TESTIMONY OF BRUCE BABBITT, SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF THE 

 INTERIOR, BEFORE THE HOUSE COMAHTTEE ON MERCHANT MARINE AND 

 FISHERIES, SUBCOMNHTTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOLTICES, 

 CONCERNING REAUTHORIZATION OF THE NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS 

 CONSERVATION ACT 



June 8, 1994 



Mr. Chairman, I am delighted to have the opportunity to testify on the North American 

 Wetlands Conservation Act (Act). The Administration strongly supports reauthorization of this 

 extraordinarily valuable program. 



This is one of those model programs where everyone wins. Since its enactment in 1989, this 

 Act has provided for potentially the most wide-reaching conservation program ever to protect, 

 enhance, restore, and manage a diversity of wetland ecosystems and other habitats throughout 

 North America. 



This program has been extremely successful, with 275 wetlands conservation projects underway 

 throughout Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Federal funds committed to these projects 

 totalling $105 million have been joined by over $203 million from a wide variety of non-profit 

 groups. States, businesses, and individuals. In total, the Federal grant dollars have been nearly 

 doubled by our non-Federal matching partners, an unprecedented return on the Federal 

 investment. 



As of May 9, Mexico became a full partner in these efforts, signing the 1994 Update to the 

 North American Waterfowl Management Plan. Now, we are truly supporting a continental effort 



