[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 138 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S11986]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. MURKOWSKI:
  S. 2172. A bill to provide for the appointment of a Special Master to 
meet with interested parties in Alaska and make recommendations to the 
Governor of Alaska, The Alaska State Legislature, The Secretary of 
Agriculture, The Secretary of the Interior, and the United States 
Congress on how to return management of fish and game resources to the 
State of Alaska and provide for subsistence uses by Alaskans, and for 
other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


         THE ALASKA SUBSISTENCE HUNTING AND FISHING ACT OF 1996

  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I rise for the purpose of introducing 
legislation regarding subsistence hunting and fishing in Alaska.
  I am under no false hope that this legislation will move through the 
Senate this year but I want it to appear in the Record for purposes of 
discussion.
  The issue of subsistence hunting and fishing in Alaska has caused a 
great divisiveness in my State that has led to the State of Alaska 
becoming the only State in the union which no longer retains control of 
its fish and game resources on public lands.
  This legislation calls for the appointment of a special master to 
come up with non-binding recommendations to the Secretaries of 
Agriculture and the Interior, the Governor of the State of Alaska and 
to the Congress.
  The recommendations will be on how to return management of fish and 
game resources to the State, and how best to provide for the 
continuation of a subsistence lifestyle for Alaska's rural residents.
  I hope to have significant discussions with the people of Alaska on 
this issue between now and the start of the 105th Congress and intend 
to introduce legislation again upon our return in January.
  Mr. President, I intend to place a longer statement in the Record 
next week on this issue.
                                 ______