43 



Mr. Chairman, I commend the subcommittee for holding the 

 hearing today and for tentatively planning to hold the hearings in 

 Alaska, which I understand have been committed on for some time 

 in the future in Ketchikan, Wrangell and Sitka. 



The people of Southeastern Alaska are anxious to be heard on 

 this issue. I hope that before acting on any legislative proposal the 

 members of this committee will review the record that is to be 

 made with care and with compassion for the people who live in the 

 Tongass National Forest. 



Mr. Chairman, an excellent article by RoUo Pool about the Ton- 

 gass National Forest was recently published in the new publication 

 "Our Land" and I would ask that that be read into the record at 

 this time, and that concludes my opening statement and I thank 

 the chairman and look forward as you do to the witness panel. 



[The prepared statement of Senator Murkowski follows:] 



