Lisa Murkowski

I will take second fiddle to nobody on this issue.

What kind of a message do you think that that sends?

How do we make sure that, in trying to address these challenges, we don't price that park experience outside of the reach of working families?

I do think it's worth thinking about that we haven't had a way to fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and we've been trying for 40 years.

I don't want to see the new Denali Visitors Center named the Verizon Center, and nothing wrong with Verizon.

There’s been a lot of discussion today about the impact of sequester.

People who are feeling very generous don't want to feel like they have to have their whole life history peeled apart in order to make a gift.

I think where the focus needs to be, though, is on these big--deferred maintenance is almost a misnomer because it's really these big costs.

We want that Copper River seafood sold in your parks.

The town's economy is threatened.

I certainly don't support a moratorium on the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Is that based on the number of visitors? Is that how you place a priority?

My time has expired. But you haven't addressed this financial sustainability test that you referenced. How does that work?

I think Senator Coburn's statistics were really quite straightforward and, I think, very compelling.

I really do hope that this is the beginning of a very constructive dialog that allows us to address, in a meaningful way, the maintenance backlog of our wonderful national parks.

I think we need to look at this fee plan and ensure that there is some equity across the National Park Service.

Here's a chance to meet one of the country's economic needs and, in the years ahead, with a specific timetable, really get the Government out of the helium business.

He is raising legitimate questions about how the Park Service is going to be able to properly care for our national parks.

I was hiking through Klondike Gold Rush National Park some years ago.

I think it is important to recognize that we have seen some innovative things coming out of our parks.

I think it's kind of unfair that my constituents in Alaska have to pay to visit some of their parks, but that other folks around the country don't bear that same burden.

I thank you, Dr. Coburn, for your interest in this issue, your interest in ensuring that we are on a path toward greater sustainability when it comes to the operation and maintenance of our national parks and our park system.

For those of us in Alaska, our parks are pretty special. Not that they are not special in other parts of the country, I think ours are just bigger and they take up more space, and they are a constant reminder of the national treasures that…

I support many of those efforts.

I do think that your proposal, that we need to look to LWCF and how we might be able to carve out some of these dollars that are directed to this for our parks and maintenance backlog.