Lisa Murkowski

Ms. MURKOWSKI

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that the following hearing has been scheduled before the Subcommittee on Water and Power of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The hearing will be held on Wednesday, May 19, at 2:30 p.m. in Room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, DC. The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on S. 900, a bill to convey the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project, the Savage Unit of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program, and the Intake Irrigation Project to the pertinent irrigation districts; S. 1876, a bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain lands and facilities of the Provo River Project; S. 1957, a bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to cooperate with the States on the border with Mexico and other appropriate entities in conducting a hydrogeologic characterization, mapping, and modeling program for priority transboundary aquifers, and for other purposes; S. 2304 and H.R. 3209, bills to amend the Reclamation Project Authorization Act of 1972 to clarify the acreage for which the North Loup division is authorized to provide irrigation water under the Missouri River Basin project; S. 2243, a bill to extend the deadline for commencement of construction of a hydroelectric project in the State of Alaska; H.R. 1648, a bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain water distribution systems of the Cachuma Project, California, to the Carpinteria Valley Water District and the Montecito Water District; and H.R. 1732, a bill to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Williamson County, Texas, Water Recycling and Reuse Project, and for other purposes. Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record should send two copies of their testimony to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, SD-364 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-6150. For further information, please contact Kellie Donnelly at 202-224- 9360, Nate Gentry at 202-224-2179, Erik Webb at 202-224-4756, or Shane Perkins at 202-224-7555.

Ms. MURKOWSKI

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, we talk about energy all the time. There is a certain, not confusion but a real consternation about what is going on in the Senate right now and why we can't get specific provisions of the Energy bill through the Senate. We understand energy in Alaska, whether it is gas or whether it is oil, whether it is renewable energy or thermal. What we have before us is an opportunity to make some of the energy policy a reality in the country. Last week I had the opportunity to testify before the House Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality about the proposed Alaskan natural gas pipeline. I talked about the role which this pipeline can play in meeting the needs of some very critical areas in the country-- specifically, our national security, the health of our economy, job creation, and achieving and maintaining a healthy environment for ourselves and our families. Whether we are talking about the creation of hundreds of thousands of jobs across the Nation from this project or providing a secure and stable domestic supply of energy, whether it is providing the critical feedstock we have heard about on the floor here today at a reasonable price for the chemical, agricultural, and other important sectors of the economy or providing an abundance of clean-burning, environmentally friendly fuel, there is no doubt about it, this project is not only in the best interests of Alaska, my State, but across the entire country. As we talk about the project in Alaska, it has been suggested with the price of natural gas as it is, we don't need to have the incentives that are included in this legislation before us right now. With the specific proposals which are pending, why do we need the incentive? Yes, in fact, the proposals are out there, but they will tell you we need the assistance. They have stressed the necessity of Congress enacting the fiscal incentives contained in this bill in order for construction of the pipeline to go forward. We need these provisions to achieve all of the positives a gas pipeline has to offer. It is essentially a futures contract with the American people. We provide the incentive to build the pipeline and you will receive all the benefits the gas pipeline has to offer. The Alaska natural gas pipeline is one of those rare examples of a project that is a win from every perspective. It helps us achieve our environmental goals, it helps the economy by creating a great number of good-paying jobs, and it enhances our national security. But if the McCain amendment is adopted and the energy tax provisions are stripped from this bill, the relief Alaska's natural gas can provide remains stuck in the ground. I urge my colleagues to oppose the McCain amendment and retain the financial incentives needed to construct the Alaska natural gas pipeline. I thank the Chair. I yield the floor.

Ms. MURKOWSKI

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, law enforcement officers from around the Nation--troopers, police officers, sheriff's deputies, professional corrections officers, conservation officers and rangers and federal law enforcement officers--are traveling to our Nation's Capital for the annual observance of National Police Week which begins on May 9 and continues through May 15. National Police Week is a solemn period, during which law enforcement officers recognize their brothers and sisters who died in the line of duty and provide support and comfort to the survivors. Last year, during National Police Week, I had the sad duty of acknowledging the loss of Officer James C. Hesterberg, the first member of the Alaska Department of Corrections to lose his life in the line of duty. This year, I must sadly acknowledge the loss of Officer John Watson of the Kenai Police Department who was fatally shot while on duty on Christmas night 2003. On May 11, as part of the National Police Week observance, Corrections U.S.A., an association of 90,000 publicly-employed professional corrections officers, will meet to honor their brothers and sisters who have performed acts above and beyond in the protection of public safety. It gives me great pride to recognize Officer Daniel Bates, an employee of the Alaska Department of Corrections, presently assigned to the Hiland Mountain Correctional Center, who will receive the 2004 Silver Medal of Valor from Corrections U.S.A. On December 31, 2000, Officer Bates, then assigned to the Ketchikan Correctional Center, reacted quickly and professionally to an incident involving an inmate who one month prior was convicted of twelve criminal counts stemming from the armed robbery of a liquor store and a convenience store. Two of those counts were for the crime of attempted murder. The prisoner in question was arrested after an all night manhunt during which he shot at police officers who tried to apprehend him at a motel. The inmate was participating in outdoor recreation at the jail when he began to scale the first of two perimeter fences around the exercise area. He succeeded in scaling the inner fence, ignoring orders to stop, and failed to stop after being struck by a rubber projectile fired by Officer Bates. After the prisoner breached the outer fence, the final barrier, Officer Bates fired at him with live ammunition, bringing him down. Given this inmate's history of violence toward law enforcement officers, it was critical to the public's safety that Officer Bates acted promptly and decisively to prevent the escape. His calm and professional actions may have been instrumental in keeping the names of one or more Alaska law enforcement officers off of the National Law Enforcement Officer's Memorial Wall in Judiciary Square. For this we are grateful. Our Nation's professional correctional officers are said to walk the toughest beat in law enforcement. I am pleased to join with Corrections U.S.A. in recognizing one of America's finest officers, Daniel Bates, a veteran member of the Alaska Department of Corrections, whose actions personify the department's motto, ``Vigilance Pride Dedication.'' I thank the President and yield the floor.

