee since the enactment into law in June of 1966, that all of us, 

 who have been privileged to be close to the work of the Commission, 

 especially Mr. Mosher and myself, have reached the point where we 



