Lisa Murkowski

Weather permitting. And oftentimes, weather is not permitting.

Your testimony today to try to describe how on a daily basis you deal with the realities of a family and a community that lacks basic protection.

Look at where we're from.

What are we collectively doing to address the deplorable housing conditions?

Our young women cannot be afraid to speak out, for fear of local politics or retribution.

The fact of the matter is, we all must be asking more of ourselves--the Tribes, the State, and the Federal Government.

I would like to thank Chairman Cantwell and Vice Chairman Barrasso for the scheduling this hearing on the Indian Law and Order Commission Report.

It has really helped to have the participant of the marshals, too, and just having an extra presence.

I obviously absolutely support the policy that our tribal court protective orders over our members or non-members in relationship with tribal members are honored.

But I also recognize that as I am talking with tribes from Alaska that truly are trying to make the best of an already squeezed situation; they are not asking for a lot.

It seems so easy to ask. Put this in the budget.

We have a responsibility to ensure that our laws are effective in Indian Country.

The National Forests were established for two reasons at the turn of the 20th Century; watershed protection and timber production.

There will be opposition to this approach just as there will be opposition to S.1784 and S. 1966.

This hearing is a valuable contribution to this Committee's understanding of why the federal timber sale program has failed in Alaska.

It is time for Congress to enforce this policy and promise by making the necessary management changes in Alaska.

I think it's a mistake for Congress to basically seed its authority to determine what's in the public interest to folks in the administration and agencies that are not elected.

I have insisted that that Roadless Rule needs to be repealed, but short of that, we need to have some flexibility here.

It's critical that we get the timber harvest up on our national forests.

The bills that we have before us today, I think we acknowledge, address the critical topic of management of our Federal timberlands.

I think it is fair to say that, with respect to the O&C Lands Act of 2013, we Oregonians feel these lands are truly unique both in their legal status and their history.

I think that through your leadership and guidance, we have gained a reputation in this body for being the committee that works.

If this is going to be precedent, it would be helpful to know that there is a set of criteria that doesn't allow for such discretion, again to an unelected official.

I have always been a strong advocate of multiple use. But sometimes, I feel that, particularly when it comes to the Tongass, it's every other use except timber harvest.

I support the stated purposes of S. 1966 but have reservations about the approach taken in the bill.