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HR001

Resolve: HR001

Source Root: HR001

Year: 1999

Source Bill: HR 1

Establishing a House Special Committee on Fisheries.

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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

WHEREAS fishing for personal use helps to define the Alaska lifestyle for many state residents; and

WHEREAS sport fishing plays a significant role in the state tourism industry; and

WHEREAS the commercial fishing industry is one of Alaska's largest renewable resource industries; and

WHEREAS Alaska's subsistence fisheries are an important use of our fisheries resources; and

WHEREAS the Alaska State Legislature must be well informed on all issues related to the fisheries of Alaska;

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives that a House Special Committee on Fisheries is established to study fishery issues relevant to Alaska; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the speaker of the House of Representatives shall determine the number of representatives to be members of the committee, appoint the members, and designate a member to chair the committee; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the House Special Committee on Fisheries may meet during and between sessions of the Twenty-First Alaska State Legislature and is terminated on the convening of the First Session of the Twenty-Second Alaska State Legislature.

HR002

Resolve: HR002

Source Root: HR002

Year: 1999

Source Bill: HR 2

Establishing a House Special Committee on World Trade and State/Federal Relations.

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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

WHEREAS world trade is of increasing importance to the economy of the state; and

WHEREAS legislation enacted by the federal government has far reaching impact on the economy of the state; and

WHEREAS there is renewed interest in the Congress of the United States in exploring the ramifications of federal legislation on the states and their economies; and

WHEREAS the legislature should take an active role in exploring opportunities to promote world trade and assist the Congress in understanding the effect of federal legislation on the state’s economy;

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives that a House Special Committee on World Trade and State/Federal Relations is established to study issues relating to world trade and state/federal relations; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the speaker of the House of Representatives shall determine the number of representatives to be members of the committee and shall appoint the members and designate a member to chair the committee; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the House Special Committee on World Trade and State/Federal Relations may meet during and between sessions of the Twenty-First Alaska State Legislature and is terminated on the convening of the First Session of the Twenty- Second Alaska State Legislature.

HR003

Resolve: HR003

Source Root: HR003

Year: 1999

Source Bill: HR 3

Establishing a House Special Committee on Economic Development and Tourism.

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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

WHEREAS economic development is of vital importance to the economy of the state; and

WHEREAS tourism is of increasing importance to the economy of the state; and

WHEREAS the legislature should remain well informed about the business climate of the state; and

WHEREAS the state must promote business opportunities within the state;

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives that a House Special Committee on Economic Development and Tourism is established to study tourism and opportunities for future economic development of the state’s resources; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the House Special Committee on Economic Development and Tourism may meet during and between sessions of the Twenty-First Alaska State Legislature and is terminated on the convening of the First Session of the Twenty- Second Alaska State Legislature.

HR004

Resolve: HR004

Source Root: HR004

Year: 1999

Source Bill: HR 4

Establishing a House Special Committee on Oil and Gas.

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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

WHEREAS the state's dependence on oil revenue requires that the Alaska State Legislature be well informed on all aspects of the state's oil and gas resources;

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives that a House Special Committee on Oil and Gas is established to study issues relating to oil and gas resources in the state; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the House Special Committee on Oil and Gas may meet during and between sessions of the Twenty-First Alaska State Legislature and is terminated on the convening of the First Session of the Twenty-Second Alaska State Legislature.

HR005

Resolve: HR005

Source Root: HR005

Year: 1999

Source Bill: HR 5

Establishing a House Special Committee on Military and Veterans’ Affairs.

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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

WHEREAS a large number of state residents currently serve in the military forces, work for the military, or are veterans, and the military plays a vital role in the economy of the state; and

WHEREAS there is a need for a comprehensive review of issues involving military and veterans' affairs;

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives that the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs is established to study issues, review laws, and propose legislation relating to military and veterans' affairs; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs may meet during and between sessions of the Twenty-First Alaska State Legislature and is terminated on the convening of the First Session of the Twenty-Second Alaska State Legislature.

