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real truth about the Tongass. Frankly, we think we can 

 compete for funding on the Tongass with other national 

 forests. Congress has decided it wants an enormous 

 forest in Southeast Alaska, and that is not without cost. 

 If I buy a big house, I've got to consider maintenance 

 costs, which will be higher for a big house. Likewise, 

 Congress must understand that the public interest of 

 having a huge National Forest carries with it the 

 responsibiUty of properly funding its maintenance. To do 

 less is to shirk our stewardship responsibility to the 

 people of the United States. 



With the adoption of the bill introduced by Senators 

 Murkowski and Stevens, the Committee would be in a 

 better position to exercise the proper oversight functions 

 on the Tongass, without throwing the baby out with the 

 bathwater, as some wilderness lobbying groups would have 

 us do. In addition, the Committee would spare itself the 

 time-consuming fancy footwork necessary for the slippery 

 slope that will accompany forest management nationwide 

 if Tongass legislation is adopted which rejects the 

 planning process Congress set up for itself under the 

 National Forest Management Act (NFMA) in 1976. Since 

 the Tongass is the first forest undergoing review under 

 that Act and all others must follow, a political decision in 



