innovation which we believe can make a significant contribution toward developing this aspect of our economy. We would like to emphasize the great desirability of providing as the bill would do, authority to expand practical education in the marine sciences, bridge the gap between basic research and applied research in the marine sciences, disseminate useful information to those who can best put it to practical use, develop the continental shelf and provide a special method of financing, consisting of 10% of all royalties, rentals and other sums that are paid to the Government for the use of the continental shelf. It should be noted that grants could be given not only to educational institutions, but to any public or private agency including foundations, laboratories, corporations or even groups of individuals which desire to operate a program under the provisions of this bill. This broad involvement of public and private persons in developing our marine resources is essential. One further aspect of the program should be stressed. As we understand it, regional centers in the marine science field could be encouraged and expanded under the bill. In New England, we attach great importance to opportunities for regional cooperation. The New England region has moved in many areas to create cooperative arrangements to take advantage of new opportunities. Recently there has been authorized an agreement of cooperation for the joint exploration and exploitation of programs in hydrospace by New Hampshire and Maine. In this connection, a Council composed of six members from each States has been established. This is just one sign of the real interest of the region in finding organizational forms and new programs which can assist in utilizing the vast resources of the sea. S. 2439 should make a significant contribution to a broad national effort to upgrade programs relating to marine sciences. PREPARED STATEMENT OF J. LAMAR WORZEL, PROFESSOR OF GEOLOGY, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, AND ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, LAMONT GEOLOGICAL OBSERVATORY OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, PALISADES, N.Y. Mr. Chairman, Members of the subcommittee: I am honored to have the opportunity to comment on S-2439, the Bill proposing the establishment of National Sea Grant Colleges. First of all, I would like to mention that my colleague, Dr. Maurice Ewing, would have liked to testify before the committee but could not do so because he was at that time and is now working at sea on board our research vessel VEMA. I congratulate Senator Pell and the other members of that committee for their foresight in seeking to stimulate the marine sciences and their exploitation for the good of the people of the United States and the world by means which parallel the establishment of the land grant colleges, which did so much for this country a century ago. We are still a long way from having a thorough knowledge of the oceans and, in my opinion, it will take many years of further study to take full advantage of the opportunity we have in oceanographic research to unravel the puzzles about how the earth was originally formed and its history since that time. The opportunities to use the oceans efficiently for the production of food and depleted natural resources are self-evident, but no less important for this fact. The National Science Foundation seems to me to be a very suitable agency through which to channel the funds obtained from rents and royalties paid to the Federal governments for use of the continental shelf to those agencies and institutions concerned with the marine sciences. I would suggest that the Foundation establish some means for deciding on the merit of proposals made for sea grant funds, making use of members of the scientific community and representatives of the Federal agencies to which oceanographic research is vital. Several of these agencies, notably the Office of Naval Research, the Bureau of Ships and the Atomic Energy Commission have had long experience in funding research at non-governmental institutions and I believe that they should continue to play a leading part in allocating Federal funds for oceanographic research. We welcome the inclusion in the definition of the term "marine sciences" of the broad range of fields which are vitally affected by the marine sciences. We at Columbia University's Lamont Geological Observatory will continue to follow with interest the progress of the concept of sea grant universities and we wish to extend our congratulations to those senators who have had the wisdom and imagination to seek practical means by which to allow mankind to make practical uses of the great resources of the oceans. PREPARED STATEMENT OF EDWIN A. LINK, LINK GROUP, GENERAL PRECISION, INC., BINGHAMTON, NY. Thank you, Senator Pell, for your invitation to testify and comment on the pending bill for Sea Grant Colleges. My experience with the Deep Submergence Review Group of the U.S. Navy and my research work on the Man-in-the-Sea program of deep diving and living at great depths have certainly emphasized the need of having qualified youth understand the problems and environment of the oceans, which at present is lacking particularly in ocean engineering. I have been working with Florida Atlantic University which is the first university, I believe, to establish an Ocean Engineering course. Also through the Link Foundation, which I established some years ago, we have given them and others, grants for students in ocean engineering and development of curriculum. At present I am engaged with the research vessel Sea Diver in developing deep diving systems and have taken on board at my own expense two senior students of Florida Atlantic to give them actual ocean engineering experience, so bad is the need for these trained young men, and because of the almost complete lack of any available training at the present time. With this background of experience and knowledge of the necessity I hope that Sea Grant Colleges will be established to fill this vacuum. NEW YORK, N.Y., May 11, 1966. Senator CLAIBORNE PELL, Committee on Labor and Public Welfare, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR PELL: The wide range of