93 



In the words of the Commission report : 



How fully and wisely the United States uses the sea in the decades ahead will 

 affect profoundly its security, its economy, its stability to meet increasing de- 

 mands for food and raw materials, its position and influence in the world com- 

 munity, and the quality of the environment in which its people live. 



The time for decision has arrived. Will we turn to the sea and work 

 together to meet its clialleng-es and realize its potential; or will we 

 turn our backs on the sea and reject the opportunity to improve our 

 environment and constructively utilize its resources ? 



The Commission has stated : 



The Nation's stake can only he realized hy a determined national effort great 

 enough for the vast and rewarding task ahead. 



Mr. Chairman, in conclusion, I urge this committee to spur the great 

 national effort that is needed by establishing an agency capable of 

 carrying out the mandate of the Stratton Commission. 



Thank you. 



Mr. Lennon. I thank the distinguished gentleman from Illinois for 

 an interesting, informative, challenging, articulate, and eloquent state- 

 ment and say that the Commission report apparently has no greater 

 supporter than you have indicated in your remarks this morning. 



I might say that the distinguished gentleman from Ohio, Mr. 

 Mosher, asked me to express his sincere regrets and apologies that he 

 could not be here this morning and that he was here earlier but had 

 to appear before another committee with some people from his district. 



Mr. Anderson. We understand that. 



Mr. Lennon. The gentleman from Massachusetts. 



Mr. Keith. I thank the chairman. 



I appreciate very much the time and effort that you have put into 

 analyzing this proposal. If we are to achieve the goals of this Commis- 

 sion, it is going to take broad support from the inland areas, as well 

 as from the coastal areas more immediately concerned. 



It is going to take a great deal of interpretation, and there will be 

 some arguments offered against this approach. As a matter of fact, 

 the man who is to succeed you in the witness chair. Captain Bauer, is 

 an authority in the field of oceanography and some of his arguments 

 take issue with yours. 



Have you had a chance to peruse his statement ? 



Mr. Anderson. ISTo, I have not and I would certainly say, Mr. Keith, 

 that I feel almost embkrrrassed to be in the room this morning in the 

 presence of a witness that I know is in possession of so much expertise 

 in this field as well as in being before a committee that I know has a 

 much greater grasp of the detail in this whole area than I do. 



I quite agree with the observation that the gentleman from Massa- 

 chusetts has made that even those of us from inland areas have a very 

 great and very obvious interest in seeing that the splendid report of 

 the Stratton Commission becomes something more than just another 

 dusty tome to add to our collection of previous Commission reports. 



Mr. Keith. With all deference to your eloquent statement, during 

 your recital of it, I scanned the remarks that have been prepared by 

 Captain Bauer. If you would care to comment on his remarks, I would 

 be happy to highlight one or two of his objections for you. 



