Sponsor Statement for HJR 14
A Resolution relating to supporting the American Land Sovereignty Protection Act.
I have proposed this legislation on the premise that my greatest responsibility as an Alaskan and as an Alaskan State Legislator is to protect and defend the sovereignty of our Great State, and, further, to support protection of sovereignty of our Great Nation.
A little known fact is that, in 1971, the United States joined the U.N. program calling for establishing "biosphere reserves" around the world. These reserves are surrounded by buffer zones that restrict human behavior. Forty seven national parks, which cover 51 million acres of land, are classified as these sanctuaries. Sixty-eight percent of our national parks, preserves and monuments have been designated to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), to Biosphere Reserves and World Heritage Sites, without any legislative or congressional direction.
Most disturbing is that 40.7 million acres of this land designated to UNESCO are in the State of Alaska. A World Heritage Site in Alaska is the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve (13.2 million acres). There are six Biosphere Reserves: Admiralty Island National Monument (921,000 acres); Aleutian Islands National Wildlife Refuge (2.7 million acres); Denali National Park and Preserve (6.5 million acres); Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve (7.5 million acres); Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve (3.3 million acres; and Noatak National Preserve (6.6 million acres).
There is legitimate concern about some possible international interference during the decision making processes on domestic lands. Too often, we Alaskans have found ourselves under federal oversight with no recourse. Soon, we may find ourselves under International oversight! We must not let this happen. This legislation will reaffirm the constitutional authority of the Congress as elected representatives of the people over the land of the United States. We want the Congress to make these decisions with a public process, not the President or his appointees. Please joint with me in urging that the "American Land Sovereignty Protection Act" be reintroduced and passed by the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate as soon as possible during the 105th Congress.
Thank you very much.