HR006

Resolve: HR006

Source Root: HR006

Year: 1999

Source Bill: CSHR 6(RLS)

Establishing a House Special Committee on Utility Restructuring.

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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

WHEREAS utility services are among modern society’s most basic requirements; and

WHEREAS the provision of adequate, reliable, and reasonably priced utility services are essential to the daily functions, safety, and economic well-being of Alaskans, their local communities, and the state; and

WHEREAS fundamental restructuring of utility industries is now under deliberation in other states; and

WHEREAS utility restructuring is a highly complex issue, carrying with it profound implications for all classes of consumers; and

WHEREAS the implications and ramifications of such restructuring deserve detailed, careful, and informed decision making by the Alaska State Legislature;

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives that a House Special Committee on Utility Restructuring is established; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall determine the number of members of the committee consistent with the Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, appoint the members, and designate a member to chair the committee; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the House Special Committee on Utility Restructuring may meet during and between sessions of the Twenty-First Alaska State Legislature and is terminated on the convening of the First Session of the Twenty-Second Alaska State Legislature.

HR007

Resolve: HR007

Source Root: HR007

Year: 1999

Source Bill: HR 7

Relating to declaring March 1999 as Sobriety Awareness Month.

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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

WHEREAS it is the policy of the State of Alaska, under AS 47.37.010 , "to recognize, appreciate, and reinforce the example set by its citizens who lead, believe in, and support a life of sobriety"; and

WHEREAS sobriety has been defined to mean "a positive, healthy, and productive way of life, free from the devastating effects of alcohol and drugs" by more than 50 profit and nonprofit organizations, community groups, and student governments throughout the state; and

WHEREAS these organizations, community groups, and student governments constitute what is commonly referred to as a growing "sobriety movement"; and

WHEREAS the "sobriety movement" is interpreted as "The collective effort on the part of individuals, families and communities, and public and private agencies, affected by, concerned with, and working toward the prevention of alcohol and drug abuse, who by example encourage and support others in leading a life of sobriety"; and

WHEREAS the benefits of leading a life of sobriety to Alaska's citizens are threefold:

(1) improvement in the quality of life and health of individuals, families, and communities;

(2) reduction in the incidence of alcohol and drug related crimes;

(3) reduction in the burden on government by not having to exhaust its resources to pay for the pervasive problems caused by alcohol and drug abuse; and

WHEREAS March has been designated "Sobriety Awareness Month" by the Alaska State Legislature and Governor Knowles every year since 1995 to recognize, appreciate, and reinforce the example set by citizens who lead, believe in, and support a life of sobriety;

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives that the month of March 1999 should be proclaimed as Sobriety Awareness Month; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that Governor Tony Knowles is requested to proclaim the same and have copies of the proclamation sent to all the respective departments and departmental agencies within the administration that fund or have contact with youth, schools, or family services, or that provide rehabilitation or correctional services; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that all Alaska citizens who lead, believe in, or support a life of sobriety are urged to indicate so by wearing a white ribbon of their choosing so that they may be readily recognized and appreciated during Sobriety Awareness Month 1999.

LR001

Resolve: LR001

Source Root: HJR008

Year: 1999

Source Bill: CSHJR 8(MLV) am S

Relating to a national ballistic missile defense system.

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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:

WHEREAS the collapse of the Soviet Union has rendered obsolete the treaty constraints and diplomatic understandings that limited the development and deployment of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems during the Cold War; and

WHEREAS the world has consequently witnessed during this decade an unprecedented proliferation of sophisticated military technology, including nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and ballistic missiles; and

WHEREAS the United States has recognized that it currently has no means of protecting persons living in all 50 states from attack by these new threats and has initiated a program to develop and deploy a national ballistic missile defense system; and

WHEREAS four locations in Alaska are currently being considered as sites for deployment of the intercept vehicles for this system; and

WHEREAS each of these locations provides the unmatched military value of a strategic location from which persons living in all 50 states can be defended as required by the United States Constitution; and

