News from the Senate Majority

Alaska State Legislature

Wendy Lindskoog, Senate Majority Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
Phone: 907/465-4582
http://www.akrepublicans.org
Broadcast Actualities: 800/478-6540

For Immediate Release: February 24, 1997 Contact: Senator Drue Pearce 907/465-4993

ANWR Resolution Passes Legislature

Will Be Hand-delivered to Alaska’s Congressional Delegation

Juneau -- The Alaskan State House passed Senate Joint Resolution 9 Monday by a vote of 33 to 1 urging the United States Congress to pass legislation that will open the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, (ANWR) to oil and gas exploration, development and production. The Senate passed the resolution unanimously Thursday, February 13, 1997.

"It is a well known fact that the Clinton Administration has done everything in its power to inhibit oil and gas development in the Arctic Coastal Plain. In 1995 the United States Congress passed for the first time in history, legislation to authorize oil exploration in the Arctic Coastal Plain. Despite its importance to our State and its residents, it was vetoed by President Clinton," said Senator Drue Pearce, prime sponsor of SJR 9.

"We cannot give up the fight to develop our resources and create jobs for Alaskans," said Pearce. "Passage of this resolution has been perfectly timed. We will personally deliver our joint message in support of opening ANWR to our Congressional Delegation while we are in Washington D.C. attending The Energy Council’s Federal Energy and Environmental Matters Conference March 1-4, 1997."

The Energy Council, comprised of legislators from ten energy producing states and the Canadian province of Alberta, meets four times each year to participate in the formation of federal energy and related environmental policy.

"Through this resolution, and our continued efforts to inform Americans that we can safely develop our oil reserves without harm to wildlife or the environment, we are once again sending a strong message to our Congressional Delegation that the state of Alaska, and its Legislature, is fully behind their efforts to open ANWR."

If opened by the year 2005, ANWR will create an estimated new 38,300 jobs in Alaska and 732,273 jobs nationwide noted Pearce.

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