JUNEAU -- Senate President Rick Halford and House Speaker Brian Porter announced Monday that the leadership of the Alaska State Senate and Alaska State House have given their strong support to the confirmation of Gale Norton of Colorado as the next U.S. Secretary of Interior.

This announcement follows on the heels of a recent transmittal from the Senate President and House Speaker to the U.S Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee urging confirmation of Norton.

"Former Colorado Attorney General Gale Norton is eminently qualified to serve as Secretary of the Department of Interior," said Halford. "She has a strong background in public lands and resource issues, and her record shows that she will bring a balanced approach to the use of our public lands."

The transmittal of support to the Energy and Natural Resources Committee stressed Norton's record and exemplary resume. It also stressed the importance of this nomination to the state of Alaska, due to the large proportion of the state lands and natural resources controlled by the federal government in general, and by the Department of Interior in particular.

"Alaska is on a new threshold of economic opportunity but it is imperative that we escape the overly restrictive and uncooperative policies of the past administration," said Porter. "We believe Gale Norton has the experience and background to understand the resource problems facing our country and the demonstrated leadership ability to work with states like Alaska to help solve them."

Both Halford and Porter stressed the need for better cooperation between the federal government and the states. They also indicated that the Alaska Legislature will extend a willing hand of cooperation to the new administration, and especially Norton, once she is confirmed.