WHEREAS, throughout Alaska's history as a territory and a state, Alaska's citizens have been unwavering in their support of a strong national defense while warmly welcoming the men and women of our armed forces stationed in Alaska; and

WHEREAS construction, operation, and maintenance of a high technology missile defense system would require advanced labor skills; and

WHEREAS these high technology workers would increase Alaska's human asset base and provide a highly skilled labor force for use by private enterprise;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Twenty-First Alaska State Legislature calls upon the President, as Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States, to provide for the common defense of our nation by selecting an Alaska site for the deployment of the intercept vehicles for the national ballistic missile defense system; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Twenty-First Alaska State Legislature requests that, in the development and operation of a national ballistic missile defense system in Alaska, the Department of Defense provide adequate protection from any danger posed by the system to local residents; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Twenty-First Alaska State Legislature strongly encourages the Department of Defense to contract with Alaska businesses in the development, construction, and operation of a national ballistic missile defense system in Alaska.

COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Bill Clinton, President of the United States; the Honorable William Cohen, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Defense; the Honorable Floyd D. Spence, Chair, Committee on Armed Services, U.S. House of Representatives; the Honorable John Warner, Chair, Committee on Armed Services, U.S. Senate; and to the Honorable Ted Stevens and the Honorable Frank Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.

LR002

Resolve: LR002

Source Root: SCR005

Year: 1999

Source Bill: SCR 5 am H

Authorizing two recesses by the Senate and the House of Representatives for periods of more than three days.

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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:

WHEREAS art. II, sec. 10, Constitution of the State of Alaska, provides that neither house may adjourn or recess for longer than three days unless the other house concurs; and

WHEREAS Rule 52, Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, provides that adoption of a concurrent resolution by a majority vote of the full membership of each house constitutes concurrence;

BE IT RESOLVED by the Alaska State Legislature that the Senate and the House of Representatives may be in recess during February 27 and 28 and during March 1 and 2 of 1999, and that each house concurs in this four-day recess by the other; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED by the Alaska State Legislature that the Senate and the House of Representatives may be in recess during April 2, 3, 4, and 5 of 1999, and that each house concurs in this four-day recess by the other.

LR003

Resolve: LR003

Source Root: SJR005

Year: 1999

Source Bill: SJR 5 am

Opposing the closure of the former Mount McKinley portions of Denali National Park and Preserve to snowmachine use.

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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:

WHEREAS the National Park Service has closed the former Mount McKinley portion of Denali National Park and Preserve to snowmachine use for one year during which time the agency will study imposition of a permanent closure; and

WHEREAS the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) authorizes, subject to reasonable regulation, the use of snowmachines and other means of motorized and nonmotorized access for traditional activities in all conservation system units created or expanded by that Act; and

WHEREAS ANILCA and regulations of the National Park Service require the National Park Service to document actual impacts and present findings that snowmachine use is detrimental to the resource values of the park and preserve before implementing a closure; and

WHEREAS the findings issued by the National Park Service do not document that snowmachine use would be detrimental to the resource values of Denali National Park and Preserve but instead only hypothesize that snowmachine use is detrimental to the resource values of the park and preserve; and

WHEREAS the National Park Service did not distribute its findings for review by those who have experience with the former Mount McKinley portion of Denali National Park and Preserve, with snowmachines, and with the effects of snowmachine use on resource values before the findings were released to justify the closure; and

WHEREAS the National Park Service, since the passage of ANILCA, has inappropriately restricted the use of snowmachines in the former Mount McKinley portion of Denali National Park and Preserve through various legally deficient means; and

WHEREAS the National Park Service has refused to act on requests from snowmachine groups to develop voluntary measures to limit or restrict snowmachine use within specific areas for the purpose of minimizing potential conflicts with other uses; and

WHEREAS any action by the National Park Service to restrict snowmachine use in the park and preserve without full and complete compliance with the factual and procedural requirements of ANILCA and its implementing regulations would establish a precedent that is adverse to access to other conservation system units in Alaska;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature opposes the closure of the former Mount McKinley portion of Denali National Park and Preserve to snowmachine use because the National Park Service has failed to comply with the full letter and spirit of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act and with the procedural and factual requirements of the National Park Service for adopting such closures; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests the Governor to take all available administrative and legal measures to protect the right of access to public lands in Alaska for traditional activities that was guaranteed to Alaskans by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.

COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Bruce Babbitt, Secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior; to Robert G. Stanton, Director, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior; to Steven P. Martin, Superintendent, Denali National Park and Preserve, National Park Service, U. S. Department of the Interior; and to the Honorable Ted Stevens and the Honorable Frank Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.

LR004

Resolve: LR004

Source Root: HJR021

Year: 1999

Source Bill: HJR 21

Relating to new evaluation and selection criteria for military base realignment and closure actions.

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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:

WHEREAS the Secretary of the United States Department of Defense has called for the reestablishment of a Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission to conduct two new rounds of military base closures beginning in 2001; and

WHEREAS, under the process established for the BRAC Commissions in 1991, 1993, and 1995, each of the armed services developed categories for its own bases and evaluated and ranked each of its bases within those categories by applying criteria established by the United States Department of Defense and the Congress; and

WHEREAS these single-service evaluations severely restricted the opportunity to consider the effect of a base’s closure on the operational readiness of the United States Department of Defense’s total force; and

WHEREAS the shortcomings of this single-service approach were recognized by the 1993 BRAC Commission that recommended that the United States Department of Defense develop procedures for considering potential joint or common activities among the services in several training and support areas; and

WHEREAS this recommendation led to the creation in 1994 of Joint Cross-Service Groups that worked with the services in the five functional areas of depot maintenance, military medical treatment facilities, test and evaluation, undergraduate pilot training, and laboratories, in preparation for the 1995 BRAC round; and

WHEREAS the strategic challenges now facing the United States as we enter the new century may require an even greater emphasis on creating and fielding a fully integrated total force capable of projecting our nation’s military power around the world from bases within our country’s borders; and

WHEREAS this military force structure should be supported by a military base structure that is focused on strategic mobility, joint operations, and joint training considerations in addition to individual service considerations;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests the President of the United States, the United States Congress, and the Secretary of the United States Department of Defense to establish new Joint Cross-Service Groups this year to study issues of power projection and deployment, joint training, joint operations, and other total force considerations; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED by the Alaska State Legislature that these Joint Cross- Service Groups then be directed to develop new evaluation and selection criteria and procedures based on their findings to be incorporated into any future base realignment and closure proceedings to ensure that total force and power projection factors are major military value considerations in base structure decisions.

COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Bill Clinton, President of the United States; the Honorable Al Gore, Jr., Vice-President of the United States and President of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Strom Thurmond, President Pro Tem of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; the Honorable William S. Cohen, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Defense; and to the Honorable Ted Stevens and the Honorable Frank Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.

LR005

Resolve: LR005

Source Root: HJR012

Year: 1999

Source Bill: SCS CSHJR 12(FIN)

Relating to federal claims against funds obtained by settlement of state tobacco litigation.

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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:

WHEREAS the State of Alaska, taking all of the risks inherent in litigation, brought suit against major cigarette and smokeless tobacco manufacturers based on state antitrust and consumer protection claims solely to collect the state’s smoking-related expenditures; and

WHEREAS none of the claims asserted by the state were based on a Medicaid recoupment statute or included the assertion of claims based on federal law for the federal government’s tobacco-related Medicaid expenditures; and

WHEREAS the State of Alaska entered into a settlement agreement in state court based on state antitrust and consumer protection law claims with cigarette and smokeless tobacco companies for $669,000,000 on November 23, 1998; and

WHEREAS the federal government, through the Health Care Finance Administration, has asserted that it is entitled to a significant share of the state settlement on the basis that it represents the federal share of Medicaid costs; and

