59 



Dr. Stratton. I thoroughly concur, Mr. Mosher. As we look to the 

 future the things that need to be done will be accomplished through 

 the development of technology, materials, and resources. This is an 

 investment for the future. These things need to be done now. But I 

 frankly have some personal concern that although we may acknowledge 

 the need, we may postpone action in the belief that we can't make a 

 major investment right at the present time. I think we must make that 

 investment. I also say that there are a variety of other matters that 

 relate to our total marine effort which cannot wait. 



Mr. Mosher. I do not think we can use the present budget restraints, 

 which obviousl}^ are necessary, as an excuse for Avaiting to create the 

 mechanism and to establish the authorizations and the authority to 

 move ahead. But I think that need for authorizing new programs in 

 research and development and in tiie development of fundamental 

 technology is a prime example of one of the difficulties we face in 

 achieving the new reorganization. I am one of those who has hoped 

 that the new reorganization might be done best and most effectively 

 and most quickly by Executive order using the reorganization statutes 

 which the Congress has just renewed. But many of us now doubt 

 that there exists in the reorganization statute sufficient authority to 

 the Executive to create NOAA and have it embody all of the new 

 programs that your report suggests, including this new program for 

 fundamental technology. 



Recognizing that doubt, I think that we in this committee and we 

 on Capitol Hill must not wait to see what the Executive may do and 

 how far the White House might go by Executive order. It seems to 

 me that we are going to have to take a very energetic initiative here 

 and after we have had these very informative hearings and after we 

 have educated ourselves more completely as to the need, I hope, Mr. 

 Chairman, that on a bipartisan basis we can get together on the neces- 

 sary legislation and, in effect, take the bull by the horns and move 

 ahead here with a legislative program that will be vigorous and ade- 

 quate and that we will not Avait for the ExecutiA^e to act and we will 

 not Avait until the budget crisis is past. 



]Mr. DoAVNiNG. Would the gentleman yield ? 



Is there not some discussion as to what committee would haA^e juris- 

 diction of this ? 



Mr. Mosher. I am sure that discussion Avill arise, and that is one 

 of the difficulties we are going to have to face. I am no authority on 

 these matters, but it seems to me thas we can introduce legislation 

 that is based on the 1966 act which should be referred to this com- 

 mittee, and I hope Avould be referred to this committee. 



At the same time, let me say this about the possibilities of an Execu- 

 tive order: I Avould hope that Ave could discuss with the new adminis- 

 tration the possibility of the creation of a XOAA by ExecutiA-e order 

 which at the start would not necessarily contain the programs that 

 require neAv legislative authorization. I suggest that the new agency, 

 the basis of the new agency, the nucleus of the new agency might still 

 be created by Executive order and then that action Avould make it all 

 the easier for the Congress by legislation to add to it tlie neAv au- 

 thorities that are necessary. 



I realize, Mr. Chairman, that I am rather premature in discussing 

 these tactical aspects of our problem. 



