38 



Mr. Perry. Yes, sir. We mentioned it in the report. There is a small 

 full-time staff. The Chairman should be full time. The other members 

 should be part time and advisory basis. 



Mr. MosHER. Just one more question. 



On page 22, you use the phrase "at least initially" NOAA should be 

 an independent agency reporting directly to the President. I think, 

 Mr. Reedy, you have already answered that in your previous comment, 

 you have already answered my question. I would like to emphasize 

 this. If I understand this correctly, the Commission is saying that it is 

 imperative for the future of our national program in the marine 

 sciences, the use of the oceans, it is imperative we have some reorga- 

 nization, and soon, of the executive agencies. You have come up with 

 NOAA as the best proposal that you can conceive. You are emphasiz- 

 ing, by the use of the word "initially," that there can be a developing 

 situation here, an evolution in this organization, and that it ultimately 

 might be much more than the independent agency that you propose, or 

 perhaps somewhat less; is that right? 



Mr. Reedy. Your understanding is correct. Congressman. We 

 proceeded on the assumption that marine activities are something 

 mankind has been engaged in since the beginning of man and that 

 over all of these centuries we have been gradually increasing our 

 knowledge of the seas. 



What we are recommending here in our organization proposals 

 is the type of organization that we think is best for right now. But 

 we are sufficiently modest and have a sufficient amount of humility to 

 realize that knowledge is going to increase and that the emphasis 

 upon which this Nation does is bound to change. We believe that 

 the importance of these marine activities is going to increase and that 

 it is going to occupy a larger and larger part in our daily lives. It 

 is going to be something which will concern every citizen and therefore 

 we were anxious not to come up with a recommendation that would 

 freeze the country into a type of organization which might be in- 

 adequate down the road. 



For this particular point in time and for quite some distance ahead 

 it is our judgment this is the best form of organization to meet the 

 problems that we have and to take advantage of the opportunities 

 that we have. 



Mr. MosHER. Would it be accurate also to say that the Cornmission 

 recognizes the political practicalities of this recommendation, the 

 fact it is going to create a lot of infighting within the bureaucracy and 

 within the Congress and between congressional committees, their 

 jurisdictional boundaries threatened, that sort of thing? 



Mr. Reedy. We were quite aware of that. 



Mr. MosHER. Recognizing that, is it also fair or accurate to interpret 

 the Commission's feeling that you are not totally insistent on NOAA 

 as the instrument, that Congress has to approve? You are not rigid 

 on this, you are flexible and you probably recognize the Congress 

 is going to have to look at this proposal in the light of whatever 

 new recommendations the new administration comes up with, what- 

 ever new philosophy the new administration may have about overall 

 streamlining or reorganization of the executive agencies? Would you 

 contemplate that the Congress is going to have to take a Uttle time 

 to look at this situation? 