activities that may be grouped under the general heading of oceanology includes many areas where pure research may be delayed for lack of the techniques and equipment necessary to carry on such programs. It may well be the case, therefore, that in this emerging science the development of techniques and equipment will have to precede basic research rather than the reverse, which is contrary to the classic relationship. Consequently, it is gratifying to note that the proposed bill S. 2439, the National Sea Grant College and Program Act of 1965 takes cognizance of this fact under section 2(d) (2) which states that the Federal Government should support sea grant colleges and programs by "initiating and supporting necessary research and development programs in the marine sciences resulting in the acquisition of knowledge of a direct and practical nature, with preference given to programs that translate the findings of basic research to practices, techniques, and equipment applicable to the marine sciences." Similarly, the proposed amendment to the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.) contained in section 3 (c) appears to be well advised in proposing that: (c) Programs to carry out the purposes of section 3(a) (10) shall be accomplished through contracts with, or grants to, suitable public or private agencies, public or private institutions of higher learning, museums, foundations, industries, laboratories, corporations, organizations, or groups of individuals, which are engaged in, or concerned with, activities in the marine sciences, for the establishment and operation by them of such programs.' I believe that the legislation proposed by S. 2439, and especially those sections cited above, could materially increase the rate of development of oceanology in the United States. With every good wish for your success, I am, Sincerely, PETER R. GIMBEL. GREAT LAKES COMMISSION, Hon. CLAIBORNE PELL, Old Senate Office Building, DEAR SENATOR PELL: The Great Lakes Commission has authorized me to express the commission's endorsement of Senate bill S. 2439, which would authorize the creation of sea grant colleges, with the provisions that the bill should be amended or include provisions to limit the number of institutions participating to those that have a bona fide interest in the marine environment geographically and historically; that nonduplication of effort in research and training be stressed; and that section 2(d) (5) be emphasized: the regional "centers of excellence." The Great Lakes Commission is convinced of the great importance of the need for study and development of the marine environment, and believes that much of the future wealth and resources of the globe will accrue from these marine areas. It is our pleasure to furnish our comments and statement of position. We hope you may see fit to consider them favorably. Sincerely yours, Hon. CLAIBORNE PELL, LEONARD J. GOODSELL, Executive Director. INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Committee on Labor and Public Welfare, DEAR SENATOR PELL: Thank you for your invitation to comment on the bill S. 2439, National Sea Grant College and Program Act of 1965. You are to be commended for foresight in developing plans for effective utilization of the world's marine resources. There has been a longstanding need for a feasible plan for man's complete utilization of the ocean's tremendous resources. Such a plan should encompass the harvesting and management of all usable products, the understanding of the ocean's characteristics, processes, and phenomena and their potential application to man's welfare, and the ultimate occupancy of the ocean as a place for man to live and enjoy. The plan must necessarily be imaginative, daring, long ranged, and designed to obtain and apply scientific knowledge and technology to all aspects of the marine environment. The concept of the sea grant college could well be the basis for such a plan. The sea grant college concept should parallel in practice the land-grant college concept only in principle, not in detail. Sea grant colleges should be established first in educational institutions with established records of accomplishment in the marine sciences and have the potential for a strong program in ocean engineering. A sea grant college should have a program involving the totality of the sea, encompassing education and training, research, and resources exploitation. It should involve the natural and social sciences, the arts, law, planning, and engineering. As the program progresses, institutions may be established to meet special needs, but the educational institution should always remain the core of the program. The role of the Great Lakes in the development and promotion of the sea grant college concept is an important one: 1. These mesoscale water bodies, possessing both oceanic and lacustrine characteristics, are uniquely suited as models or laboratory-sized oceans for the study of a great variety of scientific and engineering problems of interest to marine scientists. Evident examples are studies of air-water interaction phenomena and developmental aspects of the "man in sea" project. 2. Absence of salinity, of heavy biological fouling, and of wood-boring organisms makes the Great Lakes excellent test sites in which the operating principles of new instrumentation can be tested without the necessity for expensive protection against corrosion, electrolysis, fouling, or borers. 