[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 131 (Wednesday, September 16, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9433-S9436]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS

  The following petitions and memorials were laid before the Senate and 
were referred or ordered to lie on the table as indicated:

       POM-78. A joint resolution adopted by the Alaska State 
     Legislature urging the United States Senate to ratify the 
     United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; to the 
     Committee on Foreign Relations.

                     House Joint Resolution No. 22

       Whereas in August 2007, Russia sent two small submarines 
     into the Arctic Ocean to plant that nation's flag under the 
     North Pole to support its territorial claim that its 
     continental shelf extends to the North Pole; and
       Whereas Denmark is exploring whether a mountain range under 
     the Arctic Ocean is connected to Greenland, a territory of 
     Denmark; and
       Whereas Canada is considering the establishment of military 
     bases to protect its claim to the Northwest Passage; and
       Whereas the actions taken by Russia, Denmark, and Canada 
     have been exercised under the United Nations Convention on 
     the Law of the Sea; and
       Whereas the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 
     permits member nations to claim an exclusive economic zone 
     out to 200 nautical miles from shore, with an exclusive 
     sovereign right to explore, manage, and develop all living 
     and nonliving resources, including deep sea mining, within 
     that exclusive economic zone; and
       Whereas the United States Arctic Research Commission 
     estimates that the United Nations Convention on the Law of 
     the Sea would permit the United States to lay claim beyond 
     the present 200-mile exclusive economic zone to an area of 
     the northern seabed off Alaska that is equal in size to 
     California; and
       Whereas 155 nations have ratified the United Nations 
     Convention on the Law of the Sea, including all allies of the 
     United States and the world's maritime powers; and
       Whereas ratification of the current form of the United 
     Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea has been pending 
     before the United States Senate since 1994, and hearings on 
     the treaty were held by the United States Senate Committee on 
     Foreign Relations in 1994, 2003, and 2004, and on September 
     27, 2007, and October 4, 2007; and
       Whereas, despite favorable reports by the United States 
     Senate Committee on Foreign Relations regarding the United 
     Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in 2004 and 2007, 
     the United States Senate has yet to vote on the ratification 
     of the Convention; and
       Whereas the United States, with 1,000 miles of Arctic coast 
     off of the State of Alaska, remains the only Arctic nation 
     that has not ratified the United Nations Convention on the 
     Law of the Sea; and
       Whereas, until the United States Senate votes to ratify the 
     United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the United 
     States may not have the authority to promote its claims to an 
     extended area of the continental shelf, refute the claim of 
     authority by other nations to exercise greater control over 
     the Arctic, or take a permanent seat on the International 
     Seabed Authority Council; and
       Whereas, until the United States ratifies the United 
     Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the United States 
     cannot participate in deliberations to amend provisions of 
     the Convention that relate to the
       (1) oil, gas, and mineral resources in the Arctic Ocean and 
     other northern waters;
       (2) conduct of essential scientific research in the world's 
     oceans;

[[Page S9434]]

       (3) right of the United States to the use of the seas;
       (4) rules of navigation;
       (5) effect of the use of the seas on world economic 
     development; and
       (6) environmental concerns related to the use of the seas; 
     and
       Whereas the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 
     will have an important and beneficial effect on virtually all 
     states, both coastal and noncoastal, because the United 
     States is heavily dependent on the use, development, and 
     conservation of the world's oceans and their resources; and
       Whereas the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 
     will not interfere with the intelligence-gathering efforts of 
     the United States or the navigational freedom of the United 
     States Navy; and
       Whereas ratification of the United Nations Convention on 
     the Law of the Sea has wide bipartisan support; be it
       Resolved, That the Alaska State Legislature urges the 
     United States Senate to ratify the United Nations Convention 
     on the Law of the Sea.
       Copies of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable 
     Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Vice-President of the United States and 
     President of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable John F. Kerry, 
     Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations; the 
     Honorable Richard G. Lugar, ranking Republican on the U.S. 
     Senate Committee on Foreign Relations; the Honorable Lisa 
     Murkowski and the Honorable Mark Begich, U.S. Senators, 
     members of the Alaska delegation in Congress; and all other 
     members of the United States Senate.
                                  ____

