Alaska State Legislature

News From The Senate and House Majorities

Ken Freeman, House Majority Press Secretary
Wendy Lindskoog, Senate Majority Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801
Actuality line: 1-800-478-6540
web site: http://www.akrepublicans.org

For Immediate Release: February 20, 1997 Contact: Ken Freeman (907) 465-3804, Wendy Lindskoog (907) 465-4582

Legislative Resolution Opposes Use of Tongass Trees For Clinton Christmas

Focuses Attention on the Plight of Tongass Families

JUNEAU - Calling it hypocritical of the Clinton Administration to harvest timber from the Tongass National Forest for use as Christmas trees in Washington D.C., Representative Bill Williams (D-Saxman) and Senator Robin Taylor (R-Wrangell) Thursday announced they will introduce resolutions in the Senate and House Friday opposing this policy directive.

"Maybe this resolution will get the Clinton Administration's attention. Vice President Al Gore has stated that they have 'saved the Tongass'. At what cost? There are more than trees and animals in the Tongass, there are people. The increase in domestic violence and other negative socio-economic affects of our mill closures are unacceptable," said Williams, Chair of the House Transportation Committee.

Recent policy directives from the Clinton Administration have directly resulted in the closure of Alaska's two largest pulp mills and has put thousands of Alaskans out of work.

"The lack of a reliable timber supply threatens two additional sawmills and could eliminate hundreds of more timber jobs adding to those that have already vanished in the last 4 years," said Senator Taylor. "We are still pushing for a level of timber supply that will keep our industry alive."

Responsible timber harvesting in Southeast Alaska has resulted in less than 4% of the Tongass being logged since 1900.

"The Clinton Administration is sending the message that careful harvesting of our trees is not acceptable to provide jobs for the people of Southeast Alaska, yet should be allowed to decorate the White House and the halls of Congress," said Taylor. "This is an affront to those rendered jobless by the recent mill closures!"

"We request that the Clinton Administration find another source for the 1998 White House Christmas tree festivities in light of the social and economic hardship forced upon Alaska's unemployed timber workers," said Williams. "The human cost of 'saving the Tongass' hasn't seemed to matter to the President and others who won't let anything stand in the way of their zeal to 'save us' from ourselves, and that is wrong."

Williams and Taylor said that if Clinton decides to go ahead with his plan to harvest trees in the Tongass, it should be done with full public comment and a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement that is the established industry standard.

Broadcast Note: Audio actualities are available by calling 1-800-478-6540.

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