WHEREAS the federal government declined to bring its own action to assert a claim for the federal money it spent for the treatment of smoking-related illnesses in Alaska and provided no assistance to the state during the litigation or during settlement negotiations; and

WHEREAS the federal government asserts that it is authorized and obligated, under the Social Security Act, to collect its share of any settlement funds attributed to Medicaid; and

WHEREAS the state tobacco lawsuit was brought for violation of state law under state law theories and the state lawsuit did not make any federal claims; and

WHEREAS the state bore all the risk and expense in the litigation brought in state court and settled without any assistance from the federal government; and

WHEREAS the state is entitled to all of the funds negotiated in the tobacco settlement agreement without any federal claim;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Twenty-First Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests the Congress to enact and the President to sign legislation to prohibit any federal claim against money obtained by settlement of state tobacco litigation; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Twenty-First Alaska State Legislature respectfully urges the President of the United States to direct the Health Care Finance Administration to refrain from taking steps to pursue recoupment of dollars.

COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Bill Clinton, President of the United States; the Honorable Al Gore, Jr., Vice-President of the United States and President of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Donna E. Shalala, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; the Honorable Trent Lott, Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; the Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison, U.S. Senator from Texas; and to the Honorable Ted Stevens and the Honorable Frank Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.

LR006

Resolve: LR006

Source Root: HJR028

Year: 1999

Source Bill: CSHJR 28(RES)

Requesting that the National Marine Fisheries Service and the United States Congress act immediately to reverse the decline of the Cook Inlet beluga whale population and to regulate the harvest of the beluga whales in Cook Inlet until the beluga whale population has recovered.

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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:

WHEREAS the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is responsible under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) for management and protection of beluga whales in Alaska; and

WHEREAS NMFS has concluded that, although the data on population trends of Cook Inlet beluga whales are incomplete, the Cook Inlet beluga whale population appears to have declined in recent years; and

WHEREAS NMFS has concluded that the Cook Inlet beluga whale population was at least 650 in 1994; and

WHEREAS the most recent NMFS surveys place the Cook Inlet beluga whale population at a minimum of 347; and

WHEREAS environmental groups have recently petitioned NMFS to list the Cook Inlet beluga whale population as either threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act; and

WHEREAS listing of this population under the Endangered Species Act would have significant negative effects on the economies of Cook Inlet as well as the entire state; and

WHEREAS there are procedures under the MMPA that provide for the regulation of the harvest of marine mammals; and

WHEREAS NMFS has apparently been reluctant to use its existing authority under the MMPA allowing for the regulation of harvests; and

WHEREAS continued delays by NMFS could further contribute to the decline in the Cook Inlet beluga whale population; and

WHEREAS the MMPA also specifically authorizes the Secretary of the United States Department of Commerce to enter into cooperative agreements with Alaska Native organizations to conserve marine mammals;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests the National Marine Fisheries Service to immediately begin the process of reviewing the status of Cook Inlet beluga whales to determine whether the status under the Marine Mammal Protection Act should be changed; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests that the United States Congress immediately consider legislation amending the Marine Mammal Protection Act to require the National Marine Fisheries Service to regulate the harvest of Cook Inlet beluga whales in cooperation with the local Native subsistence users until the population has recovered; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests that the United States Congress provide the National Marine Fisheries Service with adequate financial resources to secure, in cooperation with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the local subsistence users, the information and management tools necessary to ensure that the Cook Inlet beluga whale population is not placed in jeopardy, that Alaskans dependent on the beluga whale resource are not unnecessarily penalized, and that associated industries in the state are not placed at risk.

COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable William M. Daley, Secretary of the United States Department of Commerce; and to the Honorable Ted Stevens and the Honorable Frank Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.