       POM-79. A joint resolution adopted by the Alaska State 
     Legislature relative to claiming sovereignty for the state 
     under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United 
     States over all powers not otherwise enumerated and granted 
     to the federal government by the Constitution of the United 
     States; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                            Joint Resolution

       Whereas the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the 
     United States reads, ``The powers not delegated to the United 
     States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the 
     States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the 
     people''; and
       Whereas the Tenth Amendment defines the total scope of 
     federal power as being that specifically granted by the 
     Constitution of the United States and no more; and
       Whereas some federal actions weaken states' rights 
     protected by the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the 
     United States; and
       Whereas the Tenth Amendment assures that we, the people of 
     the United States of America and each sovereign state in the 
     Union of States, now have, and have always had, rights the 
     federal government may not usurp; and
       Whereas art. IV, sec. 4, Constitution of the United States, 
     reads, ``The United States shall guarantee to every State in 
     this Union a Republican Form of Government,'' and the Ninth 
     Amendment to the Constitution of the United States reads, 
     ``The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, 
     shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained 
     by the people''; and
       Whereas the United States Supreme Court has ruled in New 
     York v. United States, 112 S.Ct. 2408 (1992), that the United 
     States Congress may not simply commandeer the legislative and 
     regulatory processes of the states; and
       Whereas all states, including Alaska, find themselves 
     regularly facing proposals from the United States Congress 
     that weaken states' rights protected by the Tenth Amendment; 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Alaska State Legislature hereby claims 
     sovereignty for the state under the Tenth Amendment to the 
     Constitution of the United States over all powers not 
     otherwise enumerated and granted to the federal government by 
     the Constitution of the United States; and be it further
       Resolved, That this resolution serves as Notice and Demand 
     to the federal government to cease and desist, effective 
     immediately, mandates that are beyond the scope of these 
     constitutionally delegated powers.
       Copies of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable 
     Barack Obama, President of the United States; the Honorable 
     Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Vice-President of the United States and 
     President of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Nancy Pelosi, 
     Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; the Honorable 
     Lisa Murkowski and the Honorable Mark Begich, U.S. Senators, 
     and the Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative, members of 
     the Alaska delegation in Congress; all other members of the 
     111th United States Congress; the presiding officers of the 
     legislatures of each of the other 49 states; and the 
     governors of each of the other 49 states.
                                  ____

       POM-80. A joint resolution adopted by the Alaska State 
     Legislature urging Congress to provide a means for 
     consistently sharing, on an ongoing basis, revenue generated 
     from oil and gas development on the Outer Continental Shelf 
     with all coastal energy-producing states to ensure that those 
     states develop, support, and maintain necessary 
     infrastructure and preserve environmental integrity; to the 
     Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

