Haley Stevens: “I am proud to introduce a piece of legislation important to my State, the ``Alaska Wetlands Conservation Act.'' The…”

“I am proud to introduce a piece of legislation important to my State, the ``Alaska Wetlands Conservation Act.'' The legislation I submit today is identical to that introduced in the 106th Congress, except for a minor addition relative to silviculture. The new language simply clarifies the existing exemption for normal silviculture activities as applied to lands owned by Alaska Native corporations established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (``ANCSA'') Congress in enacting the ANCSA intended and expected that Native timber holdings would be subject to harvesting. In fact, most Native timber lands are former national forest lands that, at the time of the enactment of ANCSA in 1971, were part of an ``established'' or ``ongoing'' silviculture program for that forest. I hope my colleagues will support my State and its Native peoples as we pursue this legislation.”