LR007

Resolve: LR007

Source Root: SCR026

Year: 1999

Source Bill: CSSCR 7(RES)

Supporting the responsible development of the Tulsequah Chief Mine through the cooperative effort of Alaska and British Columbia and urging Governor Knowles to withdraw his request for a referral of the Tulsequah Chief Mine to the International Joint Commission under the Boundary Waters Treaty.

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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:

WHEREAS the governments of Alaska and British Columbia both recognize the importance of environmentally responsible development in meeting the needs of their respective populations; and

WHEREAS the Tulsequah Chief Mine project has been subjected to over three years of thorough environmental review including completion of the cooperative environmental assessment review process of British Columbia and Canada; and

WHEREAS representatives of British Columbian and Canadian federal agencies, as well as agencies from Alaska and the United States, have participated with the project committee; and

WHEREAS, subsequent to the issuance of the Environmental Assessment Certificate in March of 1998, these governmental agencies engaged in a series of cooperative meetings, discussions, and exchanges of technical details regarding the project; and

WHEREAS these constructive and cooperative interactions have allowed officials to review in detail how British Columbia and Canada will respond to the specific technical concerns raised by officials of Alaska and the United States, and, in most cases, the planned responses are along the lines proposed by these same officials; and

WHEREAS these exchanges have allowed the parties to explore and understand the differences between their respective approaches to accountable environmental assessment and have allowed the Canadian participants to demonstrate that the environmental standards applied to the project are similar in measure to those applied to similar projects in Alaska; and

WHEREAS the government of British Columbia has provided clear assurances that the mine will not be developed if it fails to meet these standards; and

WHEREAS the government of British Columbia has offered to have officials of Alaska and the United States continue to be involved in the review of the project by participating in specific permitting activities as further detailed permitting takes place; and

WHEREAS the government of British Columbia, as well as the Alaska agencies, have a great deal of confidence in the environmental assessment process and recognize that the technically detailed permits will be thoroughly reviewed as the project proceeds; and

WHEREAS continued cooperative work within British Columbia’s established regulatory process will help ensure that the development of the Tulsequah Chief Mine takes place in an environmentally responsible manner; and

WHEREAS the government of British Columbia has made assurances that the development of the Tulsequah Chief Mine will result in no transboundary impacts;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature recommends continuing the cooperative effort between the two governments toward the environmentally responsible development of the Tulsequah Chief Mine; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully urges Governor Knowles to withdraw the request for a referral of the Tulsequah Chief Mine project to the International Joint Commission under the Boundary Waters Treaty.

COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Tony Knowles, Governor of Alaska; to the Honorable Lloyd Axworthy, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Canada; to the Honorable Dan Miller, Minister of Energy and Mines of the Government of British Columbia; to the Honorable Bill Goodacre, Member, Legislative Assembly of British Columbia; to the Honorable Madeleine K. Albright, United States Secretary of State; and to the Honorable Ted Stevens and the Honorable Frank Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.

LR008

Resolve: LR008

Source Root: HJR011

Year: 1999

Source Bill: SCS HJR 11(RES)

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.

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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:

WHEREAS, in sec. 1002 of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), the United States Congress reserved the right to permit further oil and gas exploration, development, and production within the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska; and

WHEREAS the oil industry, the state, and the United States Department of the Interior consider the coastal plain to have the highest potential for discovery of very large oil and gas accumulations on the continent of North America, estimated to be as much as 10,000,000,000 barrels of recoverable oil; and

WHEREAS the residents of the North Slope Borough, within which the coastal plain is located, are supportive of development in the "1002 study area"; and

WHEREAS oil and gas exploration and development of the coastal plain of the refuge and adjacent land could result in major discoveries that would reduce our nation's future need for imported oil, help balance the nation's trade deficit, and significantly increase the nation's security; and

WHEREAS domestic demand for oil continues to rise while domestic crude production continues to fall with the result that the United States imports additional oil from foreign sources; and

WHEREAS development of oil at Prudhoe Bay, Kuparuk, Endicott, Lisburne, and Milne Point has resulted in thousands of jobs throughout the United States, and projected job creation as a result of coastal plain oil development will have a positive effect in all 50 states; and