Ms. MURKOWSKI

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the executive summary and recommendations of the following August 2001 Report to Congress titled: ``Analysis of Cost Recovery for High- altitude Rescues on Mt. McKinley, Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska'' be printed in the Record.

Ms. MURKOWSKI

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I appreciate the indulgence for a few minutes to say a few quick words about a fellow Alaskan. It will come as no surprise to anyone in this body that I have expressed some concerns about the feasibility of implementing the No Child Left Behind legislation in the remote villages of rural Alaska. Descendants of the first peoples of Alaska, Eskimos, Indians and Aleuts, make up most of the inhabitants of these villages. Last year, I brought Secretary Paige to rural Alaska so that he could fully comprehend the challenges of educating children in the villages. It is clear to me, and I believe it became clear to the Secretary, that our national education policy must be informed by the experiences of parents, teachers, and school administrators on the ground if it is to be effective. The Secretary must not only know what is going on in the classrooms of our largest cities but also in the farthest corners of our Nation. When it comes to educating our children, one size does not fit all, and nobody knows this better than an experienced classroom teacher. I was pleased to learn that President Bush has selected an exemplary Alaska classroom teacher to work with Secretary Paige in the improvement of educational opportunities for American Indian and Alaska native students. I am speaking of Carol Lee Gho, of Fairbanks, AK, who will soon join the National Advisory Council on Indian Education. Carol was raised in the rural Alaska villages of Lake Minchumina and Manley Hot Springs. Her mother was Inupiaq Eskimo from the village of Wainwright. After graduating from Brigham Young University with a major in mathematics, she began her teaching career at the junior high school level in California, Utah and Arizona. In 1984, 11 years after leaving the classroom to raise a family, Carol resumed her teaching duties in the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District. She taught in the Fairbanks district continuously until her retirement in June 2003. Carol loved teaching and she is fondly remembered for her work as a math teacher at Lathrop High School. However, she also takes great pride in the 3 years she taught at Howard Luke Academy, an alternative high school. During those 3 years, the performance of her students in mathematics improved dramatically. Carol has been actively involved with the Association of Interior Native Educators. She served on their Board of Directors for over 7 years and was President from 1999 until 2002. She has also been a leader of the Fairbanks Native Association and has served as an advisor to the Alaska Department of Education. Carol dreamed that after retirement she would have an opportunity to focus more of her attention on making classroom curriculum relevant to Native students. I am gratified that the President has made it possible for Carol to fulfill this desire. As a member of the National Advisory Council on Indian Education, Carol will have an opportunity to influence the quality of education enjoyed by American Indian and Alaska Native students for generations to come. I wish Carol great success in her new role and look forward to working closely with her on matters of education policy in the coming years. I yield the floor.

Ms. MURKOWSKI

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate the importance of small business as the foundation of the U.S. economy and to congratulate Michael and Michele Robuck, co-owners of the Alaska Mint based in Anchorage, AK, who today have been named the Small Business Persons of the Year for 2004 by the U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA. According to the Small Business Development Center of Alaska, 97 percent of all businesses in Alaska are defined as small businesses. Eighty-five percent of all new jobs in Alaska are created by businesses with fewer than 20 employees. Small businesses have created the majority of the new jobs created in the last few years on a nationwide basis. So the importance of small businesses to the Nation's and to the Alaskan economies is obvious. The President's small business agenda recognizes that the role of government is not to create wealth but to create an environment where entrepreneurial endeavors can flourish and people can directly benefit from their efforts. It is well accepted that small businesses and young business are the driving force in job creation and prosperity. Since 1963, the President has designated a week as the National Small Business Week in recognition of the small business's contributions to the country. Next month, the White House and the Small Business Administration will join in celebrating the small business people and businesses of the year. Today, Mike and Michelle Robuck, as co-owners of the Alaska Mint, will be named as the Alaska District Small Business of the Year 2004. They were nominated by their banker, First National Bank Alaska for this award. Congratulations to Mike and Michele Robuck. Small business winners are evaluated in Alaska by a panel of judges convened by the Alaska District Office on a variety of criteria including: staying power, growth in employees, increase in market or sales volume, response to adversity, contributions to the community, and innovation of the products they offer. Now let me tell you about Mike and Michele Robuck, the Alaska Mint and why they deserved to be small business persons of the year for Alaska. Alaska Mint is a second generation Alaskan business that trades in many things but most important in the commodities that made Alaska-- gold, silver, and platinum. Alaska Mint designs and produces medallions, coins and jewelry. The Alaska Mint is designated as the official mint of the State of Alaska, the Alaska Railroad, the White Pass and Yukon Route, the Iditarod Trail Committee, the Yukon Quest, and the Anchorage Fur Rendezvous. Part of the wonderful story of the Alaska Mint is its very beginning. Mike Robuck started the business as a sidewalk vending cart in downtown Anchorage in 1989. He was following in his father's foot steps that had started a small family-owned jewelry store in Anchorage in 1967. Mike learned the importance of dealing with the public and the value of tourism to Alaska. It was not long after that Mike opened a store and assemble the equipment to manufacture his coins, jewelry, and collectibles. I wish I could share with each member of the Senate an example of his creativity and artistry. With the help of the Small Business Administration and the First National Bank Alaska, Mike and Michele Robuck expanded the business and began doing business nationwide with the help of QVC network and the internet. Last year Alaska Mint released a coin to commemorate the tragic events of September 11, 2001, that within a 24-hour period sold and raised over $50,000 for the Red Cross. Their success is more than just the bottom line. The Robucks often assist a variety of charities and local schools. Mike and Michele help with counseling and provide jobs for two rehabilitation programs helping people to regain their place in the community. It took 5 years since the Robucks formally formed the Alaska Mint for the business to become truly established and successful. From a one- person operation in the mid 1980s, the business now employs 10 people full time and increases to 20 during the summer tourist season. They are now a tourist destination and a place of education about the art of their work. When the criteria for the award of the Small Business Persons of the Year are applied to the Robucks, they meet all of the standards. They shine like the coins they make. They have shown their staying power, increased the number of employees, increased their markets and sales volume, responded to challenges, shown innovation of the products they offer, and continue to contribute to the community. Mike and Michele Robuck, as a team, exemplify the qualities, the business skills, personal character, and the spirit of Alaska that warrant their being awarded the Small Business Persons of the Year Award for 2004.

