417 



In addition to that, the Secretary of the Interior has, pursuant to 

 existing authority now on the books, already acquired estuarine areas ^ 

 for administration as units of the national park and national wildlife^ 

 refuge systems. 



In addition to the Interior programs, we have also KOAA provi- 

 sions and National Science Foundation programs. 



Under existing authority the Department of the Interior has done 

 extensive work in this matter in such legislation as that establishing 

 the Cape Cod seashore. Cape Hatteras, the Gulf Island, Point Reyes, 

 and those points of! the Virgin Islands area. 



This is appropriate language for the bill that is before us and dupli- 

 cates programs that already exist. Therefore I urge the adoption of 

 this amendment. 



Mr. Lennon. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment. 



This is not a duplication of existing law. There was a consensus of 

 the witnesses who testified over a number of days of hearings and 

 over a long period of time for the estuarine program. I shall not delay' 

 the matter longer but simply say that those who were involved for 

 weeks, months, and years in the recommendations of the Stratton' 

 Commission report, which you gentlemen brought into being, made 

 this one of their prime recommendations. We found no conflict at all 

 on the matter, and I think we ought to simply turn down the requested 

 amendment offered so graciously by the gentleman from Iowa. 



Mr. DiNGELL. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment. 



Mr. Chairman, the bill before you has been reported unanimously 

 by the Committee on IMerchant Marine and Fisheries and has been 

 carefully studied for a long time. It has the support of all the members 

 of the committee. 



I recognize the concern of my friend from Iowa. I think he is proper 

 in having an interest in the matter before us. I think he is equally right 

 in expressing the views I am sure he properly feels. 



The fact of the matter is, Mr. Chairman, that no only did the gen- 

 tleman from North Carolina (Mr. Lennon) and his subcommittee but 

 also the subcommittee I have the honor of chairing go into the matter 

 of the need for the preservation of areas of this kind through Federal- 

 State cooperative effort. In each instance we came to the conclusion 

 that this kind of preservation is urgently needed. It would be fair to 

 say to the Members of the House, I think, that this is a good proposal. 

 It is not duplicated elsewhere. 



The matter has been carefully studied over a number of years both 

 by Mr. Lennon's Subcommittee on Oceanography and my Subcom- 

 mittee on Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation. In each instance we 

 came to the conclusion that the proposal for areas of this kind is 

 urgently needed. 



If we are to have a FederpJ-State cooperative program — and this 

 proposal does authorize it — ^then it is inherent and necessary that there 

 should be some Federal funds put into it. 



The level of funding is modest. The goal to be achieved is great. 

 The need is equally great, and the benefits to l3e derived are immense. 



For that reason I hope the amendment offered by my good friend 

 from Iowa will be rejected. 



