52 



current hearings and will provide the basis, hopefully, for necessary 

 legislation as we move further along. 



Their report is entitled "Our Nation and the Sea." 



The Commission has worked with great concentration and energy for the past 

 two years and has met the requirements of the Marine Sciences Act of 1966 by 

 submitting its report to the President and to the Congress on January 9 this year. 



We in Congress can do no less than to meet as promptly as possible, and with 

 all the concentration necessary, with responsibilities to review the Commission's 

 voluminous report and its numerous and far-reaching recommendations. 



And then, gentlemen, we should take such action as we believe is 

 necessary to implement these recommendations. I believe that we can 

 agree that this report will go down in history as one of the great efforts 

 made by private citizens, in cooperation with the Government, in an 

 effort to plan for man's long-range understanding and use of the 

 oceanic environment which covers 71 percent of the earth's surface. 



Let me say in this connection that this is the first of the hearings, 

 the kickoff hearing. The hearings will continue on May 6, Y, and 8, and 

 May 13, 14, and 15, and May 20, 21, and 22. It is our hope that all the 

 private sector, those desiring to be heard, will make themselves avail- 

 able on any one of those several dates, our universities, our private 

 laboratories and all interested individuals. 



In additional hearings, the Government representatives of the vari- 

 ous agencies which are involved in the marine sciences in any degree 

 and who may be affected by the proposed governmental structure that 

 is recommended by the Commission will, of course, be heard. 



I might comment by saying that a letter has been directed to all the 

 Government agencies that could be affected by this Commission report 

 in which they are requested not only to make themselves available to 

 the committee on one of the dates that I foresee in the future, after 

 those approximately 14 that we have already scheduledj but they have 

 been asked to submit their views in writing starting with the Bureau 

 of the Budget in the Office of the President of the United States and 

 through the whole sector of the Government agencies. 



Dr. Stratton, I am most pleased to welcome you and your former 

 fellow commissioners this morning as we open our first public hearing 

 into all facets of your splendid report. 



I am going to take the liberty to announce those who are here today 

 who are former members of this great Commission, and then. Dr. Strat- 

 ton, if you will introduce them: The Honorable Richard A. Geyer, 

 head of the Department of Oceanography, Texas A. & M. University ; 

 Charles F. Baird, vice president of the International Nickel Co.; 

 James A. Crutchfield, professor of economics of the University of 

 Washington ; John A. Knauss, dean of the graduate school of ocean- 

 ography, University of Rhode Island ; John H. Perry, Jr., president 

 of Perry Publications, Inc. ; George E. Reedy, president of Struthers 

 Research & Development Corp., and Dr. George Sullivan, consulting 

 scientist, General Electric Reentry Systems. 



Are there other members of the Commission that I have not read 

 from the list furnished me ? 



Of course we are delighted to have our former, I guess you would 

 call it. executive director or research analyst of this great Commission, 

 Sam Lawrence. 



Do you have a prepared statement. Dr. Stratton, this morning ? How 

 would you like to proceed ? If you will just come forward and bring 