Ms. MURKOWSKI

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Madam President, I would like to take a little time this afternoon to talk about one of the pending amendments. This would be the amendment of the Senator from New Mexico regarding energy. It has been said on this floor and in the committees in which I have been participating, and no doubt it is going to be said again: At a time when the American economy is suffering under the weight of high energy prices such as the steadily increasing natural gas prices, record high gasoline prices as we go into the summer months, and tight international oil markets resulting in rising crude oil prices, it is time that the Congress act on issues as they relate to energy with a comprehensive national energy policy. I am pleased the Senate is reconsidering this vital national policy. I commend Chairman Domenici for his leadership on this issue. The Senator from New Mexico has shown a great deal of willingness to find the middle ground on many of these issues addressed in the amendment. I believe we should work with him to enact this comprehensive energy legislation. There are several different components to the amendment. Certainly the one I happen to focus on most, coming from Alaska, is that area which will help facilitate the construction of an Alaska natural gas pipeline. Construction of this pipeline means a great deal to the people in my State. It means not only jobs for Alaskans, but it means energy, natural gas, to my State. But we have to look beyond just what it can provide to Alaska. The construction of a natural gas pipeline will create thousands of jobs throughout the United States and bring a much needed new supply of domestically produced natural gas to our starved lower 48 markets. We have seen in the news recently the suggestion, coming from Mr. Greenspan, that the future, if you will, is in imported LNG. Once again, it is the emphasis that we should place in the national energy policy on domestic sources of energy. We have those domestic reserves in Alaska, as it relates to natural gas. Let's take advantage of that. Residential natural gas customers are paying nearly historic high costs to heat their homes, to cool their homes, to keep the lights on. Americans are increasingly forced to spend a substantial portion of their household income on energy costs. A reasonably priced supply of natural gas will allow homeowners to devote a greater portion of their disposable income to other pursuits. When you think about the state of the economy and what we spend on energy, the more disposable income that we have, the less we have to spend on energy, the stronger an economy we have. But it is not just the residential customers in America who are suffering from these sustained high natural gas prices. It is our industrial consumers who rely on natural gas to produce the petrochemicals, the fertilizers, and other goods. They are losing their markets to foreign competitors who have access to less expensive reserves of gas. Whether I am sitting in the Energy Committee or the EPW, talking about what is happening across the country now, whether it is on our farms or whether it is AMAZON.Com not being able to produce the packaging bubbles domestically because of the high price of natural gas, it affects all of us in all the industries. In many instances we are hearing about the companies that are laying off workers, closing their factories, because they simply cannot pay the current natural gas prices and remain competitive within the global marketplace. The layoffs affect thousands of workers in many regions of the country. Look at what Alaska's natural gas can do. We are a long way from the rest of the 48, but with a pipeline getting our reserves of natural gas into the lower 48, we can meet that supply need; we can help to reopen these factories. Natural gas is not only a vital feedstock for industry and home heating, it also serves as a major fuel for electricity production. By the year 2020, the Energy Information Agency has predicted that natural gas will account for 32 percent of all electricity generation. When we think back to the situation just last August in the Northeast, California's power problems 3 years ago, increasing the investment requirements for our Nation's electrical grid and production capability will only further the demand for natural gas as plant operators look to natural gas as having lower capital costs, higher fuel efficiency, shorter construction lead times, and lower emissions as compared to traditional coal-fired electrical plants. Yet with all of these facts in front of us, recognizing that the residential consumer is paying more, that the industrial consumer is paying more, and businesses are being closed, recognizing the future as it relates to electricity production, and considering the President's request, if you will, that we move to a hydrogen-based society, the request he made in his State of the Union Address last year when he indicated he wanted children who were born today to be driving vehicles powered by hydrogen--it is wonderful, but we have to have the natural gas to assist with all of this. Despite all of Alaska's proven reserves, 35 trillion cubic feet of proven reserves on the North Slope with the possibility of upwards of 100 trillion cubic feet still in the ground, we need to do all we can to bring that from Alaska's North Slope to the rest of the country. Senator Domenici's amendment is not all about natural gas. For electricity, about which many of my colleagues have spent a great deal of time talking on the floor, the amendment ensures reliable and affordable electricity for America. We all recognize that we in Congress must address the issue of reliability. The amendment would prohibit onerous Federal manipulation of energy trading markets that cost consumers money, and it would increase the penalties for market manipulation and enhance consumer protections. To those of my colleagues who have called on the Senate to address the electricity issue, the reliability issue, I say support Senator Domenici's proposal. For coal, which is used to produce 50 percent of our Nation's electricity, the amendment authorizes $2 billion to fund the Clean Coal Power Initiative. The development of clean coal technology will help our Nation use its abundant coal resources in an environmentally responsible manner. In Alaska, we are working to find new ways to use our very abundant reserves while mitigating the impact on our environment. We have a little place called Healy, AK, where we have a small experimental clean coal plant. This clean coal plant is currently sitting dormant. It just barely missed its emissions requirement. We were attempting to utilize new technology to again provide very necessary energy to an area that was very limited in what it could receive and what it could generate. Once the Healy clean coal plant and other clean coal technologies demonstrate better ways for us to generate electricity from coal, we can utilize our Nation's vast coal resources in an environmentally responsible manner for many years to come, as well as provide high- paying jobs and much needed electricity. There is also renewable energy. For renewable energy, the amendment reauthorizes the Renewable Energy Production Incentive Program to promote the use of clean renewable energy. The amendment would also encourage exploration and development of geothermal energy, including a call for rulemaking on a new royalty structure that encourages new production. I could go further in detailing all those very important matters contained in the energy amendment, but I think these four examples-- authorizing the Alaska natural gas pipeline, improving our Nation's electricity grid, providing research on clean coal technology, and promoting the use of clean renewable energy--illustrate the immense benefits of a comprehensive energy policy. They are great, but they are meaningless to us unless we enact them. A comprehensive national energy policy, as envisioned in Senator Domenici's amendment, will generate thousands of jobs throughout the country. As I said on many occasions, the Energy bill is a jobs bill. So is this amendment. I commend the Senator from New Mexico for offering this amendment. I know my constituents in Alaska don't care whether this bill is enacted as an amendment or as a stand-alone bill. My constituents want to see the jobs. My constituents want to see the energy, they want to see the natural gas, and they want to see movement on an energy policy. I think most Americans want the same thing. They want high-paying jobs. They want decreased volatility in the energy market. They want increased use of renewable energy and improved electricity grids. I think we have that within this amendment. I urge my colleagues as we move forward to support the amendment of the Senator from New Mexico. I thank the Chair. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Ms. MURKOWSKI

