SJR 18-EXXON VALDEZ DAMAGE CLAIMS                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GEORGIANNA LINCOLN, sponsor of SJR 18, thanked the                                                                      
committee for hearing the legislation. She explained the resolution                                                             
requests Exxon Corporation pay the punitive damages awarded to over                                                             
40,000 Alaskans. She reported it has been 10 years since the Exxon                                                              
Valdez oil spill and 5 years since an Alaskan jury awarded the 5                                                                
billion dollar judgement, and it is yet to be paid.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR LINCOLN proposed the Legislature has been supportive of                                                                 
the oil industry and therefore Exxon should be a good corporate                                                                 
citizen and pay all punitive damages.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR LINCOLN pointed out that on March 25, 1999, 37 Attorneys                                                                
General from the Association of Attorneys General signed a letter                                                               
asking Exxon to end the protracted litigation over the judgement                                                                
and honor the unanimous verdict of the jury.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Number 070                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR DONLEY stated his strong support for the resolution.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. JOHN HOPKINS, testifying via teleconference from Cordova,                                                                   
testified in support of SJR 18.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Number 100                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MS. BARBARA JENSEN, also testifying via teleconference from                                                                     
Cordova, spoke in support of the resolution.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MS. PATIENCE ANDERSEN FAULKNER, also testifying via teleconference                                                              
from Cordova, testified in support of SJR 18.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Number 119                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MR. CHRIS BERNS from Kodiak supported SJR 18.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MS. JANA NELSON, representing the Kodiak Native Association, stated                                                             
she and her organization strongly support SJR 18.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Number 130                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR DONLEY moved SJR 18 from committee with individual                                                                      
recommendations. Without objection, SJR 18 moved from committee                                                                 
with individual recommendations. CHAIRMAN TAYLOR expressed his                                                                  
thanks to the sponsor of the resolution, Senator Lincoln.