01

HR001

Resolve: HR001

Source Root: HR001

Year: 2001

Source Bill: HR 1

Establishing a House Special Committee on Economic Development, Trade, 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, Trade, and Tourism is established to study trade, tourism, and opportunities for future economic development of the state's resources; 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 Economic Development, Trade, and Tourism may meet during and between sessions of the Twenty-Second Alaska State Legislature and is terminated on the convening of the First Session of the Twenty-Third Alaska State Legislature.

HR002

Resolve: HR002

Source Root: HR002

Year: 2001

Source Bill: HR 2

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-Second Alaska State Legislature and is terminated on the convening of the First Session of the Twenty-Third Alaska State Legislature.

HR003

Resolve: HR003

Source Root: HR003

Year: 2001

Source Bill: HR 3

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 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 Military and Veterans' Affairs may meet during and between sessions of the Twenty-Second Alaska State Legislature and is terminated on the convening of the First Session of the Twenty-Third Alaska State Legislature.

HR004

Resolve: HR004

Source Root: HR004

Year: 2001

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 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 Oil and Gas may meet during and between sessions of the Twenty-Second Alaska State Legislature and is terminated on the convening of the First Session of the Twenty-Third Alaska State Legislature.

HR005

Resolve: HR005

Source Root: HR005

Year: 2001

Source Bill: HR 5

Establishing a House Special Committee on Education.

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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

WHEREAS education is one of the top priorities of the state;

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives that a House Special Committee on Education is established to study issues relating to education; and be it

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

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

HR006

Resolve: HR006

Source Root: HR006

Year: 2001

Source Bill: HR 6

Supporting the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association's plan for enhancement and rehabilitation of Cook Inlet fisheries.

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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

WHEREAS the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association was organized and incorporated in 1976 to protect and rehabilitate self-perpetuating salmon stocks and salmon habitat and to maximize the value of the common property salmon resource by applying science and enhancement technology to supplement the value attained from protection and rehabilitation of self-perpetuating salmon stocks; and

WHEREAS the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association is a qualified regional aquaculture association under state law; and

WHEREAS the programs of the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association serve the entire Cook Inlet region, which includes all waters of Alaska in Cook Inlet and Resurrection Bay north of Cape Douglas and west of Cape Fairfield, including the Barren Islands and all lands draining into Cook Inlet and Resurrection Bay; and

WHEREAS the programs of the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association serve the Cook Inlet fishing community, which consists of Native and non-Native subsistence users, commercial, personal use, and sport fishermen, and the businesses that support these users; and

WHEREAS more than 50 percent of the population of Alaska resides in the Cook Inlet region; and

WHEREAS salmon prices have begun a downward trend, reducing the income available to individuals and businesses that rely directly or indirectly on the salmon resource for income; and

WHEREAS, not only have salmon prices declined, but the returns of salmon to the Cook Inlet region have also weakened, particularly sockeye salmon in 1998 and 2000 and coho salmon in 1999; and

WHEREAS the Kenai Peninsula Borough and the federal government have declared the Cook Inlet fishing community to be an economic disaster; and

WHEREAS the declaration of the economic disaster has provided short-term assistance to the Cook Inlet fishing community; and

WHEREAS the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association has developed a plan for long-term assistance to the Cook Inlet fishing community through fisheries rehabilitation and enhancement; and

WHEREAS the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association has presented its plan for long-term assistance to the Cook Inlet fishing community to the Kenai Peninsula Borough; and

WHEREAS the Kenai Peninsula Borough has identified the long-term assistance plan prepared by the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association as a priority for federal funding during 2001; and

WHEREAS subsistence fishing and personal use fishing are important to the citizens of Alaska; and

WHEREAS tourism and commercial fishing are industries important to the economy of Alaska;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska House of Representatives supports the plan proposed by the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association for long-term assistance to the Cook Inlet fishing community through fisheries rehabilitation and enhancement; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska House of Representatives supports the efforts of the Kenai Peninsula Borough to assist the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association in providing long-term assistance to the Cook Inlet fishing community; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska House of Representatives supports the efforts of the Kenai Peninsula Borough to obtain federal funding for the plan of the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association to provide long-term assistance to the Cook Inlet fishing community.