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I would like to take a few minutes to offer a tribute to a very significant figure in one of my State's largest industries: seafood processing. This man is Alec Brindle, who was for many years with Wards Cove Packing Company, and who has now entered retirement. In addition to having played an important role in the development of Alaska's salmon industry, Alec has also been a friend of mine, and of my family, for many years. It seems to me that anyone with the stamina and perseverance to work in the fish business for 50 years deserves some recognition. Although Alec was born in the Seattle area, his life has long been tied to Alaska's fisheries. Almost his entire extended family has been involved in Alaskan fisheries since well before Alaskan statehood. As a young boy he spent summers in Ketchikan, at first playing around the cannery, and then, at age 13, he began his career as an employee of the family salmon packing operation. This was the beginning of a career, and a commitment, that would last for 50 years. Alec is one of those people about whom you can say, ``He has truly seen it all''. At various points in his long career fish prices for red salmon have varied from pennies a pound to a point in the late 1980's when a single fish was worth more than a barrel of North Slope crude oil. As Alec himself has pointed out, the fish business is one where at the beginning of the season the processor doesn't know how much fish he will be able to buy, what price he will pay, or at what price he will be able to sell the finished product. Needless to say, trying to craft and maintain a business plan under such circumstances is not an easy task. But Alec, to his great credit, was able to maintain his grace and charm in the face of all these challenges. He was a true gentleman in a very tough business. Alec did take enough time off from the family business to obtain a law degree. He spent a year clerking for well known Alaska Supreme Court Justice John Dimond. Since Alaska had only recently been granted statehood, these were exciting times for our young State as we sorted through the growing pains of creating a judicial system. As a young attorney Alec contributed to this process. Most people outside of Alaska aren't aware that the fishing industry has traditionally been my State's largest private employer. Each year, thousands of fishermen and other workers come to Alaska to help in the harvesting and processing of the amazing variety of fishery resources of my State. Although most of Alec's career was spent in the salmon business, he and his family have also been involved in the crab, herring and groundfish sectors. Many fishermen and processing workers have spent their entire careers enjoying an association with Alec and other members of the Brindle family. But Alec didn't just make a living from Alaska's fisheries; he also gave back a great deal. He was always active in the various industry trade associations which work to maintain the sustainability and profitability of our fisheries. Among these were the Pacific Seafood Processors Association, the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, the National Fisheries Institute, and the National Food Processors Association. Alec's other business activities resulted in his being named to the Board of Advisors for Wells Fargo Alaska and becoming Chairman of the Board of the Tongass Trading Company. Achieving educational goals has always been very important to the Brindles and in addition to his law degree, Alec proudly holds an Honorary Doctorate degree from the University of Alaska Southeast. And the Brindle family has also provided generous financial assistance to many young Alaskans seeking higher education through their support of the Winn Brindle Scholarship program, named for Alec's father. After knowing Alec for so many years, it is hard for me to believe that he will no longer be actively involved in the seafood industry on a day-to-day basis. However, I know him well enough to say that he isn't about to head for a rocking chair. He will undoubtedly continue to share his time and expertise with those in the seafood industry, and throughout Alaska. He will be missed, but his many contributions and achievements will live on for many years.

Ms. MURKOWSKI

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, today I am pleased to introduce legislation along with Senator Landrieu to help bring adoption within reach for more Americans. Today in the United States there are literally thousands of children waiting to be adopted. The average child has been waiting in foster care for about four years. One of the major barriers to adoption for many Americans is cost. I'm not sure that people understand that adopting a child can sometimes cost more than $50,000. That's just the adoption process itself! The $10,000 per child adoption tax credit does help some, but it helps after the fact when you have the receipts. The problem is that many times the money for adoption has to be given beforehand--it requires up-front money. The tax credit doesn't help out there. The legislation we are introducing today is one way the Federal Government can help with the initial costs of adoption. Many Americans place money for their retirement in IRA accounts, but you generally can't touch this money until you're 59\1/2\ years old, and if you do, you'll pay not only your marginal tax rate on the withdrawal, you'll also be forced to pay an additional 10 percent penalty to the IRS. There are exceptions to this, however. Under current law, you can make penalty-free early withdrawals from your IRA to help you buy your first home, pay for excessive medical costs, or for qualifying education expenses. The idea is certainly to encourage savings for retirement, but also to allow you to use your own money--penalty free-- if there's a compelling need. I would make the case on behalf of the thousands of children who desperately want a loving family, and on behalf of the thousands of parents who dream of becoming parents, that adoption is a compelling need. And, the majority of Americans agree. Fully 78 percent of Americans said in a poll that they believe the government should be doing more to promote adoption. Our bill would prohibit the IRS from penalizing Americans who want to use a portion of their retirement savings to adopt a child. It would allow Americans to withdraw up to $10,000 penalty-free from their IRA to help with adoption expenses. This is money that can be used up-front to pay for travel, court costs, attorney fees and all of the little surprises that add up to make adoption unaffordable for many. We need to continue to promote adoption in America to the extent that we can. We owe it to these children and to families across our country to break down the barriers that keep kids from becoming a part of a permanent loving family. I urge my colleagues' support.

