SCR 3-SOVEREIGNTY OF THE STATE; RESOURCES CHAIRMAN TAYLOR stated that SCR 3 makes a statement to Congress. SCR 3 cites U. S. Supreme Court cases and puts Congress and federal agencies on notice that Alaska will not put up with the federal mandate and intervention of fish and game management. If Congress chose to ignore Alaska's rights by passing the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), then Alaska needs to take this issue forward and litigate. The dispute revolves around whether or not the federal government can force a sovereign state to amend its constitution and to amend the equal protection clause of its constitution to provide for discrimination based on residency. REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT OGAN said he strongly supports SCR 3. Sovereignty of Alaska should be defended by the legislature and the governor. This issue is not about subsistence, it is about Alaska's right to manage its resources and whether Alaska will be a first or second class state. The Equal Footing Doctrine states that Alaska was admitted to the Union on equal footing with other states--this was specifically mentioned in the 1953 Submerged Land Act in the Statehood Compact. Representative Ogan said he finds it outrageous that the federal government has stepped in and taken over the management of Alaska's sovereign property. When Alaska became a state it received title to its submerged land and having title is a property right. CHAIRMAN TAYLOR agreed wholeheartedly with a quote in Governor Knowles' appeal of the Katie John case, "No governor should ever barter away the state's sovereign right to manage its lands, its waters, or its natural resources." SENATOR HALFORD moved SCR 3 from committee with individual recommendations. Without objection, the motion carried.