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NFWF Testimony - Page 7 



feel it is important to raise this issue for your attention. 



Second, the Foundation's Board was originally blessed with the appointment of a state Fish and 

 Game director as one of the "educated and experienced" Board positions. This practice was 

 abandoned a few years ago, and this is unfortunate. Because we do so many projects with states 

 as partners, and because we have an over arching goal of building partnerships between the public 

 and private sectors, it is very valuable for us to have the benefit of a state director's input. As 

 the Board is expanded, I hope Secretary Babbitt again considers appointing a state director to our 

 Board. 



Finally, since you asked what would let the Foundation function more effectively, I will provide 

 one more item, again unrelated to your draft legislation: more money. We beheve that we have 

 only scratched the surface of what the non-federal sector can and will contribute to fish, wildlife 

 and plant conservation. As our past funding demonstrates, the Foundation can leverage the private 

 sector's commitment if we in turn are provided with the necessary federal matching funds to use 

 as the incentive. Currently, we find there are far more willing and able participants than we have 

 federal matches to provide. We simply need a greater matching capacity to expand our 

 partnerships. Moreover, given the fiscal pressures that are being applied to all agencies, 

 particularly the land management agencies, the ability to catalyze partnerships, cost-share, and 

 maximize the buying power of limited federal fiinds is more critical than ever. 



We are very pleased with Secretary Babbitt's proposed increase to the National Fish and Wildlife 

 Foundation's budget. This will allow us to do more than ever before to benefit the programs of 

 the Fish and Wildlife Service and fish, wildlife and plant conservation generally. We would also 

 like to see other agencies provide a line item for the Foundation. While we are currently engaged 

 in cooperative programs with 14 different agencies of the federal government, we have only 

 received funds from the Fish and Wildlife Service and AID budgets. I would like to see other 

 agencies, specifically the Bureau of Reclamation, BLM, USDA-Forest Service, Army Corps of 

 Engineers, and NMFS, recognize the benefits that we can offer and go to bat for us, just as 

 Assistant Secretary Frampton has done today. 



In closing, I firmly believe that the Foundation is one of the most quietly successful programs 

 ever created and funded by the U.S. Congress. We have worked to ensure that your money and 

 the money of our cooperators is targeted directly to on-the-ground conservation projects and not 

 just to fund another generic environmental program. We have no press arm nor direct mail 

 operation to get the word out about what we do. As a result, we count on our projects and our 

 day-to-day performance to speak for themselves. 



But as I said when I began, we are the product of this Committee. We look forward to continuing 

 our relationship, and in getting to know the new members on the Committee. I thank the 

 Committee for the opportunity to testify and I would be pleased to answer any questions. 



Exhibits: A Federal Appropriations and Grant Commitments, 1986-1993 



B Project Grantees, 1986-1993 



C Project Grant Summaries, 1986-1993 



D 1992 Annual Report 



E Partners in Flight Newsletter 



File: WTTe«94.MM2 



