Haley Stevens: “I am sad to disagree with my friend from Oklahoma. I point out to the Senate that this oil and gas is produced on State…”

“I am sad to disagree with my friend from Oklahoma. I point out to the Senate that this oil and gas is produced on State lands, with State leases. And our State law prohibits the rights-of-way for this gas to be moved on the northern route. It is within our province to guide the course of this asset of our State so that we might enjoy part of it. If this gas goes east from Alaska, Alaskans will never enjoy one single benefit from it except a portion of the wellhead price coming to us as royalties. We will not have any right to use it in our second largest city, in Fairbanks, along the Alaska highway going out of Alaska into Canada. This is a very dynamic area from the point of view of tourism. In addition to that, we have two major bases there, Wainwright and Eielson, and the national missile defense system is right alongside that road. This gas must come south. My State has recognized that and has now passed legislation, signed by the Governor, that specifies that no route will be allowed going east on these State lands. This gas must exit State lands before it can go either east or south. We have spoken as a State.”