Alaska State Legislature

News From The House Majority

Ken Freeman, Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801
Phone: (907) 465-3804
Actuality line: 1-800-478-6540
web site: http://www.akrepublicans.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 10, 1997

House Votes Not To Send Christmas Tree to Washington, D.C.

Unemployed workers on legislators minds

JUNEAU - During Monday’s floor action, the Alaska State House of Representatives passed House Joint Resolution 24, rejecting the Clinton Administration’s proposal to harvest trees from the Tongass National Forest for the purpose of decorating the nation’s capitol during the 1998 Christmas season. HJR 24 passed with broad bi-partisan support, 34-5.

The resolution requests the Clinton Administration to find another source for the 1998 Christmas tree festivities in light of the social and economic hardship forced upon the unemployed timber workers, their families, and the timber-dependent communities of the Tongass. In addition, the resolution calls on the Forest Service to conduct a full public process and a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement if they harvest the trees from the Tongass.

Representative Williams commented, "I consider the Forest Service proposal a direct insult to the people of Southeast Alaska. These are people who are prohibited from making an honest living in the woods, yet are asked to harvest Christmas trees, send them back to Washington and fund the project. At a time when our families need every single dollar they have, it is incredible that the federal government would ask us to fund this."

Even with the recent announcement of a three year timber agreement between Louisiana Pacific and the Agriculture Department, nearly 60% of the Southeast timber jobs which existed in 1990 have vanished.

Saying that Southeast Alaskans had been left out of the ‘politically correct’ environmental agenda, Representative Williams called it hypocritical of the Clinton Administration to harvest trees for the holiday season while federal policies have severely shrunk the timber supply available for jobs.

Representative Williams went on to talk about why he sponsored the resolution, "We need to send a strong message to Washington that says we do not agree with their actions regarding the Tongass National Forest. The human cost of ‘saving the Tongass" has been too high. The increased unemployment and associated social problems created are flat out wrong.

Pointing out that trees are renewable, and harvested in Alaska at a sustainable rate under the stringest environmental guidelines in the world, Representative Williams commented on the absurdity of the whole situation.

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For further information, call Pete Ecklund at 465-3424.

Broadcast Note: An audio actuality is available by calling 1-800-478-6540.