1,4,1 



Mr. Frey. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Lennon. I thank the gentleman. 



Before I recognize the ranking member of the committee, I would 

 like the record to show that this committee on both sides of the aisle 

 is extremely proud of the fact that the gentleman from Maryland has 

 been a member of this committee throughout his career as a Member of 

 the Congress up until January of this year — is that correct? 



Mr. Morton. Yes. 



Mr. Lennon. And holds the high national honor of being Chairman 

 of the Kepublican National Committee. 



We are proud of you, Rogers, as a friend and a great American. 



Now, the distinguished gentleman from Ohio, Mr. Mosher. 



Mr. MosHER. Mr. Chairman, I want to express my regret that I had 

 to be absent for the presentation here this morning of the remarks by 

 one of my very favorite colleagues, Rogers Morton. I had to be in 

 the Subcommittee on Science Research and Development, which is 

 meeting this morning with the Science Committee of the Canadian 

 Senate. The gentlemen from across the border and we got to discussing 

 there many of the things that this committee is interested in, certainly 

 the ecological emphasis that has been represented in the remarks here 

 this morning, for instance as represented in our mutual problem 

 ■of the pollution of Lake Erie. Many problems across the border there 

 in Canada are the same that we are facing in our considerations here, 

 •of the necessity for a greater impetus and a greater coordination of 

 *our Nation's efforts in the marine sciences and engineering. 



Just glancing over your prepared statement, Mr. Morton, I notice 

 several phrases that delight me; this phrase, "Now is the time for 

 action." And "I hope the President will lend his full support." And, 

 "This is not a partisan question." I fully agree, with those emphases, 

 ■and I am sure that this committee fully agrees that, considering your 

 party role and your great opportunity for leadership, it is particularly 

 significant that you consider this a bipartisan issue, and to know that 

 you fully support our bipartisan efforts here in the committee as you 

 did as a member of the committee. 



One thought, and I am not sure that it has been expressed here be- 

 fore this mornmg, because I was not here, is that I would hope that you 

 might take advantage of your closeness to the President to discuss with 

 him the possibility of direct executive action by Executive order to 

 create the elements of NOAA, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

 Agency, as recommended by the Stratton Commission. I think the ele- 

 ments of that agency can be put together, using the Reorganization Act 

 and thus give impetus and make a very sound foundation for us to act 

 legislatively, to add by legislation those fmictions that are not already 

 authorized by statutes. 



I realize that he cannot create functions in a new agency that have 

 not been previously established by the Congress, but I think he can 

 reorganize the presently approved functions and give us a nucleus on 

 which then to build by legislation, to add the necessary new functions. 



Mr. Morton. First, let me thank the gentleman for his very kind 

 remarks. 



I think that this is part of the thrust of the Council that is being 

 established now on the environment — ^to look not only at the physical 

 properties of the environment, but also at the Government organiza- 

 tion we have to deal with. Hopefully, a recommendation for a restruc- 