WHEREAS Prudhoe Bay production is declining by approximately 10 percent a year; and

WHEREAS, while new oil field developments on the North Slope of Alaska, such as Alpine, Badami, and West Sak, may slow or temporarily stop the decline in production, only giant coastal plain fields have the theoretical capability of increasing the production volume of Alaska oil to a significant degree; and

WHEREAS opening the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge now allows sufficient time for planning environmental safeguards, development, and national security review; and

WHEREAS the oil and gas industry and related state employment have been severely affected by reduced oil and gas activity, and the reduction in industry investment and employment has broad implications for the state's work force and the entire state economy; and

WHEREAS the 1,500,000-acre coastal plain of the refuge comprises only eight percent of the 19,000,000-acre refuge, and the development of the oil and gas reserves in the refuge's coastal plain would affect an area of only 2,000 to 7,000 acres, which is less than one-half of one percent of the area of the coastal plain; and

WHEREAS 8,000,000 of the 19,000,000 acres of the refuge have already been set aside as wilderness; and

WHEREAS the oil industry has shown at Prudhoe Bay, as well as at other locations along the Arctic coastal plain, that it can safely conduct oil and gas activity without adversely affecting the environment or wildlife populations; and

WHEREAS the state will ensure the continued health and productivity of the Porcupine Caribou herd and the protection of land, water, and wildlife resources during the exploration and development of the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska; and

WHEREAS the oil industry is using innovative technology and environmental practices in the new field developments at Alpine and Northstar, and those techniques are directly applicable to operating on the coastal plain and would enhance environmental protection beyond traditionally high standards;

BE IT RESOLVED by the Alaska State Legislature that the Congress of the United States is urged to pass legislation to open the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, to oil and gas exploration, development, and production, and that the Alaska State Legislature is adamantly opposed to further wilderness or other restrictive designation in the area of the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that that activity be conducted in a manner that protects the environment and uses the state's work force to the maximum extent possible.

COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Bill Clinton, President of the United States; the Honorable Al Gore, Jr., Vice-President of the United States and president of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Bruce Babbitt, Secretary of the Interior; the Honorable Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; the Honorable Trent Lott, Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate; to the Honorable Ted Stevens and the Honorable Frank Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress; and to all other members of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives serving in the 106th United States Congress.

LR009

Resolve: LR009

Source Root: SCR002

Year: 1999

Source Bill: HCS SCR 2(RES)

Relating to management of Alaska’s wildlife and fish resources.

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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:

WHEREAS the Constitution of the State of Alaska requires that the replenishable resources of Alaska shall be managed on a sustained yield basis; and

WHEREAS the elected leaders of Alaska have the responsibility to protect the people, land, and resources of Alaska by ensuring that the constitutional mandate for sustained yield management of Alaska's wildlife and fish resources is followed; and

WHEREAS shortages currently exist in numerous wildlife and fish populations in Alaska and are continuing unabated; and

WHEREAS the passive monitoring of declining wildlife and fish populations is no longer acceptable; and

WHEREAS it is in the best interest of all Alaskans that the replenishable resources of Alaska are biologically managed for abundance; and

WHEREAS an abundance of wildlife and fish will benefit all user groups and will greatly reduce competition among Alaskans for wildlife and fish resources; and

WHEREAS the Alaska Board of Fisheries, the Alaska Board of Game, and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game have the responsibility for management of Alaska's wildlife and fish resources;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature declares its intent to do everything within the scope of its powers, duties, and responsibilities to manage Alaska's wildlife and fish resources on a biological basis for abundance with the exception of predators that the Board of Fisheries or the Board of Game have determined to be a detriment to the resources used for human consumption; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests Governor Tony Knowles, the Alaska Board of Fisheries, the Alaska Board of Game, and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game do everything within the scope of their powers, duties, and responsibilities to manage Alaska's wildlife and fish resources on a biological basis for abundance; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests Governor Tony Knowles, the Alaska Board of Fisheries, the Alaska Board of Game, and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to use their significant powers and influence to develop and implement regulations, policies, and programs to restore an abundance of wildlife and fish in Alaska using all methods and means available to accomplish this goal as quickly as possible.

