02/24/1999 01:02 PM House RES

HJR 11 - ENDORSING ANWR LEASING                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Number 0111                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR OGAN announced the first item of business would be House                                                               
Joint Resolution No. 11, urging the United States Congress to pass                                                              
legislation to open the coastal plain of the Arctic National                                                                    
Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, to oil and gas exploration, development,                                                               
and production.  He noted that no one was signed up to testify,                                                                 
then advised members of his intention to hold the resolution over                                                               
until after the Energy Council meetings in Washington, D.C.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Number 0179                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GAIL PHILLIPS, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor,                                                                
reminded members that the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR)                                                                
resolution has been before this body for many years.  She said it                                                               
is imperative that Alaska focus on opening ANWR and keep the                                                                    
message before Congress.  Noting that many new Congress members                                                                 
aren't familiar with ANWR, she said seeing this resolution coming                                                               
from the state of Alaska, and the legislature of Alaska, is                                                                     
critical to eventual success.  It is the same as the past                                                                       
resolutions, which have always had overwhelming support from all                                                                
segments of the state.  She encouraged members' support.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Number 0260                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE JOHN HARRIS asked whether there was any reason to                                                                
have this pass before Alaskan legislators go to Washington, D.C.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIPS said no.  She pointed out that the last                                                                 
resolution is on file there.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Number 0314                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE BEVERLY MASEK asked what other steps Representative                                                              
Phillips foresees taking in Washington, D.C.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIPS replied that Arctic Power, the Alaskan                                                                  
organization that manages the ANWR campaign, has sent invitations                                                               
to the legislators who are going to the Energy Council, asking them                                                             
to contribute time while there to meet with some of the new                                                                     
congressional offices; she believes they will do that.  She                                                                     
recounted how the one time the ANWR resolution had passed the House                                                             
of Representatives, she and others spent a whole summer on mission                                                              
trips, going to various states and meeting with various                                                                         
congressional members, especially the new ones; that will continue.                                                             
Representative Phillips said one of the best things that the Alaska                                                             
legislature can do is to meet one-on-one with both new and                                                                      
continuing Congress members, to reaffirm the Alaska State                                                                       
Legislature's commitment and position on ANWR.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MASEK expressed full support for HJR 11 and the                                                                  
mission of getting the message to those in the Lower 48.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIPS emphasized that this is not just on behalf                                                              
of Alaska.  She noted that 25 percent of daily oil production in                                                                
the United States comes from the North Slope, and that figure will                                                              
grow as imports from other nations decline.  She said it is                                                                     
critical for the United States to take this into consideration.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Number 0545                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE REGGIE JOULE commented that he is really glad to see                                                             
this resolution move forward.  One reason for passage of the Alaska                                                             
Native Claims Settlement Act was to allow communities to develop                                                                
resources.  He pointed out the irony, stating, "Then we have the                                                                
same source, on the other hand, saying, 'But you can't do it.'"  He                                                             
emphasized that those people who are most profoundly impacted are                                                               
very much in support of this resolution.  For example, in Kaktovik,                                                             
where the lands selection are, the community cannot even begin to                                                               
do anything.  There is frustration because they want to become more                                                             
economically viable, to provide jobs for their shareholders, to                                                                 
enjoy some benefits of enterprise, and to be able to see this                                                                   
develop.  However, because of the attitude of the current                                                                       
Administration, it is not going anywhere.  Representative Joule                                                                 
said he hopes the message of HJR 11 gets carried to Congress.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Number 0718                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR OGAN mentioned lobbying the new Congress members and said                                                              
he had been working with the director of Arctic Power, as well.  He                                                             
suggested that nine legislators may not be enough to cover all the                                                              
Congress members, but that they would do their best.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIPS emphasized that when the current                                                                        
Administration is no longer blocking the opening of ANWR, it will                                                               
take a concerted effort by all the legislators to get the message                                                               
across.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Number 0776                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE RAMONA BARNES asked why Co-Chair Ogan wished to hold                                                             
the resolution over to the following week.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR OGAN called an at-ease at 1:10 p.m.; the meeting came back                                                             
to order at 1:12 p.m.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Number 0780                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE BARNES made a motion to adopt the original version                                                               
of HJR 11, rather than CSHJR 11(O&G); she asked unanimous consent.                                                              
There being no objection, the original version was adopted.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Number 0823                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE BARNES made a motion to move HJR 11 from the                                                                     
committee with the accompanying zero fiscal note and individual                                                                 
recommendations; she asked unanimous consent.  There being no                                                                   
objection, HJR 11 moved from the House Resources Standing                                                                       
Committee.