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for agency cooperation and coordination, and building a formal framework for optimizing public 

 input and active involvement, HR 4408, in our view, addresses all of the major criticisms of 

 previous fishery restoration program legislation. These include: 



Uncoordinated and haphazard project implementation, 

 • Excessive administration costs that consume funds that should be spent on actual restoration 



work. 



Lack of progress due to interagency squabbles and over-management, 



Programmatic barriers that discourage land and water users from becoming program 



cooperators, and 



Lack of public access to the decision making process that diminishes program support. 



Therefore it is with a great deal of pleasure that we offer HR 4408 our unconditional and 

 enthusiastic support. Congratulations on a job well done! 



Best regards, 



(fud Ellinwood 



Executive Director 

 cc: Mr. David Nelson 