LR001

Resolve: LR001

Source Root: HCR002

Year: 2001

Source Bill: HCR 2

Authorizing two recesses by the Senate and House of Representatives, each for a period 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 March 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of 2001 and that each house concurs in this five-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 13, 14, 15, and 16 of 2001 and that each house concurs in this four-day recess by the other.

LR002

Resolve: LR002

Source Root: SJR005

Year: 2001

Source Bill: CSSJR 5(RLS)

Relating to supporting the Great Alaska Shootout, the Top of the World Classic, and similar preseason basketball tournaments, and requesting that the National Collegiate Athletic Association reject legislative proposal No. 2000-106.

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

WHEREAS the State of Alaska and many of its institutions participate in interstate organizations and enter into many interstate agreements for the benefit of Alaska residents and the residents of other states; and

WHEREAS one of these interstate organizations is the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA); and

WHEREAS the University of Alaska Anchorage's Great Alaska Shootout basketball tournament and the University of Alaska Fairbanks' Top of the World Classic basketball tournament are two of the premier early or preseason basketball tournaments for NCAA member schools; and

WHEREAS the Great Alaska Shootout began in 1978 and, throughout the past 23 years, has been the host to more than 4,860 male and female student athletes who have been exposed to the unique culture and experience of Alaska while interacting with the people of Alaska; and

WHEREAS the Top of the World Classic began in 1996 and provides students in Fairbanks with the opportunity to meet student athletes from schools participating in the classic and to interact with positive role models from different areas of the country and different backgrounds while also exposing the student athletes to the unique culture and experience of Alaska; and

WHEREAS the Great Alaska Shootout and the Top of the World Classic provide an opportunity for Alaska's Division II intercollegiate athletic teams to be exposed to and compete against Division I schools while providing Alaska elementary and secondary school students the opportunity to personally witness topflight intercollegiate athletic competition; and

WHEREAS the Great Alaska Shootout and the Top of the World Classic have become a tradition in their respective communities, if not in all of Alaska; create a strong sense of community excitement and participation while providing a needed boost to the local economies; and are integral financial contributors to the athletic programs at the University of Alaska; and

WHEREAS the Great Alaska Shootout and the Top of the World Classic, along with tournaments such as the Black Coaches Association Classic, the Tip Off Classic, the Maui Invitational, Coaches Against Cancer, and other tournaments conducted in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and other locales, are classified as "certified" events under current NCAA regulations, which means that games played at these tournaments count as a single contest under the 28-basketball-game limit that each NCAA Division I member may schedule each year; and

WHEREAS, on October 25 - 26, 2000, the NCAA Division I Management Council adopted legislative proposal No. 2000-106, which would limit NCAA Division I member institutions to 29 basketball games and one exhibition contest or scrimmage each year and would eliminate the exemption for games played at basketball tournaments such as the Great Alaska Shootout and the Top of the World Classic, thereby eliminating an incentive for a NCAA member institution to participate in these tournaments; and

WHEREAS the NCAA Division I Management Council and Board of Directors are scheduled to consider legislative proposal No. 2000-106 in April 2001;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges that the NCAA Division I Management Council and Board of Directors recognize the positive contribution that tournaments such as the Great Alaska Shootout and the Top of the World Classic make to the lives and experiences of the student athletes who participate in the tournaments and to the communities that sponsor the tournaments; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges the NCAA Division I Management Council and Board of Directors to reject legislative proposal No. 2000-106; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges all NCAA member institutions that have participated in the Great Alaska Shootout or the Top of the World Classic, their coaches, and their students to contact their conference officials and the members of the NCAA Division I Management Council and Board of Directors to urge the rejection of legislative proposal No. 2000-106.

COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to all NCAA Division I Board of Directors; all members of the NCAA Division I Management Council; Cedric Dempsey, President of the NCAA; Dave Schnase, National Office, NCAA; David Berst, Chief of Staff for Division I, NCAA; Mark Hamilton, President of the University of Alaska; 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.

LR003

Resolve: LR003

Source Root: SCR001

Year: 2001

Source Bill: HCS CSSCR 1(RES)

Relating to Avalanche Awareness Month.

