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to conserve our precious wetland habitat that sustains not only waterfowl and other migratory 

 birds, but one third of our threatened and endangered species and a variety of fish and shellfish. 



This is an outstanding example of how to accomplish the protection of biological diversity. In 

 addition, wetland protection efforts provide flood control benefits, improve water quality and 

 supply, and mitigate hurricane and other storm damage and saltwater intrusion in our coastal 

 areas. 



I strongly support this program as one of my highest conservation priorities and urge you to act 

 promptly on this reauthorization. 



We believe that any likely increase in funding levels will be matched by the non-Federal 

 participants in the program. With fiscal year 1994 money, we were not able to fund 26 U.S. 

 proposals for which partners had committed $21 million in matching funds. These unfunded 

 projects cover 136,000 acres in 17 States and would have provided for acquisition, restoration, 

 or enhancement of wetland ecosystems. It is obvious that our partners are extremely supportive 

 of this non-regulatory wetlands conservation program, and that Federal funding levels can be 

 productively matched. 



Since the Act is already so successful, there is only one change that we suggest for your 

 consideration. We believe the Act should be amended to provide that, in the case of projects 



