55 



lakes, and the inonitorin^- and control of our global environment, must 

 now rank high among those matters with a claim to our most urgent 

 attention. 



May I just interject here that at a time when our country is beset 

 on all sides with enormously important and baffling problems, the list 

 of which, is well known to you all, questions may n'aturally arise about 

 the priority that should be given to marine affairs. 



The point that we are most anxious to make to you and which I think 

 that the public must understand is that although indeed our recom- 

 mendations represent an investment for the future, they relate to im- 

 mediate problems affecting our people, our shores and waters and that 

 efforts toward their solution should not be deferred. 



The Commission has made more than 100 recommendations in re- 

 sponse to its mandate. Some call for administrative action. Others can 

 become effective only through legislation. They relate to a national 

 plan, and we recognize the need for time and for funds. But there is 

 one step which we are convinced must be taken promptly if this Nation 

 is to move f orw^ard effectively in its use of the seas. 



It is our view^ that the goals set forth so clearly by the 89th Con- 

 gress in the preamble to the Marine Eesources and Engineering De- 

 velopment Act of of 1966 — namely, the building of a strong truly na- 

 tional program — are to be achieved only through a major Federal 

 reorganization in the domain of marine affairs. We recommend the 

 creation of a new independent agency of government, reporting di- 

 rectly to the President. We suggest that it might be called the National 

 Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency. 



There is no need, gentlemen, for me to dwell here on the history 

 of marine activities over the past two centuries — a history which in 

 the Federal Government has led to a fragmentation and scattering 

 of responsibilities among some 20 or 30 departments, bureaus, and 

 agencies, a fact that has been commented on hy^ everyone who has ap- 

 proached this field seriously. Many of these activities relate only mar- 

 ginally to the parent department. And this fragmentation and diffu- 

 sion are inescapably reflected in the relevant committees of the Con- 

 gress. 

 . The Commission began its task without prejudging the issue, with- 

 out bias or preconceived views, agreeing that a plan of organization 

 should rightly emerge out of the ultimate needs and concept of the pro- 

 gram itself. We should determine first what ought to be done, and only 

 then decide how to do it. 



At an early stage we rejected the idea of consolidating every single 

 marine and atmospheric function into one massive agency. 



We have indeed endeavored in the clearest terms to support the needs 

 of a strong, effective Navy, and we recognize that programs in marine 

 science and engineering carried out by the Navy itself are essential to 

 that objective. 



The Department of the Interior, though primarily a land agency, 

 has activities that border on the marine^ — the geological survey, fresh 

 water management, and national park and wildlife conservation. 



The National Science Foundation, as we all know, supports marine 

 and atmospheric science as part of its basic mission to advance edu- 

 cation and research. 



