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the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has recently embarked 

 upon an Ecosystem Approach to Fish and Wilulife Conservation and 

 approved a new Action Plan for Fishery Resources and Aquatic 

 Ecosystems. The focus of our ecosystem approach and our action 

 plan is the building of partnerships with other management 

 entities and with private interests to better leverage our 

 collective abilities. We believe that an ecosystem approach will 

 help us meet ever-increasing fish and wildlife resource 

 challenges now and in the yeai_ u.o come. An ecosystem approach 

 will only succeed if it has the full support of all the 

 appropriate cooperators. Without strong partnerships, the 

 effectiveness of independent initiatives will continue to be 

 limited. 



The cosponsors of H.R. 4481 recognize this need and emphasize a 

 grass-roots approach to aquatic restoration. The bill supports 

 local, tribal, and State aquatic ecosystem restoration efforts by 

 providing technical expertise and funding to such entities to 

 achieve effective restoration where it is most needed and will be 

 most beneficial. The bill also requires coordination among 

 existing Federal programs and policies relating to aquatic 

 ecosystem restoration. 



Another important aspect of this legislation is its comprehensive 

 and integrated framework for directing long-term national aquatic 

 ecosystem restoration activities. The focal point of this 