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

WHEREAS Alaskans live, work, and play in and on the edge of the wilderness; and

WHEREAS the abundance and variety of the state's winter recreational opportunities are unmatched in the United States; and

WHEREAS many of the state's popular winter recreation areas are subject to avalanche danger; and

WHEREAS some Alaskans are not properly educated or equipped to recognize and respond to avalanches; and

WHEREAS a number of Alaskans are killed each year by avalanches; and

WHEREAS education on the recognition of avalanche risks, response to avalanches, and the use of appropriate equipment could reduce avalanche-related fatalities;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests the governor to proclaim the month of November 2001 as Avalanche Awareness Month; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges schools, community groups, and other public and private agencies and individuals to observe Avalanche Awareness Month with appropriate activities that increase the public's awareness of avalanche dangers, how to respond to avalanches, and the use of appropriate equipment in avalanche areas.

COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Tony Knowles, Governor; to Aedene Arthur, Backcountry Avalanche Awareness and Response Team; to Doug Fesler and Jill Fredston, co-directors, The Alaska Mountain Safety Center, Inc.; to Bill Glude, Southeast Alaska Avalanche Center; to Colonel Randy Crawford, Director, Division of Alaska State Troopers, Alaska Department of Public Safety; to the mayors, chiefs of police, and fire chiefs of the Municipality of Anchorage, Fairbanks North Star Borough, Haines Borough, City and Borough of Juneau, Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, City and Borough of Sitka, City of Cordova, City of Fairbanks, City of Haines, City of Palmer, City of Petersburg, City of Seward, City of Skagway, City of Valdez, and City of Wasilla; to the operators of the ski areas at Eaglecrest, Alyeska, Alpenglow, Hilltop, Cleary Summit, and Cordova Ski Hill; and to legislative communication offices for statewide distribution.

LR004

Resolve: LR004

Source Root: HJR006

Year: 2001

Source Bill: SCS CSHJR(RES) am S

Relating to opposition to the inclusion of national forests in Alaska within former President Clinton's Roadless Area Conservation rule and supporting the overturning of this inclusion by litigation, by congressional action, or by action of President Bush.

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

WHEREAS the forest products industry has been and continues to be an important economic sector in Alaska that contributes significant employment income to the economy of the state, and, through purchases of timber from National Forest System lands, contributes significant revenue to local communities through the revenue sharing provisions of federal law; and

WHEREAS the Roadless Area Conservation rule is contrary to the land management planning process for individual forests established by the National Forest Management Act of 1976 and its implementing regulations; and

WHEREAS application of the Roadless Area Conservation rule to the Tongass and Chugach National Forests designates significant additional acreage as administrative, de facto wilderness areas within Alaska; and

WHEREAS application of the Roadless Area Conservation rule in Alaska is contrary to sec. 708(b)(4), Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), which specifically prohibits another roadless area review and evaluation (RARE) on national forest lands in Alaska for the purpose of setting aside commercial forest land as wilderness; and

WHEREAS application of the Roadless Area Conservation rule in Alaska is contrary to sec. 1326(a) of ANILCA, which prohibits the withdrawal of more than 5,000 acres, in the aggregate, of public lands within Alaska without the consent of the Congress; and

WHEREAS application of the Roadless Area Conservation rule in Alaska is contrary to sec. 1326(b) of ANILCA, which expressly prohibits studies of public lands for the purpose of considering the establishment of new conservation system units, recreation areas, national conservation areas, or for related or similar purposes; and

WHEREAS the Tongass Timber Reform Act of 1990 and other Congressional and administrative actions have withdrawn more than 97 percent of the Tongass National Forest from availability for timber harvest and other resource development opportunities; and

WHEREAS the 1997 and 1999 revisions of the Tongass Land Management Plan (TLMP) further reduced the available commercial forest lands in the Tongass to 576,000 acres out of nearly 6,000,000 suitable acres across the forest; and

WHEREAS the available commercial forest lands remaining after the 1999 TLMP amendments are insufficient to satisfy the raw material needs of Southeast Alaska's forest products manufacturing industry, given the plan's maximum annual economic offering level of 153,000,000 board feet; and

WHEREAS, by applying the roadless policy to the Tongass, the federal government has further reduced the available commercial forest lands in the Tongass to less than half the currently available acreage and will further reduce the maximum annual offering level to less than 50,000,000 board feet; and

