303 



STATEMENT OF STEVEN E. KALLICK 



Mr. Kallick. Senator Burns, thank you for coming here to visit 

 us in Tongass. Senator Murkowski, welcome back. 



My name is Steve Kallick, I live in Juneau and I work for con- 

 gress reform but I am testifying on behalf of myself. 



Senators, up until recently, today, you have not been hearing a 

 fair cross section of the different opinions of people of the Tongass. 

 We are not all here just for a paycheck; many of us live here be- 

 cause we love this land as it is. The Tongass is our home too and in 

 fact some of the people who dare to speak out and testify in favor 

 of Tongass Reform actually risk their jobs by speaking out. There 

 are many more who stand up to harassment and abuse and must 

 endure personal attacks on themselves in the newspaper here in 

 Ketchikan and hundreds sit at home today and listen to the radio, 

 excluded from this hearing. The last minute changes in the sign-up 

 rules — I beat the odds but others were not so lucky. I told them, 

 trust this process to be fair but unfortunately I was wrong and I 

 am sorry for them. 



Senator Murkowski, I am also sorry that your mind is made up 

 on this issue, I am sorry that you continue to ignore hundreds of 

 letters, perhaps thousands, from Alaskans that support Senator 

 Wirth's bill. I am sorry you think only Sitka, Ketchikan and Wran- 

 gell are affected by logging. People in Juneau and other communi- 

 ties and places like Point Baker, Pelican, Hoonah, Angoon, Shakan, 

 Yakutat and Fanshaw — and you know I could go on, strongly dis- 

 agree with you. 



With all due respect. Senator, you are wrong and the majority of 

 the people in the Tongass support Tongass reform. 



Senator Wirth, thank you, and 25 other Senators who support 

 your bill, please amend it to protect all areas permanently as wil- 

 derness. 



Senator Burns, please enjoy your visit to our beautiful land and 

 Senator Murkowski, believe this, you can deprive us of our seats, 

 you can squelch public debates but we will not go away. Remember 

 the Tongass is our home too. 



Thank you. [Applause.] 



Senator Wirth. Thank you very much. 



[The prepared statement of Mr. Kallick follows:] 