                            Joint Resolution

       Whereas there are presently 697 active oil and gas leases 
     off Alaska's coast, covering more than 1,500,000 hectares; 
     and
       Whereas the United States Department of the Interior, 
     Minerals Management Service, estimates there are nearly 
     27,000,000,000 barrels of oil and 132,000,000,000,000 cubic 
     feet of natural gas that are technically recoverable offshore 
     of Alaska; and
       Whereas responsible oil and gas development in federal 
     waters off Alaska's coast would significantly decrease 
     reliance by the United States on foreign oil and gas, making 
     the United States more energy independent and enhancing our 
     national security; and
       Whereas, under the Mineral Lands Leasing Act of 1920, the 
     federal government shares with the states 50 percent of 
     revenue from mineral production on federal land within each 
     state's boundaries; and
       Whereas the shared mineral production revenue is 
     distributed to the states automatically, outside of the 
     budget process, and is not subject to appropriation; and
       Whereas, other than in water immediately adjacent to a 
     state's coastline, there is not a similar authority for the 
     federal government to share federal oil and gas revenue 
     generated on the outer continental shelf with adjacent 
     coastal states, despite the vital contribution made by those 
     states to our nation's energy, economic, and national 
     security needs in support of production from the outer 
     continental shelf; and
       Whereas the states that sustain this critical energy 
     production and development deserve a share of the revenue 
     generated because they provide infrastructure to support 
     offshore operations and because of the environmental effects 
     and other risks associated with oil and gas development on 
     the outer continental shelf; and
       Whereas, under the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 
     2006, the federal government recognized the contributions 
     made by Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas to 
     national security and agreed to give them 37.5 percent of 
     revenue from oil and gas development in newly leased federal 
     waters in the Gulf of Mexico; and
       Whereas other coastal states, including Alaska and 
     California, also support and should receive, on a regular and 
     ongoing basis, a fair share of revenue generated through 
     development on the outer continental shelf as compensation 
     and reward for their contributions to the nation's energy 
     supply, security, and economy; and
       Whereas, since statehood, oil and gas lease sales from the 
     outer continental shelf off Alaska's coast have generated 
     millions of dollars in revenue for the federal government; 
     and
       Whereas the February 2008 lease sale in the Chukchi Sea 
     generated an additional $2,600,000,000 in revenue for the 
     federal government; be it
       Resolved, That the Alaska State Legislature supports 
     responsible development of the oil and gas resources in 
     federal waters offshore of Alaska's coast as a means to 
     ensure energy independence, security for the nation, and jobs 
     for Alaskans; and be it further
       Resolved, that the Alaska State Legislature urges the 
     United States Congress to provide a means for consistently 
     sharing, on an ongoing basis, revenue generated from oil and 
     gas development on the outer continental shelf with all 
     coastal energy-producing states to ensure that those states 
     develop, support, and maintain necessary infrastructure and 
     preserve environmental integrity.
       Copies of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable 
     Barack Obama, President of the United States; the Honorable 
     Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Vice-President of the United States and 
     President of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Ken Salazar, 
     United States Secretary of the Interior; the Honorable Nancy 
     Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; the 
     Honorable Steny H. Hoyer, Majority Leader of the U.S. House 
     of Representatives; the Honorable John Boehner, Minority 
     Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives; the Honorable 
     Harry Reid, Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable 
     Mitch McConnell, Minority Leader of the U.S. Senate; the 
     Honorable Jeff Bingaman, Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee 
     on Energy and Natural Resources; the Honorable Lisa Murkowski 
     and the Honorable Mark Begich, U.S. Senators, and the 
     Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative, members of the 
     Alaska delegation in Congress; and all other members of the 
     111th United States Congress.
                                  ____

       POM-81. A joint resolution adopted by the Alaska State 
     Legislature urging Congress to pass legislation to open the 
     coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil 
     and gas exploration, development, and production, and that 
     the Alaska State Legislature is adamantly opposed to further 
     wilderness or other restrictive designation in the area of 
     the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; to 
     the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

                            Joint Resolution

       Whereas in 16 U.S.C. 3142 (sec. 1002 of the Alaska National 
     Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA)), the United States 
     Congress reserved the right to permit further oil and gas 
     exploration, development, and production within the coastal 
     plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; and
       Whereas the oil industry, the state, and the United States 
     Department of the Interior consider the coastal plain to have 
     the highest potential for discovery of very large oil and gas 
     accumulations on the continent of North America, estimated to 
     be as much as 10,400,000,000 barrels of recoverable oil; and
       Whereas the ``1002 study area'' is part of the coastal 
     plain located within the North

[[Page S9435]]