WHEREAS application of the Roadless Area Conservation rule to the Tongass, together with Under Secretary Lyons' 1999 unilateral TLMP amendment, nullifies the results of the United States Forest Service's 1986-1997 planning process in the Tongass, which cost the taxpayers more than $13,000,000; and

WHEREAS application of the Roadless Area Conservation rule to the Tongass, together with Under Secretary Lyons' 1999 unilateral TLMP amendment, will further destabilize the already unstable timber-based economy of Southeast Alaska by forcing the closure of most of the remaining forest products manufacturing facilities, resulting in loss of employment and associated negative socioeconomic impacts within timber-dependent communities and the Southeast Alaska region; and

WHEREAS the Chugach National Forest has spent three years and over four million dollars conducting a revision to its land management plan and is within a few months of issuing the Final Environmental Impact Statement for that plan; and

WHEREAS a wide range of interests from the Alaska public has been involved in the Chugach land management planning process, working to develop a range of plan alternatives that respond to the public's interests, needs, and concerns, and the Roadless Area Conservation rule will render that involvement and expense pointless and undermine public confidence in the planning process; and

WHEREAS the public, through the Chugach Land Management Plan revision scoping process, has expressed deep concern that the approximately 130,000 acres of the Chugach National Forest suffering from spruce bark beetle damage must be managed for the restoration of a green, healthy forest, and the Roadless Area Conservation rule prevents access required by land managers to accomplish that restoration work; and

WHEREAS application of the Roadless Area Conservation rule will render it virtually impossible for inholders and adjacent landowners, particularly families and small business owners, to obtain the access to their property that was promised them in ANILCA; and

WHEREAS the Alaska State Legislature expresses its appreciation of the recent temporary delay for 60 days of the Roadless Area Conservation rule;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature strongly opposes the Roadless Area Conservation rule, and particularly opposes the inclusion of the Tongass and Chugach National Forests in the Roadless Area Conservation rule; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature fully supports Governor Knowles' decision to litigate against the application of the Roadless Area Conservation rule to National Forest System lands in Alaska; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges members of the Alaska delegation in Congress to use all available means to set aside the Roadless Area Conservation rule through Congressional action; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges President George W. Bush to overturn the classification and inclusion of the national forests located inside Alaska's boundaries.

COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States; the Honorable Ann Veneman, United States Secretary of Agriculture; Mike Dombeck, Chief of the United States Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture; 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: HJR007

Year: 2001

Source Bill: CSHJR 7(RES) am

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 "1002 study area" is part of the coastal plain located within the North Slope Borough, and residents of the North Slope Borough, who are predominantly Inupiat Eskimo, 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 1,500,000-acre coastal plain of the refuge makes up 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 naturally occurring population levels of the Porcupine Caribou herd and uses the state's work force to the maximum extent possible; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature opposes any unilateral reduction in royalty revenue from exploration and development of the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, and any attempt to coerce the State of Alaska into accepting less than the 90 percent of the oil, gas, and mineral royalties from the federal land in Alaska that was promised to the state at statehood.

COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States; the Honorable Richard B. Cheney, Vice-President of the United States and President of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Gale Norton, Secretary of the Interior; the Honorable J. 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 107th United States Congress.

LR006

Resolve: LR006

Source Root: SJR003

Year: 2001

Source Bill: HCS SJR 3 (MLV)

Relating to the deployment of F-22 Raptor aircraft at Elmendorf Air Force Base.

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

WHEREAS the United States Air Force is developing the F-22 Raptor to replace many of the United States Air Force's aging F-15 aircraft as the United States' front-line air superiority fighter; and

WHEREAS the F-22 Raptor combines the capability for low-range observation, supercruise capability, increased range, and enhanced offensive and defensive avionics to give its pilots first-look, first-shot, and first-kill capability against the aircraft of a potential enemy; and

WHEREAS the F-22 Raptor is being developed to counter lethal threats posed by advanced surface-to-air missile systems and next-generation fighters equipped with launch-and-leave missiles; and

WHEREAS the F-22 Raptor is widely regarded as the most advanced fighter in the world, and has reduced support requirements and maintenance costs; and

WHEREAS the United States Air Force plans to begin deploying the F-22 Raptor in 2005 and to procure 339 F-22 Raptor aircraft by the end of 2013; and

