62 



home. Who else can better understand the effects the issues have 

 than someone who can see them out their living room window? 



The people that live here in the Tongass are blessed with a life- 

 style unlike anywhere else in the world. We do not have crack 

 houses. There are not any gangs, and the only thing that dies in 

 a drive-by shooting is an occasional deer. This leaves us with little 

 extra time on our hands, and we would be more than happy to take 

 over the management of the Tongass and do our part to lessen the 

 burden on the Federal Government. 



Thanks. 



The Chairman. Thank you very much, Nick. 



Who is next, here? Ben Williams. Ben, you are doing for Rocky, 

 right? 



STATEMENT OF BEN WILLIAMS, KLAWOCK 



Mr. Williams. That is correct. Rocky had a previous commit- 

 ment, since he is running for District Five representative seat, so 

 I am kind of filling in. 



The Chairman. I am sure you will do a good job. Go ahead. 



Mr. Williams. To the people of Thome Bay and the Honorable 

 Congressman Don Young, my name is Ben Williams, and I am 

 president of the Alaska and Proud chain of grocery stores located 

 in Southeast Alaska. 



I am appearing here today because Rocky cannot attend due to 

 other commitments. We have six stores located from Haines to Ju- 

 neau to Ketchikan and two here on Prince of Wales, one here in 

 Thome Bay and one in Klawock, and we employ approximately 450 

 people, and it is those people and their families who I am rep- 

 resenting here today. 



There are several factors which brought me to favor the return 

 of the Tongass back to the people of Alaska and to support H.R. 

 2413. I feel the State of Alaska has been responsible and a respon- 

 sible steward of our natural resources for over half a century. It is 

 our opinion that the Alaskans are more likely to achieve a balance 

 between development and responsible stewardship of our natural 

 resources, thus providing a viable economic base, as well as a life- 

 long commitment toward renewable resources. 



Having witnessed the impact of loss of reliable timber sales and 

 supplies in our wood products industry, we know firsthand of the 

 devastation resulting from mill and support company shutdowns, 

 the loss of these jobs, and the effects and hurt every community 

 and business has felt, but, most importantly, the people and fami- 

 lies of Southeast Alaska. Wherever there are loss of jobs, quality 

 of life quickly deteriorates and you experience a rise in social prob- 

 lems. 



Today, as business people in Southeast Alaska, we are faced with 

 many hard choices, including whether or not to close a store or 

 mill, to lay off people, or continue to lose money and perhaps lose 

 a whole company. 



Due to the policies of our Federal Government and the special- 

 interest groups it caters to, we currently have a formula for failure 

 and disaster for Southeast Alaska, in our opinion. 



We are convinced if there is to be a future for the people of the 

 Tongass and their children, we must find a more compassionate. 



