504 



The Seceetabt of Commerce, 

 Washington, D.C., May 8, 1969. 

 Bon. Alton Lennon, 



'Chairman, Subcommittee on Oceanography, House of Represewtatvoes, Wash- 

 ington, D.G. 

 Dear Mr. Lennon : Thank you for your letter of April 25, 1969, inviting me 

 to appear before your Subcommittee and present the views of the Department of 

 Commerce on the report of the Commission on Marine Science, Engineering, and 

 Resources. The Department of Commerce M^ill be pleased to testify on June 13, 

 vphich has been previously arranged by our staffs. 



We have read and analyzed this challenging report and have found it to be 

 stimulating and innovative. In our opinion, it provides an excellent basis for the 

 formulation of a vigorous and far-reaching national effort with enormous impli- 

 cations for this country's social and economic welfare. My staff and I are prepared 

 and welcome this opportunity to discuss and elaborate upon our views of the 

 report with you. 

 Sincerely, 



Matjrice H. Stans, 

 Secretary of Commerce. 



Executive Office op the President, 



Bureau of the Budget, 

 Washington, D.C., June 6, 1969. 

 Hon. Alton Lennon, 



Chairman, Subcommittee on Oceanography, Committee on Merchant Marine and 

 Fisheries, House of Representatives, Washington, B.C. 

 Dear Mr. Lennon : This is in response to your April 25, 1969, letter requesting 

 general views on the report of the Commission on Marine Science, Engineering, 

 and Resources and an indication of the time period when a Bureau representative 

 would be available to present testimony on the report to the Subcommittee. 



Following an initial review of the Marine Commission's report by the Vice 

 President in his capacity as Chairman of the Marine Council, the President's Sci- 

 ence Adviser, and agencies concerned, the President has indicated that : 



1. He expects agencies to take the Commission's recommendations into account 

 in considering their programs and priorities in fiscal year 1971, and heyond. 



2. The Marine Council should continue to review the Commission's recommen- 

 dations for marine science programs and encourage further improvements in the 

 coordination of Federal activities. 



3. He expects his Science Adviser to consider the Commission's recommenda- 

 tions in relation to other scientific and technological activities and work closely 

 with the Council. 



The President has also asked Mr. Roy Ash, Chairman of the newly established 

 Advisory Council on Executive Organization, to place high on the Council's agenda 

 of matters to be studied the Commission's proposal for the creation of a new 

 independent oceanic and atmospheric agency. In his request to Mr. Ash, the 

 President asked that the Commission's proposal be examined carefully in the con- 

 text of broader Federal organizational requirements. He further asked that the 

 Council particularly consider related environmental and natural resource prob- 

 lems and compare the Commission's proposals with alternative ways of coordi- 

 nating and advancing national development of the marine sciences. 



The President has emphasized that the steps outlined reflect the intention of 

 this Administration to assure full consideration of the opportunities in the oceans 

 and to assess the Commission's proposals carefully in the context of national 

 needs and priorities. 



We understand that your Subcommittee will be hearing testimony from the 

 Director of the Ofiice of Science and Technology and from principal agencies con- 

 cerned with recommendations made by the Commission. We believe these hearings 

 are an excellent way of highlighting the important contribution made by the 

 Marine Commission and an appropriate means of providing an opportunity for 

 public witnesses and representatives of agencies affected to comment on the pro- 

 gram and organizational recommendations. 



We are, of course, very interested in the Commission's organization and pro- 

 gram recommendations. Regarding testimony by the Bureau, however, we believe 

 it unlikely that we could contribute information for the Subcommittee's con- 

 sideration on program recommendations beyond that provided by the interested 

 agencies and the Director of the Ofiice of Science and Technology. In addition, in 