WHEREAS military aircraft in Alaska deploy anywhere on the globe on short notice to deliver whatever ordnance or capability is required; and

WHEREAS the United States Air Force is in the process of completing the environmental analysis necessary to deploy the F-22 Raptor in an area, and this analysis will cover the use of land in the area, the air space available above the area, the ability to train in the area, the safety of deploying in the area, the socioeconomic effects of deployment on the area, the biological and cultural resources of the area, the effects of noise on the area, the effects of deployment on the quality of air and water in the area, and the cumulative effects of deployment on the area; and

WHEREAS impact ranges and areas for military land training maneuvers are located, for the most part, directly underneath Alaska air space and provide excellent opportunities for joint military training; and

WHEREAS Elmendorf Air Force Base has an excellent record of environmental compliance and cooperation with its surrounding communities; and

WHEREAS Alaska's strategic location for the defense of North America and for joint training and experimentation opportunities together with unmatched community support, have been frequently noted by senior military leaders in Alaska, as well as civilian and military leaders at the highest levels;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature encourages the United States Air Force to select Elmendorf Air Force Base for deployment of the F-22 Raptor to complement existing defense capabilities.

COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Donald Rumsfeld, United States Secretary of Defense; the Honorable F. Whitten Peters, Secretary of the Air Force; Lieutenant General Norton A. Schwartz, Commander, Alaskan Command, U.S. Air Force; Admiral Dennis C. Blair, Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command, U.S. Navy; 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: SJR009

Year: 2001

Source Bill: SJR 9

Relating to the development and deployment of the National Missile Defense System.

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

WHEREAS the proliferation by foreign nations and organizations of weapons of mass destruction and of the technology for long-range missiles is a growing danger to all 50 states; and

WHEREAS this threat was demonstrated on August 31, 1998, when North Korea flight-tested a long-range missile over Japan, and the missile splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, clearly showing the danger ballistic missiles pose to Alaska and other states on the west coast of the United States; and

WHEREAS, in response to this growing threat, the United States has initiated the National Missile Defense Program to protect all 50 states from foreign ballistic missile attack; and

WHEREAS Alaska is strategically located because of its close proximity to east Asia and Europe, and is the only state from which the entire United States can be defended; and

WHEREAS the developers of the National Missile Defense System have identified several sites in Alaska as preferred alternatives for the location of major components of the system, including the radar site and intercept vehicles; and

WHEREAS construction contracts for the National Missile Defense System were not approved by President Clinton in 2000, delaying the construction schedule; and

WHEREAS barges carrying material to begin construction on a Shemya Island radar site could still embark this year; and

WHEREAS President George W. Bush and members of his cabinet have indicated their strong support for the development of a National Missile Defense System;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature calls upon the President of the United States to direct the United States Department of Defense to develop and deploy the National Missile Defense System as soon as technologically possible.

COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States; the Honorable Donald Rumsfeld, United States Secretary of Defense; the Honorable John Warner, Chair, U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee; the Honorable Bob Stump, Chair, U.S. House Armed Services Committee; 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: SJR008

Year: 2001

Source Bill: HCS CSSJR 8(MLV) am H

Relating to supporting polling places at military installations.

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

WHEREAS the Department of Defense (DoD) issued a directive that disrupted the traditional authority of military base and post commanders in Alaska to allow local election officials to set up voting booths at military installations; and

WHEREAS this action makes it more difficult for thousands of military personnel and their families to vote; and

WHEREAS recent election history has shown that every vote is important in deciding an election; and

WHEREAS Alaska has a long tradition of voting at military installations that could end as a result of the DoD directive; and

WHEREAS Alaska has four polling places that could be made unavailable for future elections by the DoD directive, including polling places at Ft. Richardson, Ft. Wainwright, Elmendorf Air Force Base, and Eielson Air Force Base; and

WHEREAS the U.S. House of Representatives responded to the negative effects the DoD directive would have on Americans in uniform and their families by passing H.R. 5174 on October 12, 2000, to ensure the voting rights of Americans who live on military bases and posts; and

WHEREAS H.R. 5174 allows the Secretary of a military department to make any building at a military installation under the Secretary's jurisdiction available for use as a polling place in any federal, state, or local election; and

WHEREAS once that site is made available for an election, H.R. 5174 provides it will remain available for subsequent elections, unless the Secretary notifies the Congress in advance of the reasons the building will no longer be used in that capacity;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests the President of the United States, the United States Congress, and the United States Secretary of Defense to work together to countermand any directive that impedes the rights of American citizens to vote at election sites at military installations.

COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States; the Honorable Donald Rumsfeld, U.S. Secretary of Defense; Lieutenant General Norton A. Schwartz, Commander, Alaskan Command, U.S. Air Force; Admiral Dennis C. Blair, Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command, U.S. Navy; Major General James J. Lovelace, Jr., Commanding General, U.S. Army Alaska; 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.

LR009

Resolve: LR009

Source Root: SCR004

Year: 2001

Source Bill: CSSCR 4(STA)

Relating to declaring April 6, 2001, as Alaska Tartan Day.

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

WHEREAS April 6 has special significance for all Americans, and especially for those Americans of Scottish descent, because the American Declaration of Independence was modeled on the Declaration of Arbroath, the Scottish Declaration of Independence, which was signed on April 6, 1320; and

WHEREAS Scottish Americans have played a major role in the founding of the United States of America, and nearly half the signatories of the Declaration of Independence were of Scottish descent, and the governors of nine of the original 13 states were of Scottish ancestry; and

WHEREAS Scottish Americans have made monumental achievements and invaluable contributions to the fields of science, technology, and medicine; and

WHEREAS more than 200 organizations throughout the United States and Alaska already observe Tartan Day on April 6 of each year to honor Scotland's role in the human struggle for liberty; and

WHEREAS the Scottish Highland Games is a prominent summer event held annually in Eagle River, Alaska, where longstanding Scottish traditions of strength and skill are celebrated by many Alaskans and visitors; and

WHEREAS people of Scottish descent have played a significant role in the history, discovery, and exploration of Alaska throughout history, most notably Captain Cook and many of his crew, and there are numerous Alaska landmarks, such as Point MacKenzie, honoring those Scots; and

WHEREAS the Alaska State Legislature wishes to recognize the contributions of Alaskans of Scottish descent to Alaska and the United States;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature requests Governor Tony Knowles to issue a proclamation calling on the people of Alaska to observe April 6, 2001, as Alaska Tartan Day.

LR010

Resolve: LR010

Source Root: SCR002

Year: 2001

Source Bill: CSSCR 2(HES)

Relating to declaring March 2001 as Sobriety Awareness Month.

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

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, drugs, and inhalants" 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 "[t]he 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, drug, and inhalant abuse, who by example encourage and support others in leading a life of sobriety"; and

WHEREAS the practice and 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 crimes related to alcohol, drugs, and inhalants;

(3) reduction in the burden on government by not having to exhaust its resources to pay for the pervasive problems caused by alcohol, drug, and inhalant 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 that the month of March 2001 should be proclaimed as Sobriety Awareness Month; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that Governor Tony Knowles 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, family services, or provide rehabilitation or correctional services; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that all Alaska citizens who lead, believe in, or support a life of sobriety indicate so by wearing a white ribbon of their choosing so that they may be readily recognized and appreciated during Sobriety Awareness Month 2001.

LR011

Resolve: LR011

Source Root: HCR006

Year: 2001

Source Bill: SCS CSHCR 6(STA)

Requesting the Governor to declare March 18 - 24, 2001, to be Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week and August 26 - September 1, 2001, to be Inhalant Awareness Week.

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

WHEREAS all communities should be made aware of the potential harm of poisons and inhalants because poisons and the improper use of inhalants pose an ever-present danger to Alaska, its communities, and its people; and

WHEREAS, while legal and helpful when properly used and administered, these substances can be disabling and even fatal when misused; and

WHEREAS statistics indicate that a significant percentage of elementary school age children as well as adolescents and adults have experimented with or are likely to experiment with inhalants; that more than 70 percent of chronic substance abusers began with inhalants, which are the fourth most used addictive substance after tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana; that inhalants often lead to the use of other illegal drugs; that chronic inhalant abusers suffer permanent and severe brain damage; that other risks include heart failure, loss of consciousness, and irreversible damage to the liver, kidneys, and bone marrow; and that more than 1,400 legal products can be inhaled to "get high"; and