Ms. MURKOWSKI

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, today I am pleased to introduce legislation along with Senator Landrieu to help bring adoption within reach for more Americans. Today in the United States there are literally thousands of children waiting to be adopted. The average child has been waiting in foster care for about four years. One of the major barriers to adoption for many Americans is cost. I'm not sure that people understand that adopting a child can sometimes cost more than $50,000. That's just the adoption process itself! The $10,000 per child adoption tax credit does help some, but it helps after the fact when you have the receipts. The problem is that many times the money for adoption has to be given beforehand--it requires up-front money. The tax credit doesn't help out there. The legislation we are introducing today is one way the Federal Government can help with the initial costs of adoption. Many Americans place money for their retirement in IRA accounts, but you generally can't touch this money until you're 59\1/2\ years old, and if you do, you'll pay not only your marginal tax rate on the withdrawal, you'll also be forced to pay an additional 10 percent penalty to the IRS. There are exceptions to this, however. Under current law, you can make penalty-free early withdrawals from your IRA to help you buy your first home, pay for excessive medical costs, or for qualifying education expenses. The idea is certainly to encourage savings for retirement, but also to allow you to use your own money--penalty free-- if there's a compelling need. I would make the case on behalf of the thousands of children who desperately want a loving family, and on behalf of the thousands of parents who dream of becoming parents, that adoption is a compelling need. And, the majority of Americans agree. Fully 78 percent of Americans said in a poll that they believe the government should be doing more to promote adoption. Our bill would prohibit the IRS from penalizing Americans who want to use a portion of their retirement savings to adopt a child. It would allow Americans to withdraw up to $10,000 penalty-free from their IRA to help with adoption expenses. This is money that can be used up-front to pay for travel, court costs, attorney fees and all of the little surprises that add up to make adoption unaffordable for many. We need to continue to promote adoption in America to the extent that we can. We owe it to these children and to families across our country to break down the barriers that keep kids from becoming a part of a permanent loving family. I urge my colleagues' support.

Ms. MURKOWSKI

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, earlier today I submitted a Senate resolution that requests the President of the United States to designate April 16, 2004, as ``National Youth Service Day.'' I am proud to be submitting this Senate resolution for the second year. National Youth Service Day is the largest service event in the world with over 3 million participants. National Youth Service Day acknowledges the remarkable community service efforts of youth today, and encourages all people to recognize and support the significance of these contributions. National Youth Service Day is a public awareness and education campaign that highlights the positive contributions that young people make to their communities throughout the year. On this day, youth from across the United States and the world will carry out community service projects in areas ranging from hunger to literacy to the environment. National Youth Service Day brings a diverse group of local, regional, and national partners together to support and promote youth service. It is imperative to keep young people active and motivated and instilled with a sense of community responsibility. Volunteer work gives youth an outlet to gain this responsibility and to learn valuable skills that are essential to personal and academic achievement. I thank my colleagues, Senators Akaka, Alexander, Allen, Bayh, Bunning, Campbell, Clinton, Cochran, Coleman, Collins, Conrad, DeWine, Dodd, Domenici, Durbin, Kerry, Landrieu, Mikulski, Murray, Schumer, Snowe, Stabenow, and Stevens for cosponsoring this worthwhile legislation, which will ensure that youth across the country and the world know that all of their hard work is greatly appreciated.

Ms. MURKOWSKI

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, today it is my distinct honor to rise and submit a Senate resolution recognizing the Paralyzed Veterans of America Awareness Week, which is April 11-17, 2004. Many of my colleagues may not be aware what an outstanding civic- minded organization the PVA is in our country. But first let me tell you that these are not just ordinary citizens--they are veterans who sacrificed for our Nation in ways we can never fully repay. The PVA is composed of veterans of the Armed Forces who have spinal cord injuries. They are veterans who honorably and nobly served their country and continue to serve on a daily basis. The PVA provides invaluable services to veterans' families and to our own Department of Veterans Affairs--ensuring that civil rights and access to viable transportation and affordable housing will always be provided to those with spinal cord injuries. PVA does this so their members may have the same opportunities as the rest of us--for whom these brave members fought--that they may have the independence that we all are blessed with in this country. The PVA is a leader in medical and prosthetic research, funding two research foundations that investigate a broad spectrum of neurological sciences to seek a cure for spinal cord injury as well as breakthroughs in rehabilitation to improve the quality of life of all Americans with spinal cord injuries. I would like to also remind my fellow Senators that the PVA is the sponsor of the Nation's largest wheelchair sports programs, fostering a wide range of sporting, and indoor, and outdoor recreational events to encourage physical activity and comradeship so vital to the ongoing rehabilitation of its members. I encourage all of you, indeed all Americans, to take time next week to thank those who have made such tremendous sacrifices in order for us to enjoy the freedoms we now posses. And please take time from your day and find out how you can help and volunteer with your local PVA chapter.

