CONGRESSIONAL RECORD -- SENATE

April 3, 1969

Page 8605

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 89 -- INTRODUCTION OF JOINT RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF AN INTERNATIONAL BIOLOGICAL PROGRAM

Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, this Nation's efforts to preserve and enhance the quality of the environment are seriously hindered by our lack of knowledge concerning the operation of the natural system -- the ecosystem -- of which man is a part, and the effects of man's massive alterations of that system.

Some say that environmental degradation is the price of prosperity, but I contend that environmental quality and economic affluence are both possible. Indeed, the latter is impossible without the former. Our current dilemma results from our ignorance of the interrelationship between man and his environment.

A significant program, designed to provide information about man and his environment, is the international biological program -- IBP. Today, the IBP pools the activities and talents of some 2,000 international scientists from 53 countries who are concerned enough to participate in a global research effort. It is an effort dedicated to the important task of acquiring vitally needed knowledge about the systems which support life, and, where polluted, degrade the quality of life.

The joint resolution which I offer today on behalf of myself and Senators BOGGS, COOPER, DOLE, EAGLETON, HARRIS, MONTOYA, and NELSON, supports the U.S. participation in the international biological program through the National Science Foundation, the U.S. National Committee for the IBP, and the Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee. Working together, these agencies have the responsibility for planning, coordinating, and carrying out this program in the United States.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that this joint resolution be referred to the Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare, the authorizing committee for the National Science Foundation, and that the text of the joint resolution be inserted in the RECORD at this time.

The VICE PRESIDENT. The joint resolution will be received, and by unanimous consent, referred to the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare, and printed in the RECORD.

The joint resolution (S.J. Res. 89) expressing the support of the Congress, and urging the support of Federal departments and agencies as well as other persons and organizations, both public and private for the international biological program, introduced by Mr. MUSKIE, was received, read twice by its title, by unanimous consent referred to the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare, and ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows

S.J. RES. 89

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That (a) the Congress hereby finds and declares that the international biological program, which was established under the auspices of the International Council of Scientific Unions and the International Union of Biological Sciences and is sponsored in the United States by the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering, deals with one of the most crucial situations to face this or any other civilization -- the immediate or near potential of mankind to damage, possibly beyond repair, the earth's ecological system on which all life depends. The Congress further finds and declares that the international biological program provides an immediate and effective means available of meeting this situation, through its stated objectives of increased study and research related to biological productivity and human welfare in a changing world environment.

(b) The Congress therefore commends and endorses the international biological program and expresses its support of the United States National Committee and the Interagency Coordinating Committee which together have the responsibility for planning, coordinating, and carrying out the program in the United States.

(c) In view of the urgency of the problem, the Congress finds and declares that the provision by the United States of adequate financial and other support for the international biological program is a matter of first priority.

Sec. 2. (a) The Congress calls upon all Federal departments and agencies and other persons and organizations, both public and private, to support and cooperate fully with the international biological program and the activities and goals of the United States National Committee and the Interagency Coordinating Committee.

(b) For this purpose, the Congress authorizes and requests all Federal departments and agencies having functions or objectives which coincide with or are related to those of the international biological program to obligate or make appropriate transfers of funds to the program from moneys available for such functions or objectives and provide such other support as may be appropriate.