Lisa Murkowski

I support the Administration's efforts for land conservation and its commitment to growing the Forest Legacy program.

I just want to make sure that we don't have a different standard here, that for commercial timber sales, you know, you're--they won't be allowed to go forward unless they--more revenue comes in than goes out, and that, for other, it would…

I made the statement that there haven't been any stewardship contracts that return more revenue receipts to the Treasury than they cost the Forest Service to plan and prepare and sell.

We would certainly hope that this administration, as well as any other administration, would protect those agreements that have been reached and, again, vigorously defend them.

I'd like to ask you about the roadless rule.

I want to make sure that I understand that, with this budget, that is--that, in fact, the direction that is being taken with the budget is that you will--you will not be allowing sales to move forward that are these below-cost timber sales.

I would certainly hope that you would work to protect the settlement agreement that was reached with regards to the Tongass.

We won't have any money to build the road, though.

Is definitely different.

I leave the hearing this morning perhaps more frustrated than when I came in.

When are we going to see this transition plan?

I think we recognize that the bulk of the Tongass is just clearly not accessible by--without some additional road funding.

I want to thank you for scheduling the hearing.

If we don't have the folks within the industry that can hang on, then you aren't able to do the retooling.

How do we mesh this all together?

For those of us around the subcommittee here, we certainly appreciate it. But on behalf of the people of Alaska, I sincerely extend my appreciation.

Well, I share your concern about our preparedness and we want to work with those that will follow you to ensure that we are ready to the fullest extent possible.

We have got over 60 percent of the national fishing totals for the Nation up there within our industry.

I would like to have a discussion with you on that or whoever that you should designate because we do want to make sure that these vessels that have been identified as the replacement, again, are going to be accepted and that you do not…

You have clearly a resource gap that will impact our ability to provide for the level of service necessary and impact the economy there.

I am greatly concerned about the decommissioning of this cutter and the negative impacts that we could potentially see on the safety and security, particularly within our commercial fishing industry.

There is a very real concern that it is going to make it impossible or exceptionally difficult for the Coast Guard to meet its already very challenging mission that it faces in Alaska.

I remain concerned, though. We're moving forward with the Arctic study that the Coast Guard is moving.

For electricity rates to drop in rural Alaska, we need federal grant assistance to help with the high capital costs of installing renewable energy in isolated areas.

I appreciate your comments. I understand what you are saying, but I think it still takes me back to my initial concern...