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We see no reason to withdraw 23 additional areas from the Tongass 

 under the proposed moratorium in Senator Wirth's Bill. If this is 

 to be done in favor of the environmental groups, then we feel that 

 the Native people of Southeast should receive additional lands as 

 well. What's fair is fair. The TLMP process is the proper forum 

 in which to review the status of these lands. We support the 

 Murkowski Bill because it protects the 4.5 billion cut per decade, 

 leaves the contracts to be discussed by the Forest Service and the 

 contract holders, and leaves the land allocations to be made by the 

 forest planning process. 



Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee, I wish to sincerely 

 thank you for permitting me the privilege and honor of testifying 

 before you today. 



