Lisa Murkowski

This is something that Congress authorized decades ago. Yet now we're hung up on this because of Forest Service objections.

We are really relying so much more on our Guard units. So we've got to be very cognizant about the stresses that we are putting on a system here.

It's going to take, I think, a mix of every economic activity that we have available to be able to have sustainable communities in the Southeast Alaska.

That's why the Sealaska bill is as significant as it is because it does allow for that export market.

I don't think that the current Forest Service plan for the Tongass is implementable.

I worry that if we're not successful with things like extending Secure Rural Schools funding that a community like Yakutat, where two-thirds of that school budget comes from Secure Rural Schools funding, that your employees will be coming…

I appreciate that you're going to be getting back to us on the letter that so many of us signed about the diversification of the fire fighting air tanker fleet.

I thank the Chair. (The remarks of Ms. Murkowski pertaining to the introduction of S. 2151 are located in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')

What do you think about the proposal to move the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) from the Department of Commerce to the Department of the Interior?

We are told that only 5 percent of the United States has been mapped using the same technologies.

We all want a fair return. But I would again urge you to make sure that we are taking into account what we are paid for those initial leases.

Okay. So we will await an update from you or from your staff. I thank you for that.

We may be moving forward with some programs also in the Beaufort and the Chukchi Seas in Alaska

We encourage the subcommittee to provide at least $61.32 million for the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants program.

Your leadership helped to prevent a large cut that was being proposed in the House of Representatives.

I appreciate that. And I hope that your voice feels better than normal levels.

It's impossible for the engines in older aircraft to run without lead being in their fuels.

As you know, we have more people that fly in Alaska than anywhere else in the country, and it's like the family minivan.

The Healy Clean Coal Plant that we have been trying to get online since 1991 as an option for the residents in the interior to help them meet their energy needs.

They are working. They are being aggressive on it. It's not as if they're putting their head in the sand.

What, if anything, can be done to help? And we recognize that the budgetary issues are extraordinarily debilitating and we appreciate that.

I have just a couple here, if I may.

We've got to have some ability to work with you on this.

There is further concern that we simply won't, or the industry won't, be able to meet the deadline.

We recognize that this is going to increase the cost of living in Alaska at a time that we can't handle it.