Gerry Studds: “Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 476, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Improvement Act of 1994.…”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 476, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Improvement Act of 1994. Since it was established by legislation from the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries in 1984, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has funded almost 800 conservation projects in literally every corner of our Nation. By using a partnership approach, $90 million worth of conservation projects have been funded with only $28 million in Federal appropriations. This bill applies the adage, ``if it ain't broke, don't fix it.'' It makes only minor changes to this legislation: it expands the Foundation's Board of Directors from 9 members to 15; it gives explicit authority for the Foundation to work with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on marine conservation projects; and it authorizes Federal appropriations at the current level of $25 million per year for the next 5 years. This bill also contains two other provisions. It authorizes the establishment of the Brownsville Wetlands Policy Center at the Port of Brownsville and directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey the Senecaville National Fish Hatchery to the State of Ohio.”