90 



time, and with a larger margin than in any other part of 

 Alaska. I'm just a river boat captain and a trapper, but 

 I'm smart enough to know that my reelection means that 

 the vast majority of people of Southeast Alaska are 

 opposed to Mr. Mrazek's legislation and anything similar 

 to it. They may be too busy to write letter after letter ~ 

 they're out working in the woods, or struggling to meet a 

 payroll, or busting their butts to put food on the table 

 and shoes on their childrens' feet and braces on their 

 teeth - but they're not too busy to vote. I know this, 

 because if I based my decision about the Tongass on the 

 mail I've received, I would be supporting Mr. Mrazek's 

 bill. I know Alaskans, and I'm not. 



I want to begin by inviting the Subcommittee to visit 

 Alaska and meet some of the finest people you'll ever 

 meet in one of the world's most beautiful spots. I hope 

 your Committee will spend some time there, too. The 

 Interior Committee went in 1987 and spent 3 days in an 

 area the size of South Carolina. Those of you who know 

 me or have served with me know that I would not make a 

 decision that would directly affect over one-third of the 

 economy of South Carolina without first looking to the 

 representatives of that state, and I surely wouldn't do 

 anything drastic based upon 3 days of overflights of the 