     Slope Borough, and many of the residents of the North Slope 
     Borough, who are predominantly Inupiat Eskimo, are supportive 
     of development in the ``1002 study area''; and
       Whereas oil and gas exploration and development of the 
     coastal plain of the refuge and adjacent land could result in 
     major discoveries that would reduce our nation's future need 
     for imported oil, help balance the nation's trade deficit, 
     and significantly increase the nation's security; and
       Whereas the state's future energy independence would be 
     enhanced with additional natural gas production from the 
     North Slope of Alaska, including what are expected to be 
     significant gas reserves in the Arctic National Wildlife 
     Refuge, and the development of those reserves would enhance 
     the economic viability of the proposed Alaska Natural Gas 
     Pipeline; and
       Whereas domestic demand for oil continues to rise while 
     domestic crude production continues to fall, with the result 
     that the United States imports additional oil from foreign 
     sources; and
       Whereas development of oil at Prudhoe Bay, Kuparuk, 
     Endicott, Lisburne, Ooguruk, and Milne Point has resulted in 
     thousands of jobs throughout the United States, and projected 
     job creation as a result of coastal plain oil development 
     will have a positive effect in all 50 states; and
       Whereas Prudhoe Bay production is declining; and
       Whereas the Trans Alaska Pipeline System, a transportation 
     facility that is a national asset and that would cost 
     billions of dollars to replace, would have its useful 
     physical life extended for a substantial period if the 
     additional reserves of recoverable oil from the coastal plain 
     were produced; and
       Whereas while new oil field developments on the North Slope 
     of Alaska, such as Alpine, Northstar, Lisburne, Ooguruk, and 
     West Sak, may temporarily slow the decline in production, 
     only giant coastal plain fields have the theoretical 
     capability of increasing the production volume of Alaska oil 
     to a significant degree; and
       Whereas opening the coastal plain of the Arctic National 
     Wildlife Refuge now allows sufficient time for planning 
     environmental safeguards, development, and national security 
     review; and
       Whereas the 1,500,000-acre coastal plain of the refuge 
     makes up only eight percent of the 19,000,000-acre refuge, 
     and the development of the oil and gas reserves in the 
     refuge's coastal plain would affect an area of 2,000 acres or 
     less, which is less than one-half of one percent of the area 
     of the coastal plain; and
       Whereas 8,900,000 of the 19,000,000 acres of the refuge 
     have already been set aside as wilderness; and
       Whereas the oil industry has shown at Prudhoe Bay, as well 
     as at other locations along the Arctic coastal plain, that it 
     is capable of conducting oil and gas activity without 
     adversely affecting the environment or wildlife populations; 
     and
       Whereas the state will strive to ensure the continued 
     health and productivity of the Porcupine Caribou herd and the 
     protection of land, water, and wildlife resources during the 
     exploration and development of the coastal plain of the 
     Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; and
       Whereas the oil and gas industry is developing directional 
     drilling technology that will allow horizontal drilling in a 
     responsible manner thereby minimizing the development 
     footprint within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and 
     this directional drilling technology may be capable of 
     drilling from outside of the boundaries of the 1002 study 
     area; and
       Whereas the oil industry is using innovative technology and 
     environmental practices in the new field developments at 
     Alpine and Northstar, and those techniques are directly 
     applicable to operating on the coastal plain and would 
     enhance environmental protection beyond traditionally high 
     standards; and
       Whereas the continued competitiveness and stability of the 
     state and its economy require that the Alaska State 
     Legislature consider national trends toward renewable energy 
     development; and
       Whereas the Alaska State Legislature encourages the use of 
     revenue from any development in the Arctic National Wildlife 
     Refuge for the development of renewable energy resources in 
     the state; be it
       Resolved by the Alaska State Legislature, That the United 
     States Congress is urged to pass legislation to open the 
     coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil 
     and gas exploration, development, and production, and that 
     the Alaska State Legislature is adamantly opposed to further 
     wilderness or other restrictive designation in the area of 
     the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; and 
     be it further
       Resolved, That that activity be conducted in a manner that 
     protects the environment and the naturally occurring 
     population levels of the Porcupine Caribou herd on which the 
     Gwich'in and other local residents depend, that uses 
     directional drilling and other advances in technology to 
     minimize the development footprint in the 1002 study area, 
     and that uses the state's workforce to the maximum extent 
     possible; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Alaska State Legislature urges the 
     United States Congress to pass legislation opening the 1002 
     study area for oil and gas development while continuing to 
     work on measures for increasing the development and use of 
     renewable energy technologies; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Alaska State Legislature opposes any 
     unilateral reduction in royalty revenue from exploration and 
     development of the coastal plain of the Arctic National 
     Wildlife Refuge and any attempt to coerce the State of Alaska 
     into accepting less than the 90 percent of the oil, gas, and 
     mineral royalties from the federal land in Alaska that was 
     promised to the state at statehood.
       Copies of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable 
     Barack Obama, President of the United States; the Honorable 
     Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Vice-President of the United States and 
     President of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Ken Salazar, 
     United States Secretary of the Interior; the Honorable Nancy 
     Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; the 
     Honorable John Boehner, Minority Leader of the U.S. House of 
     Representatives; the Honorable Harry Reid, Majority Leader of 
     the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Mitch McConnell, Minority 
     Leader of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Jeff Bingaman, Chair 
     of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee of the U.S. 
     Senate; the Honorable Lisa Murkowski and the Honorable Mark 
     Begich, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S. 
     Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress; 
     and all other members of the 111th United States Congress.
                                  ____

