HJR 15 - SUPPORT AMERICAN LAND SOVEREIGNTY ACT Number 7283 CHAIR BARNES announced the next order of business was House Joint Resolution No. 15, "Relating to support for an 'American Land Sovereignty Protection Act' in the United States Congress." MYRNA MCGHIE, Legislative Administrative Assistant for Representative Jeannette James, Alaska State Legislature, stated that the language of HJR 15 has been changed since the drafting of the bill and there is an amendment. CHAIR BARNES clarified that when HJR 15 is moved out of committee, the amendment will be moved to bring the resolution in compliance with what is presently before the U.S. Congress. REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIPS requested, in the interest of time and due to the fact that the bill was supported last year, that the committee move to make the amendment on it and vote to support this. CHAIR BARNES concurred with Representative Phillips, and acknowledged that people were standing by to testify. REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIPS made a motion to adopt Amendment 1 of HJR 15. There being no objection, the amendment was adopted. REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY made a motion to move HJR 15, as amended, from the committee with the attached fiscal note and asked unanimous consent. There being no objection, CSHJR 15(WTR) was moved out of committee with individual recommendation. TAPE 99-05, SIDE A Number 0026 CHAIR BARNES apologized to the people that testified on HB 109 for the committee's inability to move it from committee, but assured them that the committee would continue to work on it. REPRESENTATIVE JAMES stated, "It's extremely important that we put on the record that Glacier Bay National Park is a biosphere reserve. The one thing that we're wanting here to happen, that is part of the man-in-the-biosphere convention which has never been accepted by the U.S. Senate. It's very important, and I wouldn't have -- I have a sneaking suspicion that a lot of the problems we're having in Glacier Bay now is because of the fact that it is a biosphere reserve, and that's working underneath all of the other issues. I had to say that." CHAIR BARNES asked Representative James to point out that a biosphere reserve is not just the area within the national park, but is a 250 mile circumference around the park. REPRESENTATIVE JAMES clarified that there is a core area where nothing is supposed to happen, a surrounding area with very limited human input and than the area around that is where normal activities take place. CHAIR BARNES noted that she is greatful that Representative James continues to discuss these issues.