SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING THE IMPORTANCE OF NAVAL OCEANOGRAPHIC SURVEY AND RESEARCH IN THE POST-COLD WAR PERIOD.

SEC. 1162. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING THE IMPORTANCE OF NAVAL OCEANOGRAPHIC SURVEY AND RESEARCH IN THE POST-COLD WAR PERIOD. (a) Findings.—Congress makes the following findings: (1) Oceanographic research and survey work is a critical element to the ability of the Navy to conduct successful operations in littoral waters of the world. (2) Over the five-year period of fiscal years 1989 through 1993, the Navy experienced a significant diminution in its oceanographic research and survey capability due to budget reductions that resulted in (A) a reduction in the level of effort for Navy oceanographic research and survey activities by almost 50 percent, and (B) a reduction from 12 to 7 in the number of Navy ships dedicated to oceanographic survey and research activities. (b) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that— (1) reductions in the funding, activities, and capability of the Navy to conduct oceanographic survey and research work, in addition to the reductions referred to in subsection (a)(2), would further reduce the level of oceanographic survey and research work of the Navy and should be avoided; and (2) funding for oceanographic survey and research activities of the Navy should be maintained at levels sufficient to ensure that the Navy can exploit every opportunity to survey and research littoral waters critical to the operational needs of the Navy.