       POM-82. A joint resolution adopted by the Alaska State 
     Legislature urging Congress to preserve its right to enact a 
     law providing for the environmentally responsible exploration 
     and development of oil and gas resources in the Arctic 
     National Wildlife Refuge by not passing any legislation that 
     designates land in Area 1002 of the Arctic National Wildlife 
     Refuge as wilderness; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
     Resources.
       Whereas Area 1002 of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is 
     considered the most promising onshore oil and gas prospect in 
     the United States; and
       Whereas the United States Department of the Interior 
     estimates that there may be 10,400,000,000 recoverable 
     barrels of oil and significant quantities of natural gas in 
     the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; and
       Whereas the potentially enormous oil and gas prospects are 
     located in Area 1002 of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, 
     and Area 1002 comprises only eight percent of the total area 
     of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; and
       Whereas the United States Congress, in 16 U.S.C. 3121 (sec. 
     1002, Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act), 
     authorized oil and gas exploratory activity within the 
     coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and 
     reserved the right to enact future laws to allow for entry 
     into and development of oil and gas resources in the Arctic 
     National Wildlife Refuge; and
       Whereas Area 1002 of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge 
     was excluded from wilderness designation in 1980 as a result 
     of a compromise in the negotiations that led to the 
     conversion of the Alaska Wildlife Range into the Arctic 
     National Wildlife Refuge, with the Arctic National Wildlife 
     Refuge encompassing an area that is approximately double the 
     size of the Alaska Wildlife Range; and
       Whereas 16 U.S.C. 3101(d) (sec. 101(d), Alaska National 
     Interest Lands Conservation Act) expresses the belief of the 
     United States Congress that the need for future legislation 
     designating new conservation system units, new national 
     conservation areas, or new national recreation areas in 
     Alaska has been obviated by the enactment of the Alaska 
     National Interest Lands Conservation Act; and
       Whereas development of the oil reserves in the Arctic 
     National Wildlife Refuge would reduce the dependence of the 
     United States on unstable sources of foreign oil and would 
     make the economy of the United States stronger and more 
     stable; and
       Whereas the economy of the United States would suffer 
     further if the large natural gas resources in Area 1002 of 
     the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge are not available for 
     transportation in the proposed Alaska natural gas pipeline; 
     and
       Whereas clean-burning natural gas delivered by way of the 
     proposed Alaska natural gas pipeline could be used as an 
     environmentally friendly energy source for homes and 
     businesses in the lower 48 states for decades to come; and
       Whereas new technology and environmental practices used by 
     the oil and gas industry provide for efficient production and 
     environmental protection; and
       Whereas 8,900,000 acres of the 19,000,000 acres in the 
     Arctic National Wildlife Refuge are already designated as 
     wilderness areas; and
       Whereas, assuming development of major oil and gas 
     prospects and full leasing, oil and gas operations will have 
     a footprint on only 2,000 acres out of a total of 1,500,000 
     acres in Area 1002 of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, 
     approximately 0.13 percent of the area; be it
       Resolved, That the Alaska State Legislature urges the 
     United States Congress to preserve its right to enact a law 
     providing for the environmentally responsible exploration and 
     development of oil and gas resources in the Arctic National 
     Wildlife Refuge by not passing any legislation that 
     designates land in Area 1002 of the Arctic National Wildlife 
     Refuge as wilderness.
       Copies of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable 
     Barack Obama, President of the United States; the Honorable 
     Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Vice-President of the United States and 
     President of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Ken Salazar, 
     United States Secretary of the Interior; the Honorable Nancy

