Foundation and its streamlined administration is one of its unique characteristics 

 worth careful deliberation. 



I look forward to hearing from the witnesses today. 



Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. HocHBRUECKNER. Do we have opening comments from our 

 colleague, Mrs. Unsoeld? 



Mrs. Unsoeld. Mr. Chairman, double ditto. 



Mr. Hochbrueckner. Well, we are well on our way. In light of 

 the lack of controversy anticipated, you may actually exceed the 

 normal five minutes that we normally accord to witnesses. So feel 

 free, and we are certainly here to listen and to learn. 



At this time, I would like to bring on the panel of witnesses, and 

 we will go by order of how you are listed on the witness list. 



STATEMENTS OF DON BARRY, COUNSELOR TO ASSISTANT SEC- 

 RETARY FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE AND PARKS, DEPARTMENT 

 OF THE INTERIOR; AMOS ENO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NATION- 

 AL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION; GARY MYERS, EXECU- 

 TIVE DIRECTOR, TENNESSEE WILDLIFE RESOURCE AGENCY, 

 ON BEHALF OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FISH 

 AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES; MIKE DENNIS, GENERAL COUNSEL, 

 THE NATURE CONSERVANCY; AND SCOTT SUTHERLAND, DI- 

 RECTOR OF FEDERAL RELATIONS, DUCKS UNLIMITED 



Mr. Hochbrueckner. First, Mr. Don Barry, the Counselor to As- 

 sistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, Department of 

 the Interior. Mr. Barry. 



STATEMENT OF DON BARRY 



Mr. Barry. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the opportu- 

 nity to testify on the reauthorization of the National Fish and 

 Wildlife Foundation. 



I would like to stress the fact that both Secretary Babbitt and 

 Assistant Secretary Frampton have each had an opportunity to 

 review the work of the Fish and Wildlife Foundation firsthand and 

 both believe the Foundation is an effective, flexible and cost-effec- 

 tive vehicle to foster the conservation of fish and wildlife and the 

 critical habitats on which they depend. 



We at the Department of the Interior are very pleased to endorse 

 this important program and the Foundation's work, to support its 

 reauthorization, and to tell you that we believe it has significant 

 potential for providing greater assistance to this Administration in 

 realizing our conservation objectives. 



Among these objectives are enhanced partnerships between pri- 

 vate interests and the State and Federal Governments, greater reli- 

 ance on science, and creative new ways to approach conservation of 

 species and their habitats. 



The Administration commends you and your staff for your ef- 

 forts on your draft bill. We endorse it generally. Specifically, we 

 support the increase in the size of the Board of Directors from 9 to 

 15 members, and we will be considering a State fish and wildlife 

 director among the new appointees in order to enhance coordina- 

 tion and communication with the States. 



In recognition of the responsibilities of the National Marine Fish- 

 eries Service, the Administration supports the inclusion of the Na- 



