[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 10, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S125-S126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
THE BUDGET TALKS
Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, let me make a reference to the state of
affairs relative to the suspended budget talks. I think it is fair to
say that we have all observed, with some chagrin, finger pointing, the
reality that after these endless meetings we are left with a situation
where we have not reached an accord. It is undoubtedly a reality that
we will not get this thing resolved until after the State of the Union
on the 23d of January. It would be perhaps speculative to suggest we
will get it resolved at that time. But we certainly hope so.
But I think it is fair to say that the extended discussions covering
the major issues of Medicare, Medicaid, welfare, taxes have been
thoroughly gone into, but they are still not resolved. The President
has stepped forward with a 7-year proposal to balance the budget, but
the difficulty with that is most of the cuts are in the 7th year.
In the 7th year the President is not going to be here. It is such a
draconian mandate that undoubtedly Congress would find it unacceptable.
Clearly it lacks the commitment that is necessary for it to be
workable; and that is that we have a proportional cut over each year
that is equitable and palatable to the American public. Further, Mr.
President, we have not gone into the second-tier issues.
These are issues that are subject to considerable debate, but they
are in the reconciliation, and the reconciliation process as we know it
is hung up as a consequence of the continued discussion over Medicaid,
Medicare, welfare, taxes, and so forth.
As a consequence, we have an emergency not just associated with
weather, but in my State concerning resource development on public
lands. As an example, we have unresolved the issue of opening up the
Arctic National Wildlife Area for oil exploration. That is covered in
the reconciliation package. We have a mining piece of legislation, a
mining bill in the reconciliation package that will either determine
the future of domestic mining or the demise of mining in the United
States as we find ourselves in a situation where the industry is no
longer able to generate a reasonable return on domestic investments and
moves overseas.
So there is much riding on a resolve, and we also have unresolved
major appropriations bills affecting my State and the timber industry
in the Tongass and the Interior appropriations bill. So it is
imperative that judgments be made and that those judgments be made in a
timely manner.
As a consequence, Mr. President, I would just like to refer to what I
think is the significance of what this debate is all about. It has been
suggested that the debate concerns itself with a balanced budget. I
think it is more fundamental. I think it is a historic debate about the
role and the scope of Washington, DC, whether Washington will continue
to tax Americans more, to spend more of America's savings, to regulate
Americans more, and to control Americans more, or whether we are going
to see a departure that will begin to reduce the size, scope, and power
of Washington, DC. I think that is what this debate is all about. I
think that is what we should focus in on. We are at a significant
crossroads, Mr. President, and it is appropriate that we recognize it
for what it is. It is either doing business as usual or a substantial
departure from the status quo.
Finally, Mr. President, I would like to have printed in the Record a
letter from Kelly R. King. Kelly King is a college student from Alaska.
He was formerly an intern in my office. He has written this letter to
each Member of the U.S. Senate who chose not to support opening the
Arctic National Wildlife Reserve for exploration and, if the oil is
there, production. I think it is appropriate that we reflect on the
attitudes prevailing concerning whether or not we are going to continue
to develop our natural resources in the United States, whether it be on
public land for
[[Page S126]]
grazing, mining, timbering, oil and gas exploration, or whether we are
going to depend on imports.
I ask unanimous consent that the letter be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the letter was ordered to be printed in the
Record, as follows:
December 5, 1995.
Hon. Paul Wellstone,
U.S. Senator,
Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Wellstone: Now that I am of voting age, I have
taken a deep interest in the affairs of my nation, and
particularly my state. The nation is facing a growing
national debt that we must stop. Alaska proposed a solution
to help this problem which you voted against, that is, the
opening of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil
exploration. I hope that you will reconsider your decision
with some information that I hope to bring to your attention.
If we opened the 1002 area to drilling, not only would it
help to solve the national debt, but it would also decrease
our dependence on foreign oil.
In 1980, Congress set aside 1.5 million acres out of a
total of 19 million acres in ANWR so that it could be studied
and considered for oil exploration and named it the 1002
area. The studies have been done and it is time to open it
for drilling. Geologists have found that there is
considerable evidence that sizable quantities of oil could be
found in the Arctic Oil Reserve and recommend opening the AOR
for drilling. Don't believe those that tell you that ANWR is
America's last wilderness. In fact, more than 192 million
acres of the State of Alaska are already protected as either
National Parks, Preserves, Refuges, Marine parks and other
federal and state conservation units. The 1002 area is not
designated as a wilderness. Studies show that more than 99
percent of ANWR would remain untouched if oil drilling were
to take place. A study done by the Office of Technology
Assessment found that fewer than 2000 acres of the 1.5
million acres in the 1002, less than 5 percent, would be
affected. You can see by that study that drilling will only
affect the environment in minute ways. Modern day
technologies will allow us to drill for oil safely without
hurting the environment.
You may ask how opening ANWR will affect your state and
America? Economists are estimating that if ANWR was opened to
drilling, that it would create over 700,000 jobs all around
the country. Not only would the United States benefit, but
over 700,000 Americans would have job security in the oil
industry for centuries to come. In a recent survey done
around the country, very few people have even heard of ANWR.
And when presented with the facts, they supported the idea of
drilling in the 1002 Area.
Bi-partisan support for the opening of the Arctic Oil
Reserve (1002 Area) is widespread throughout Alaska. Not only
is it backed by the Alaska State Legislature, Governor
Knowles, and most of Alaskan citizens, but the Alaska
Federation of Natives endorses this plan as well. The
majority of Alaska Natives feel that development of the
reserve can only better their lives. If oil is found, it will
eventually provide jobs, water and sewer systems, electric
power, and security for their villages, while not sacrificing
the wildlife on which they are so dependent. The Porcupine
Caribou herd is of concern to Natives and to all Alaskans,
but careful regulations were implemented at Prudhoe Bay and
the Central Arctic caribou herd grew from 3,000 in 1972 to
18,000 today. This confirms that animals and development can
coexist in the Arctic.
I hope that you use some of the facts that I have provided,
continue to research the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and
reconsider your decision. Development can only better the
United States and Alaska. I believe there is nothing to lose
in opening the Arctic Oil Reserve. If you would like more
information, I would urge you to contact the Alaska
Delegation. Please carefully decide, based on sound science--
the obvious answer being that it is time to open the Arctic
Oil Reserve. Americans and Alaskans both know that it is
time.
Sincerely,
Kelly R. King,
College Student.
Mr. WARNER addressed the Chair.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Virginia.
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