[[Page S9436]]

     Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; the 
     Honorable John Boehner, Minority Leader of the U.S. House of 
     Representatives; the Honorable Harry Reid, Majority Leader of 
     the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Mitch McConnell, Minority 
     Leader of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Jeff Bingaman, Chair 
     of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee of the U.S. 
     Senate; the Honorable Lisa Murkowski and the Honorable Mark 
     Begich, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S. 
     Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress; 
     and all other members of the 111th United States Congress.
                                  ____

       POM-83. A joint resolution adopted by the Alaska State 
     Legislature urging the President and Congress not to adopt 
     any policy, rule, or administrative action or enact 
     legislation that would restrict energy exploration, 
     development, and production in federal and state waters 
     around Alaska, the outer continental shelf within 200 miles 
     of shore, and elsewhere in the continental United States; to 
     the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
       Whereas the future growth of the United States economy is 
     energy-dependent and requires access to domestic oil and gas 
     resources, alternative and renewable energy resources, and 
     increased conservation; and
       Whereas the United States, as a matter of national policy, 
     needs to reduce its long-term dependence on foreign energy 
     sources for the purposes of economic and national security; 
     and
       Whereas responsible development and expansion of domestic 
     energy resources will generate thousands of much-needed jobs; 
     result in billions of dollars in new investment in and tax 
     revenue for federal, state, and local governments; reduce oil 
     imports; stem the flow of United States dollars to foreign 
     governments for the purchase of energy supplies; and 
     generally ensure the health of the United States economy in 
     the short and long term; and
       Whereas wind, solar, hydro, geothermal, and other 
     alternative energy resources hold the potential for meeting 
     future energy demands and deserve support, but are incapable 
     of meeting current domestic energy needs; and
       Whereas current domestic energy needs require increased 
     access to domestic oil and gas while alternative energy 
     resources are developed for the future; and
       Whereas vast energy resources in the United States, 
     including billions of barrels of oil and trillions of cubic 
     feet of natural gas in areas on the North Slope and offshore 
     from Alaska remain untouched and could be developed 
     economically; and
       Whereas new drilling techniques and environmentally sound 
     exploration, development, and production technologies enable 
     the development of oil and gas reserves in the continental 
     United States and on the outer continental shelf as domestic 
     energy resources; and
       Whereas the safe and responsible exploration and 
     development of all domestic energy resources to provide 
     economic and national security is in the best interests of 
     the citizens of the United States; and
       Whereas the people of Alaska support the safe and 
     responsible development of domestic energy resources and 
     recognize the economic benefits of a balanced energy policy 
     that includes increased development of domestic oil and gas 
     resources; be it
       Resolved, That the Alaska State Legislature urges the 
     President of the United States and the United States Congress 
     not to adopt any policy, rule, or administrative action or 
     enact legislation that would restrict energy exploration, 
     development, and production in federal and state waters 
     around Alaska, the outer continental shelf within 200 miles 
     of shore, and elsewhere in the continental United States; and 
     be it further
       Resolved, That the Alaska State Legislature urges the 
     President of the United States and the United States Congress 
     to encourage and promote continued responsible exploration, 
     development, and production of domestic oil and gas 
     resources.
       Copies of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable 
     Barack Obama, President of the United States; the Honorable 
     Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Vice-President of the United States and 
     President of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Ken Salazar, 
     United States Secretary of the Interior; the Honorable Nancy 
     Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; the 
     Honorable John Boehner, Minority Leader of the U.S. House of 
     Representatives; the Honorable Harry Reid, Majority Leader of 
     the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Mitch McConnell, Minority 
     Leader of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Jeff Bingaman, Chair 
     of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee of the U.S. 
     Senate; the Honorable Lisa Murkowski and the Honorable Mark 
     Begich, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S. 
     Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress; 
     and all other members of the 111th United States Congress.

                          ____________________