385 . 



mission's report and the program they have recommended. Then orga- 

 nize the program from an administrative standix)int of liow do you 

 organize to do the job specifically that you have in mind ? 



Then they say, fine, ESSA fits perfectly into this or the Coast Guard 

 fits perfectly into that and so on, or maybe parts of the Coast Guard 

 don't fit. I don't know enough about these agencies to make any com- 

 ment on what would fit or would not fit. 



I guess about all I am saying is that before an immediate decision 

 is made that at least a reasonable period ought to be allowed this new 

 agency to review and see if that is what they want to live with the rest 

 of their career rather than mandating a program and mandating spe- 

 cific agencies at the start of the program. 



I am saying, let us have a little more consideration. Not years — I 

 am opposed to years, too, because it has been too many years now that 

 we have been at this thing. But now that we are on the verge of doing 

 it, on the threshold, let us take just a little more time, say G months. 



Mr. Lennon. What concerns me, if we don't use the impetus, the 

 thrust which has been built up to an action level through the Com- 

 mission report and ultimate recognition by the National Council, I 

 feel that the interest will wane to the extent that we cannot get the 

 thrust that we need because even if we follow the Commission's re- 

 port, assuming that the Council's recommendations are comparable, it 

 is not going to be easy, in my judgment, to bring this into being. It is 

 going to take a long time. 



That is the reason that we are trying to build a record from people 

 who have had expertise like you offer before we hear the witnesses 

 who will testify representing the Government sector. 



You were discussing and showing some pictures of undersea habitats. 



Is it true that the Japanese have indicated their intention to build 

 underseas habitats ? Do you know anything about it ? 



Mr. Pierce. I have no definite knowledge of the extent of their plans 

 in this area, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Lennon^. Do you have any information that Florida is thinking 

 about an underseas motel maybe off Biscayne Bay, so that people can 

 go down there and be near the President when he is vacationing? 



Mr. Pierce. I have no definite knowledge of that. 



Mr. Lexxox. Somebody handed me up a little memorandum that 

 they had read of such a suggestion. I wondered if you know about it. 



Your corporate contacts have been both with the military and with 

 space, NASA, and with many phases of the military, I assume? 



Mr. Pierce. Yes. 



Mr. Lexxox. And building of components. 



Are there any other questions ? 



Mr. Counsel, do you have any questions? 



Mr. Karth. Mr. Chairman, may I just amplify one point that you 

 are suggesting in terms of attempting to get an answer from the wit- 

 ness that might be a little bit more specific than one he has already 

 given ? 



Mr. Pierce, if it is administratively and legislatively possible to do 

 this in one fell swoop, as the chairman has suggested, particularly after 

 this in-depth study which has been made by the Commission and whose 