Ms. MURKOWSKI

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that the following bills have been added to the agenda for the hearing scheduled for Subcommittee on Water and Power of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on Thursday, March 25th, at 2:30 p.m. in Room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. S. 2218 a bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a rural water supply program in the Reclamation States to provide a clean, safe, affordable, and reliable water supply to rural residents and establish guidelines for projects and for other purposes. S. 1727, a bill to authorize additional appropriations for the Reclamation Safety of Dams Act of 1978; and S. 1791, a bill to amend the Lease Lot Conveyance Act of 2002 to provide that the amounts received by the United States under that Act shall be deposited in the reclamation fund, and for other purposes. Because of the limited time available for the hearings, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record should send two copies of their testimony to the Subcommittee on Water and Power, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510-6150. For further information, please contact Shelly Randel at 202-224- 7933, Erik Webb at 202-224-4756 or Colin Hayes at 202-224-0883. subcommittee on national parks

Ms. MURKOWSKI

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, this amendment also relates to the Indian Health Service. This amendment would increase the budget for the Indian Health Service by $282 million. This is intended to track the recommendation that the Indian Affairs Committee sent to the Budget Committee in its views and estimates letter. It provides the funding for those priorities that were set out in the committee's list. We are looking at increases for clinical services, a 50-percent increase for services to urban Indians, a $90 million increase for contract support costs and an additional $61 million for health facilities construction. This amendment would make all of these increases possible. Of particular interest to me, the amendment enables an additional $10 million increase in funding for sanitation facilities construction, which is incredibly important to my home State. 40 percent of the unmet need for sanitation, as identified by the Indian Health Service, is in Alaska. This amendment also envisions a substantial funding increase for the Community Health Aide Practitioner Program, which the Indian Health Service regards as a national model. The increases in this amendment are defensible. We recognize we have a long way to go when it comes to improving the health condition of our Native peoples, but I think this is a good and reasonable step in that direction. I urge Members to support this amendment. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to add Senator Murray as a cosponsor of this amendment.

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, on behalf of myself, Senators Specter, Bond, Stevens, DeWine, Cornyn, Campbell, Graham, Allen, Ensign, and Mikulski, I propose the following. Many of us have had the opportunity this week to be visited by veterans from our respective States, folks who are in town for their annual convention and meetings. I am pleased to offer an amendment that will boost the spending for our veterans health care. This would be an increase in veterans health care by $1.2 billion in fiscal year 2005. This is a relatively straightforward amendment. The funds will come from function 920 and offset the spending increase. The budget, as it currently stands, provides $70.4 billion for fiscal year 2005 veterans programs. So this would be an increase of $9 billion or 15 percent from the current fiscal year. We need to look at what our veterans have given to this Nation and think about what we should do as we help them. When we look at this amendment, we help eliminate the wait list for veterans in need of medical care, hopefully shorten the time it will take to process a veteran's disability claim and to process our veterans' benefits in a timely manner. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Ms. MURKOWSKI

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, as residents of sparsely populated State with great natural resources but severe poverty in many of its rural areas, Alaskans have engaged in a variety of social and economic exercises intended to improve the living standard and expand economic opportunities for our most challenged communities. I rise today to introduce a bill to ensure that one of the most successful of those exercises is allowed to continue. I am pleased to say the measure is also cosponsored by Alaska's senior senator. The CDQ Community Preservation Act is intended to maintain the participation of all currently eligible communities along the shore of the Bering Sea in Alaska's Community Development Quota program. It is necessary because inconsistencies in statutory and regulatory provisions may require a reassessment of eligibility and the exclusion of some communities from the program. This was not the intent of the original program, nor of any subsequent changes to it. In order to clarify that fact, a legislative remedy is needed. The Community Development Quota Program began in 1992, at the recommendation of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, one of the regional councils formed under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Congress gave the program permanent status in the 1996 reauthorization of the Act. The program presently includes 65 communities within a 50 nautical- mile radius of the Bering Sea, which have formed six regional non- profit associations to participate in the program. The regional associations range in size from one to 20 communities. Under the program, a portion of the regulated annual harvests of pollock, halibut, sablefish, Atka mackerel, Pacific cod, and crab is assigned to each association, which operate under combined Federal and State agency oversight. Almost all of an association's earnings must be invested in fishing-related projects in order to encourage a sustainable economic base for the region. Typically, each association sells its share of the annual harvest quotas to established fishing companies in return for cash and agreements to provide job training and employment opportunities for residents of the region. The program has been remarkably successful. Since 1992, approximately 9,000 jobs have been created for western Alaska residents with wages totaling more than $60 million. The CDQ program has also contributed to fisheries infrastructure development in western Alaska, as well as providing vessel loan programs; education, training and other CDQ-related benefits. The CDQ program has its roots in the amazing success story of how our offshore fishery resources were Americanized after the passage of the original Magnuson Act in 1976. At the time, vast foreign fishing fleets were almost the only ones operating in the U.S. 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone. American fishermen simply did not have either the vessels or the expertise to participate. The Magnuson Act changed all that. It led to the adoption of what we called a ``fish and chips'' policy that provided for an exchange of fish allocations for technological and practical expertise. Within the next few years, harvesting fell almost exclusively to American vessels. Within a few years after that, processing almost became Americanized. Today, there are no foreign fishing or processing vessels operating in the 200-mile zone off Alaska, and the industry is worth billions of dollars each year. The CDQ program helps bring some of the benefits of that great industry to local residents in one of the most impoverished areas of the entire country. It is a vital element in the effort to create and maintain a lasting economic base for the region's many poor communities, and truly deserves the support of this body. I ask unanimous consent that the text of my bill be printed in the Record.