LR010

Resolve: LR010

Source Root: HCR007

Year: 1999

Source Bill: HCR 7

Suspending Uniform Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e) of the Alaska State Legislature concerning Senate Bill No. 99, relating to the decennial census of the United States and prohibiting the use of estimates or adjusted census figures in redistricting.

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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:

That under Rule 54 of the Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, the provisions of Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e) of the Uniform Rules, regarding changes to the title of a bill, are suspended in consideration of Senate Bill No. 99, relating to the decennial census of the United States and prohibiting the use of estimates or adjusted census figures in redistricting.

LR011

Resolve: LR011

Source Root: SJR011

Year: 1999

Source Bill: CSSJR 11(FIN)

Urging the Congress of the United States to provide federal education funds as a block grant to the state.

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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:

WHEREAS the federal government provides funding for education to the states; and

WHEREAS the State of Alaska is a better judge of how to use federal funding to meet the education needs in the State of Alaska; and

WHEREAS the use of a block grant system is a method that maximizes control by the states and local communities; and

WHEREAS the block grant system has proven successful in other areas such as welfare funding; and

WHEREAS, in the 106th Congress, the United States House of Representatives is considering H.R. 2 and the United States Senate is considering S. 280, which would revise federal education funding to the states;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges the United States Congress to adopt a block grant system for distributing education funding to the states that allows the states maximum flexibility in the use of education funds.

COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Richard W. Riley, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education; and to the Honorable Ted Stevens and the Honorable Frank Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.

LR012

Resolve: LR012

Source Root: HJR014

Year: 1999

Source Bill: SSHJR 14

Relating to the National Museum of Women’s History and the National Museum of Women’s History Alaska Council.

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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:

WHEREAS knowledge of one's heritage and a pride in past accomplishments are critical to developing a personal and collective sense of competence and potential; and

WHEREAS the historical contributions of women to civilization and to our nation have gone unrecognized or are misunderstood, leaving a gap in our nation's historical record; and

WHEREAS a National Museum of Women's History is needed to profile the specific achievements that individual women have made to all aspects of human endeavor and to explore and celebrate the contributions that women have made in their various roles in family and society; and

WHEREAS, for the first time in our nation's history, the founders of the Women's Suffrage Movement are being honored in the United States Capitol Rotunda due in large part to the efforts of the National Museum of Women's History, which raised $85,000 and generated public support to move a statue of Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Stanton, and Susan B. Anthony to the rotunda after 76 years of storage in the Capitol; and

WHEREAS the National Museum of Women's History is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, educational institution dedicated to preserving and celebrating the many contributions and diverse heritage of women throughout history; and

WHEREAS legislation has been introduced and bipartisan support has been gained in the United States Congress to provide space in an existing federal building in Washington, D.C., for the National Museum of Women's History; and

WHEREAS the National Museum of Women's History is expected to serve 2,500,000 visitors each year when it is located in Washington, D.C., and to serve many millions more with its traveling exhibits and cyber museum;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges the 106th United States Congress to allocate a physical site for the National Museum of Women’s History close to The Mall in Washington, D.C., before adjournment; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges the United States Congress to establish an advisory committee on the National Museum of Women’s History to oversee the selection of an appropriate location for the museum and to develop a business plan for the museum’s operation and maintenance, which will be funded solely through private contributions by the American people; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges public support for the National Museum of Women's History Alaska Council, a branch of the National Museum of Women's History, being established in Alaska in its efforts to preserve and celebrate the achievements of Alaska women and to raise private funds to create a cyber exhibit on Alaska women.

COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to Karen Staser, President, National Museum of Women's History; and to the Honorable Ted Stevens and the Honorable Frank Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.