3. Within the Great Lakes basin is a unique complex of institutions of higher education, possessing a large reservoir of scientists and engineers, and the capa bilities of directing their vast educational, scientific and technological competence to the solution of regional and national problems. Many of these institutions have strong programs in the aquatic sciences, and several are pursuing active research and student training programs on the Great Lakes and the oceans. I wish you success in the enactment of this bill and greatly appreciate the opportunity to express my views. Senator from Rhode Island, 325 Old Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. Re Bill S. 2439. DEAR SIR: I was delighted to answer Senator Murphy's inquiry of April 22, asking for an evaluation of your bill, S. 2439, and to discuss with him its merits. The United States urgently needs a legislative foundation to focus attention on and give support to the three programs you identified when you introduced the referenced bill. These are: Program 1: Make funds "available to colleges and universities for the purpose of expanding practical education in the marine sciences." (I interpret "marine sciences" to include the "field of oceanics.") Program 2: Make funds available for the "purpose of supporting research that will lead to a direct and practical nature in the marine sciences." Program 3: Make funds available for the purpose of establishing a "system of extension services to bring the latest developments in the marine sciences to the attention of workers in the field, scientists, and the interested public." Several times you asked witnesses if the Smithsonian Institution would be an appropriate administrator for the effort described in bill S. 2439. Because of the importance of all three oceanic programs of this legislation, and because of the statements made during the hearings of May 5, 6, and 7, 1966, I believe that the Smithsonian is by far the best selection as administrators and that an amendment to the bill is appropriate. The Smithsonian, under the first Secretary, was the parent of the U.S. Weather Bureau. Under the second Secretary it was the parent of the Fish Commission. It was also the parent of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. The Smithsonian is "an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men." It has the experience from its Editorial and Publications Division to disseminate a steady flow of knowledge resulting from research. Another reason for selecting the Smithsonian is their Board of Regents composed of the Vice President of the United States, the Chief Justice, three Senators, three Representatives, and six private citizens. It seems necessary that a major oceanic grant such as a national sea grant college should be approved by the highly qualified "proposal approval board." The Smithsonian Institution's Board of Regents is exactly such a body. He I discussed briefly with Dr. I. E. Wallen, Smithsonian's representative to the Interagency Committee of Oceanography, the feasibility of creating an Oceanics Bureau within the Smithsonian to: administer bill S. 2439; prepare and administration plan for the effort; and establish an oceanic data bank to collect and disseminate oceanic-type data generated by the recipients of the grants. stated, as did Dr. Galler to you on May 3, that it is necessary for the Smithsonian Board of Reegnts to approve such an undertaking, but that it was certainly within the scope and philosophy to perform this task. Dr. S. Dillon Ripley's statement delivered by Dr. Galler specifies the keen interest the Smithsonian has in oceanian items and the importance it places on your bill. Finally, I believe you should require that an administrative plan should be prepared and approved prior to any institute or agency starting administration of the effort identified in your bill. Very truly yours, WILLIAM A. LOBBAN. THE MARINE DIGEST, Seattle, Wash., April 28, 1966. Senator CLAIBORNE PELL, Committee on Labor and Public Welfare, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR PELL: For the hearing record, may we express our complete support and endorsement of the general purposes of the legislation proposed by you in your bill to establish sea grant colleges. The demands for trained people to serve in oceanography, the development of which is a vital U.S. need, almost dictates the necessity for passage of the sea grant educational concept. Sincerely yours, JOHN M. HAYDON, Vice-Chairman, Puget Sound Oceanography Study Committee. MARINE TECHNOLOGY SOCIETY, Hon. CLAIBORNE PELL, U.S. Senate, Committee on Labor and Public Welfare, MY DEAR SENATOR PELL: Thank you for your letter of April 22, and the opportunity to comment on S. 2439, which you kindly enclosed. I believe S. 2439 is a positive step toward the development of a strong national capability to understand the oceans, including the Great Lakes, and lay the foundation of knowledge for their intelligent utilization for the benefit of all mankind. In the last century our forefathers' creation of land grant colleges laid the foundation for U.S. leadership in development of agricultural sciences. The agricultural achievements that have taken place in the United States during the past 100 years have proven to be a blessing not only to our own country but to the entire world. At this time, when the world's need for food and other raw material is exploding, man must look to the sea for solutions of tomorrow's as well as today's problems. It is encouraging to see U.S. leadership again assert itself in positive steps envisioned in S. 2439 to encourage the growth of understanding necessary for wise and efficient utilization of the oceans. S. 2439 recognizes the extent to which the funds to support ocean development are already flowing into the National Treasury as a result of offshore leases. The self-supporting provisions set forth in section 3 of S. 2439 are sound and most encouraging. I believe S. 2439 will become one of the foundation stones upon which the United States will build a strong national ocean program which will benefit this generation and those to come. I hope the Congress will enact S. 2439 into law during this session. Thank you again Senator Pell for the opportunity to comment on S. 2439 and for the splendid leadership you are giving to the development of a strong national ocean program. Sincerely, E. C. STEPHAN, Rear Admiral, U.S.N. (Retired), President. NATIONAL CANNERS ASSOCIATION, Washington, D.C., May 9, 1966. Hon. CLAIBORNE PELL, Chairman, Special Subcommittee on Sea Grant Colleges, Committee on Labor and Public Welfare, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR PELL: We would like to express, for the record, our support for the objectives of S. 2439, the National Sea Grant College Act. We commend your efforts and the recent hearings of the Special Subcommittee on Sea Grant Colleges, for focusing congressional and public attention on the vital need for a broad program of marine science education in our colleges and universities. |