Ms. MURKOWSKI

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, as residents of sparsely populated State with great natural resources but severe poverty in many of its rural areas, Alaskans have engaged in a variety of social and economic exercises intended to improve the living standard and expand economic opportunities for our most challenged communities. I rise today to introduce a bill to ensure that one of the most successful of those exercises is allowed to continue. I am pleased to say the measure is also cosponsored by Alaska's senior senator. The CDQ Community Preservation Act is intended to maintain the participation of all currently eligible communities along the shore of the Bering Sea in Alaska's Community Development Quota program. It is necessary because inconsistencies in statutory and regulatory provisions may require a reassessment of eligibility and the exclusion of some communities from the program. This was not the intent of the original program, nor of any subsequent changes to it. In order to clarify that fact, a legislative remedy is needed. The Community Development Quota Program began in 1992, at the recommendation of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, one of the regional councils formed under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Congress gave the program permanent status in the 1996 reauthorization of the Act. The program presently includes 65 communities within a 50 nautical- mile radius of the Bering Sea, which have formed six regional non- profit associations to participate in the program. The regional associations range in size from one to 20 communities. Under the program, a portion of the regulated annual harvests of pollock, halibut, sablefish, Atka mackerel, Pacific cod, and crab is assigned to each association, which operate under combined Federal and State agency oversight. Almost all of an association's earnings must be invested in fishing-related projects in order to encourage a sustainable economic base for the region. Typically, each association sells its share of the annual harvest quotas to established fishing companies in return for cash and agreements to provide job training and employment opportunities for residents of the region. The program has been remarkably successful. Since 1992, approximately 9,000 jobs have been created for western Alaska residents with wages totaling more than $60 million. The CDQ program has also contributed to fisheries infrastructure development in western Alaska, as well as providing vessel loan programs; education, training and other CDQ-related benefits. The CDQ program has its roots in the amazing success story of how our offshore fishery resources were Americanized after the passage of the original Magnuson Act in 1976. At the time, vast foreign fishing fleets were almost the only ones operating in the U.S. 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone. American fishermen simply did not have either the vessels or the expertise to participate. The Magnuson Act changed all that. It led to the adoption of what we called a ``fish and chips'' policy that provided for an exchange of fish allocations for technological and practical expertise. Within the next few years, harvesting fell almost exclusively to American vessels. Within a few years after that, processing almost became Americanized. Today, there are no foreign fishing or processing vessels operating in the 200-mile zone off Alaska, and the industry is worth billions of dollars each year. The CDQ program helps bring some of the benefits of that great industry to local residents in one of the most impoverished areas of the entire country. It is a vital element in the effort to create and maintain a lasting economic base for the region's many poor communities, and truly deserves the support of this body. I ask unanimous consent that the text of my bill be printed in the Record.

Ms. MURKOWSKI

Ms. MURKOWSKI. I thank the Chair. Mr. President, we will soon begin debating the merits of the tax bill that will bring the United States into compliance with our World Trade Organization's obligations and assist domestic manufacturers. I understand this bill has been renamed the Jumpstart JOBS Act, referring to the number of manufacturing jobs that have been lost in the past few years, whether it is from businesses relocating their plants overseas, the outsourcing of jobs, or increased efficiency that does not require as much manual labor. I believe that every Senator in this body wants to help those Americans who have been laid off to find new employment and to provide assistance to our domestic manufacturers that will lead to real job creation. But when we talk about job creation, too often this body overlooks a project that would produce those jobs for Americans, that would create jobs in all 50 States, and not just a few jobs but by at least one estimate we would create over 1 million jobs across the country. Certainly, the number of jobs nationwide will at a minimum--at a minimum--be in the thousands, and that project I am speaking of is the construction of a natural gas pipeline from Alaska to the lower 48. With the reality in mind that this project will lead to real job creation, I would like to speak to the body this morning about three very exciting announcements relating to the Alaska natural gas pipeline. Three consortiums have filed applications to build a gas pipeline from Alaska's North Slope. These proposals would transport the 35 trillion cubic feet of known technically recoverable reserves to the starved markets in the lower 48. This would happen at a rate of roughly 4.5 billion cubic feet per day. Many believe there is upwards of 100 trillion cubic feet of natural gas on the North Slope and quite possibly more than that. The first announcement from MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company, a major U.S. pipeline company and a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway whose chief investor is financier Warren Buffett. Partnering with MidAmerican will be Cook Inlet Regional Corporation and Pacific Star Energy, which is a consortium of Alaska Native corporations. This is great news for Alaska, and it is great news for America. Individual Alaskans, Alaska Native corporations, and Alaska-owned corporations will have ownership opportunities in the pipeline under this proposal--this is good for Alaska's economy--and oversight of the main transportation project that will be used to move Alaska's commonly owned resources to market. Rather than just benefit from the jobs and influx of short-term construction spending, as we saw during the construction of the Trans- Alaska pipeline, this represents a significant long-term benefit to individual Alaskans and their families. Following MidAmerican's application, the three major producing companies in Alaska--ConocoPhillips, BP Exploration, and ExxonMobile-- also filed an application with the State. These three companies hold the lion's share of the right to produce North Slope natural gas. Late last week, a third group, which is the Alaska Gasline Port Authority, filed another application to build a pipeline. This third option proposes a liquefied natural gas project that would take natural gas from the North Slope, liquefy it at tidewater in south central Alaska for transport to the west coast markets in the lower 48. In the end, the project that best meets the needs of Alaska and the markets will get built, but too often in our discussions we overlook the proposed LNG project in favor of the land route that goes through Canada. Two years ago, Alaska voters indicated their desire for construction of an LNG project, but we have to make sure the numbers make sense and the proposal is good for the State of Alaska. I inserted language in the omnibus appropriations bill that provides the opportunity for the loan guarantees included in the Energy bill to be available for the LNG project option; that is, if the Secretary of Energy determines that it is the best project for purposes of this provision. It is something that needs to be proven by the project sponsors. Again, it demonstrates the need for passage of the Energy bill. In the meantime, we have three applicants that are vying to build a gas pipeline along the Alaska-Canadian highway, with a possible spur to south central Alaska for an LNG project. They have come forward, put their names on paper, and they are willing to begin negotiations with the State. For all of these reasons, Alaskans are excited. I need to back up and clarify. When the initial announcements were made about filing the applications, both MidAmerican and the producers stressed the need to enact the regulatory streamlining, the judicial streamlining, and the fiscal incentives that are currently contained in the Energy bill for the construction of a natural gas pipeline to go forward. There should be no misunderstanding about this; the provisions in the Energy bill relating to these issues must be enacted into law if we hope to see positive movement on this project. These filings we have in place now in the State are not a guarantee that the project will be built. These applications represent the beginning of a dialog between the applicants and the State of Alaska, but no one should interpret these events to mean that we do not need to pass the Energy bill. A cornerstone of our national energy policy is the production of Alaskan gas and delivery of the needed resources to markets in the lower 48. Members on both sides of the aisle recognize the benefit that Alaska gas means for America. We have seen the volatility in the natural gas prices that had significant negative impacts on businesses and on families struggling to make ends meet and to keep their homes warm in the winter. The Alaska natural gas pipeline will bring welcome stability and a measure of predictability to the natural gas marketplace, as well as benefit consumers across the United States. A couple of weeks ago, I had an opportunity to read an article by a gentleman by the name of Douglas Reynolds, an associate professor of oil and energy economics at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Mr. President, you have read his book, I know, and have had good things to say about what he has written in the past. I have a copy of the article. I ask unanimous consent that the article be printed in the Record immediately following my remarks.

