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HR 4481 103th Congress House

National Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Act of 1994

Official title: To restore the Nation's aquatic ecosystems through the voluntary cooperation of Federal, State, tribal, and corporate and other private interests.

Introduced: May 24, 1994 See on congress.gov
Environmental Protection AnimalsBiological diversity conservationCongressCongressional veto
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Cost effectivenessDislocated workersEconomics and Public FinanceEcosystem managementEnvironmental monitoringExecutive reorganizationFederal advisory bodiesFederal aid to water pollution controlFederal aid to water resources developmentFishery managementFreshwater ecologyGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernment trust fundsHabitat conservationLabor and Employment
This bill died when the 103rd Congress ended
It never became law before the 103rd Congress (1993–1994) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 8 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 19, 1994
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Jun 6, 1994
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Jun 1, 1994
Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and Natural Resources.
Jun 1, 1994
Executive Comment Requested from Interior.
May 24, 1994
Introduced in House
May 24, 1994
Referred to the House Committee on Public Works + Transportation.
May 24, 1994
Referred to the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries.
May 24, 1994
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1045)
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 Latest action July 19, 1994

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

National Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Act of 1994 - Declares that it is U.S. policy that: (1) Federal, State, and local agencies should plan and implement aquatic ecosystem restoration projects resulting in achievement of the interim goals of a net restoration of ten million acres of wetlands, 400,000 miles of streams and rivers, and one million acres of lakes (excluding the Great Lakes) by the year 2010, and long-term goals published by the National Aquatic Restoration Council (established by this Act); and (2) the Federal Government should provide leadership and technical and financial assistance to State and local governments, tribal organizations, other management entities, and private citizens to plan, implement, monitor, and evaluate aquatic ecosystem restoration.

Directs the Council to: (1) monitor achievement of the interim goals; and (2) upon determining that such goals have been achieved, establish and publish long-term goals in the Federal Register.

Requires: (1) the President to establish an Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Task Force to develop a National Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Strategy; and (2) the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to seek to implement the Strategy.

Sets forth the contents of the Strategy. Directs the Task Force, in developing the Strategy, to consider the national policy and recommendations contained in the National Research Council's 1992 report on Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems and the 1994 National Science Foundation's Freshwater Initiative.

Directs the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, subject to the availability of amounts deposited into the Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Fund (established by this Act), to provide financial assistance to a management entity to carry out each aquatic restoration project approved by the Council. Sets forth requirements regarding applications for assistance and review and approval of proposed projects.

Requires the Task Force to submit to the President and publish in the Federal Register recommendations for sources of amounts for deposit into the Fund, consisting of fees imposed for use or degradation of water resources. Sets forth provisions regarding presidential and congressional review of the recommendations. Directs that amounts received by the United States pursuant to such recommendations be deposited into the Fund.

Authorizes appropriations.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4481: National Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Act of 1994. 103rd Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/103-HR-4481/
MLA
"H.R. 4481: National Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Act of 1994." 103rd Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/103-HR-4481/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4481, 103rd Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/103-HR-4481/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4481: National Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Act of 1994](https://openamerica.io/bill/103-HR-4481/)
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