HJR 66 am OPPOSE AMERICAN HERITAGE AREAS  CHAIRMAN LEMAN brought HJR 66 am, sponsored by the House Rules Committee, before the committee as the next order of business. MARIEKE NORDLINER , staff to Representative Gail Phillips, explained the resolution was drafted in response to a congressional bill currently before Congress that is unfriendly to Alaska. In opposing that bill, as currently drafted, HJR 66 requests amendments specifically to protect private property rights, and it specifically opposes the increased authority handed to the Secretary of the Interior under the current bill. DICK BISHOP , Executive Director, Alaska Outdoor Council, voiced AOC's strong support for HJR 66. Under the bill in Congress, the National Park Service would be able to administratively designate natural heritage areas, and with that, could go restrictions that in addition to being inconsistent with private property rights, would be inconsistent with other uses by other people. The Council feels that the legislation is not an appropriate measure to be passed by Congress, and they will work to that end. CHAIRMAN LEMAN asked if there was any testimony in the House opposing this resolution. MS. NORDLINER responded that the National Park Service called and they were upset at what they perceive to be a slap in the face to the Park Service, and the resolution was amended to remove the language they found aggressive. There being no further testimony on HJR 66 am, CHAIRMAN LEMAN closed the public hearing and stated the committee would stand at ease until a quorum was established. CHAIRMAN LEMAN brought HJR 66 am (OPPOSE AMERICAN HERITAGE AREAS) back before the committee. Hearing no further discussion on the resolution, he asked for the pleasure of the committee. SENATOR PEARCE moved HJR 66 am be passed out of committee with individual recommendations. Hearing no objection, it was so ordered.