00HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 61                                                                                         
01 Relating to export of unprocessed round logs from the Tongass National Forest.                                          
02 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                              
03  WHEREAS the United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, has                                             
04 announced its intention to allow the export of round logs from the Tongass National Forest;                             
05 and                                                                                                                     
06  WHEREAS this proposed policy is contrary to previous public policy and is opposed                                    
07 by Alaska Senator Stevens and Senator Murkowski, and Alaska Congressman Young; and                                      
08  WHEREAS the export of round logs from Forest Service land is contrary to Alaska's                                    
09 desire to create jobs in the state by promoting primary and secondary manufacturing of timber                           
10 resources; and                                                                                                          
11  WHEREAS there is currently an oversupply on world markets of Douglas fir and                                         
12 spruce and a limited market for hemlock and cedar; and                                                                  
13  WHEREAS the market in Asia is at it lowest point in many years, and the markets                                      
14 in Canada and the Pacific Northwest have not developed as expected; and                                                 

01  WHEREAS there is already over 250 MMBF of Forest Service timber under contract,                                      
02 with about 212 MMBF planned for the sales program in each subsequent year; and                                          
03  WHEREAS the Forest Service's proposal to export round logs provides unfair                                           
04 competition to existing state timber businesses;                                                                        
05  BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature strenuously objects to an anti-                                     
06 competitive policy that inhibits the growth of primary and secondary manufacturing of wood                              
07 products in Alaska; and be it                                                                                           
08  FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature requests the United States                                        
09 Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, to withdraw its proposal to export round logs from                           
10 the Tongass National Forest.                                                                                            
11  COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Al Gore, Jr., Vice-President                                
12 of the United States and President of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Newt Gingrich, Speaker                             
13 of the U.S. House of Representatives; the Honorable Robert F. Smith, Chair, House                                       
14 Agriculture Committee; the Honorable Richard G. Lugar, Chair, Senate Agriculture, Nutrition,                            
15 and Forestry Committee; the Honorable Daniel R. Glickman, Secretary, U.S. Department of                                 
16 Agriculture; Phil Janik, Regional Forester, U.S. Forest Service; to the Honorable Ted Stevens                           
17 and the Honorable Frank Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S.                                     
18 Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress; Sealaska Corporation; Silver                              
19 Bay Logging; Viking Lumber; Seley Log and Lumber; and Louisiana Pacific Corporation.