WHEREAS, each year, more than 1.8 million people suffer from ingestion of or exposure to household poisons; most often, it is children under the age of six who experience the effects of accidental poison exposure, and, in most cases, common household items including aspirin, cough and cold remedies, perfumes, and cleaning products are the source of the poison; and

WHEREAS poisons and inhalants pose a threat to the well-being of the citizens of the state; and

WHEREAS Alaska is taking a leading role in developing inhalant treatment protocols and encouraging inhalant prevention efforts through the Annual Inhalant Prevention Conference and the establishment of a statewide inhalant intervention program, with a residential treatment program opening in Bethel, Alaska, in August 2001;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature encourages support of the cooperative efforts of the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition and other local, state, and federal organizations and communities that are working together to prevent alcoholism and drug abuse by their efforts to make others aware of the dangers of inhalants and poisons; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests the Governor to proclaim the week of March 18 - 24, 2001, as Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week to coincide with the National Inhalant and Poison Awareness Week and also to proclaim the week of August 26 - September 1, 2001, as Inhalant Awareness Week to coincide with the Fourth Annual Inhalant Prevention Conference and the grand opening of the Statewide Residential Inhalant Treatment Program; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests and encourages all public and private agencies and citizens of the state to observe and recognize Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week and Inhalant Awareness Week with appropriate activities, including using every means available to inform the children and families of Alaska about the dangers of inhalants.

LR012

Resolve: LR012

Source Root: SJR007

Year: 2001

Source Bill: CSSJR 7(RES)

Supporting reinstatement of the United States Department of the Interior directive exempting the United States Bureau of Land Management in Alaska from the mandatory wilderness review process.

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

WHEREAS, in 1980, the United States Congress passed the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), which included sec. 1326, frequently referred to as the "no more clause", prohibiting further executive withdrawals and studies for the specific purpose of creating more conservation units or areas; and

WHEREAS, in sec. 1320, ANILCA expressly exempted the Bureau of Land Management from the sec. 603 wilderness review program of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976; and

WHEREAS, in 1981, the United States Secretary of the Interior issued a directive that prohibited the United States Bureau of Land Management from considering any of the 80,000,000 acres the bureau manages in Alaska for designation as wilderness under the National Wilderness Preservation System; and

WHEREAS, on January 18, 2001, on one of his last days in office, United States Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt rescinded this 19-year-old directive without public comment or consultation with Alaska; and

WHEREAS the rescission is improper without public comment and the participation of Alaska, is not in the best interests of the state, and should be reinstated by the incoming administration; and

WHEREAS the requirement that all Bureau of Land Management administered roadless tracts of 5,000 or more acres be studied for their wilderness qualities will result in all areas being managed as quasi-wilderness and effectively create a virtual economic barrier;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature opposes the rescission of this Department of the Interior directive; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges the swift reinstatement of the directive by the administration of President George W. Bush.

COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States; the Honorable Gale Norton, United States Secretary 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.

LR013

Resolve: LR013

Source Root: SJR012

Year: 2001

Source Bill: SJR 12(title am)

Urging the United States Congress to amend the tax code to eliminate the marriage penalty.

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

WHEREAS many married couples pay more income tax than they would be required to pay as single individuals living together; and

WHEREAS more than 44 million Americans, approximately 43 percent of all married couples, are affected each year by this marriage penalty, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO); and

WHEREAS the CBO estimates that under current tax laws the marriage penalty results in married couples paying an average of $1,480 more in taxes each year than cohabiting individuals earning the same income; and

WHEREAS the United States Congress passed H.R. 4810, the "Marriage Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2000," providing tax relief to married couples penalized under current tax laws, but this legislation was vetoed by President Clinton;

BE IT RESOLVED by the Alaska State Legislature that the Congress of the United States is urged to again pass legislation that amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make the tax system marriage-neutral; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that this legislation equalize the standard deduction for a married couple to the amount to which two unmarried individuals earning the same combined level of income would be entitled; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that this legislation equalize for married couples filing jointly the amount of income that pushes taxpayers into higher tax brackets by making the breakpoints twice what they are for single filers.

COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States; the Honorable Paul O'Neill, United States Secretary of the Treasury; the Honorable J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; the Honorable Trent Lott, Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Chuck Grassley, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance; the Honorable Bill Thomas, Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means; 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.