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, Mr. Reynolds brought out the point, which I would like to emphasize, that providing the financial incentives for a natural gas pipeline is ``like a futures contract to insure a more reliable natural gas supply source.'' Then he went on to say: Congress has the option to assure a future supply of Alaska gas at a reasonable price, and to get that supply on line sooner than markets alone will do it. The effect would be to make Alaska's gas supply less reliant on NLG exporters with less chance for market manipulation. To me, this just hits it right on the head. Consumers are facing increasing prices of natural gas. We have the opportunity to access a reliable supply of energy that will be produced under some of the most stringent environmental standards in the world and we can do it now, before we become dependent on foreign sources. Douglas Reynolds and I are not the only ones who agree with this viewpoint. Recognizing the United States need for natural gas, the Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan testified before the Congress last year that natural gas supplies represent a ``serious problem'' to the national economy. He noted U.S. policy with respect to natural gas is contradictory as we encourage consumption more than production. The chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Senator Domenici, has worked diligently for more than a year to craft a bill that promotes many forms of renewable energy, encourages energy efficiency in the Federal Government and consumer products, increases the authorization of the low-income home energy assistance program, and moves us closer to construction of the Alaska natural gas pipeline. To allay the major concerns of Members that led to the filibuster on the conference report on H.R. 6, the Senator from New Mexico has introduced a new Energy bill that has significantly less impact on the Federal budget. The new Energy bill streamlines the permitting process for the Alaska natural gas pipeline, expedites judicial review and provides for Federal loan guarantees and accelerated depreciation to lessen the cost of financing the project. To those of my colleagues in the Senate who want to see this project built, who want to stop the rise of natural gas prices, who want to ensure a reliable supply of natural gas, who want to create hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country, I say pass this new Energy bill. The fiscal and regulatory provisions in the Energy bill are a prerequisite to the construction of this project. The longer we wait, the longer we allow this important policy to remain caught in congressional gridlock, the more our economy is going to suffer. Senators should not accept the status quo when it comes to energy production. We should instead work to pass this Energy bill so we can tell the American people help is on the way, so we can begin to rationalize the energy markets, and so we can work to become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. The Alaska natural gas pipeline will be the largest construction project of its kind ever completed. I believe the Federal Government should play a role in reducing the risk involved with this project, just as the Federal Government played a role in bringing affordable electricity to the South and to the Pacific Northwest.

Ms. MURKOWSKI. The provisions in the Energy bill fulfill the Federal Government's role in bringing this pipeline to fruition. I yield the floor. Exhibit 1 [From the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Feb. 22, 2004] Gas Line Will Happen, But Alaska Must Negotiate (By Douglas Reynolds) During winter break in the Lower 48, I heard over and over again concerns about the price of natural gas. It is currently about $7 per thousand cubic feet, when only a few months ago it was $4. Some fear there is market manipulation since stocks of gas in reserve are adequate and the winter has not been colder than normal so far. Investigations have already started. However, there is a reason behind the price rise. While this year there may be adequate supplies of natural gas, next year may be a different story. As I explain in my book, Lower 48 and Southern Canadian natural gas production will decline and the United States will face a supply gap with prices climbing above $10. However, supply is declining faster than I anticipated. The market may merely be anticipating next year's supply gap-- increasing prices now to conserve reserves and to increase production later. Of course it is theoretically possible to have market manipulation. But this is extremely difficult to do and only works if the supply system is uncompetitive. The internal North American market is not. Interestingly enough, if people in the Lower 48 are upset now about alleged manipulation of the natural gas market, they sure won't be happy when the United States starts depending more heavily on imported liquefied natural gas. This is because with imported LNG, the LNG exporters themselves will be able to manipulate natural gas prices and do it with impunity. It will be like OPEC all over again. There is a mechanism to reduce LNG exporter's ability to manipulate the gas market. It is to get Alaska natural gas to market more quickly. Congress still has a chance to change the Energy Bill by putting back in the natural gas credit provisions. I know such a move is highly unlikely, but it is certainly something each Alaskan should be clambering for. Interestingly enough, some experts would actually like to put in tax credits for Lower 48 gas producers rather than for Alaska gas even though Lower 48 producers are making money hand over foot. If more gas existed in the Lower 48, the current incentives would already be pushing supplies higher. The fact of the matter is, the Alaska pipeline tax credits that were cut from the energy bill are like a futures contract to insure a more reliable natural gas supply source. In other words, Congress has the option to assure a future supply of Alaska gas at a reasonable price, and to get that supply on line sooner than markets alone will do it. The effect would be to make America's gas supply less reliant on LNG exporters with less chance for market manipulation. Since consumers are already complaining over high natural gas prices, I would think that having such tax credits and a more reliable source of natural gas would be to America's advantage. As it stands, American consumers will undoubtedly begin to complain ever louder when it's apparent that Alaska gas is stuck on the North Slope just waiting for the time when prices reach outrageous levels before reserves are finally developed. Needless to say, our Alaska congressional delegation has fought hard to help make the gas line a reality, but now it is up to the state to take the initiative. So will the gas line happen? Yes. But Alaska may have to negotiate with the producers or other pipeline companies to get a deal. I believe the best strategy for the state is to give a progressive royalty and severance tax package for all natural gas production. That means a low royalty and tax percent during low prices and a high royalty and tax percent during high prices. This will give Alaska much more revenue than the current royalty and severance tax system would give because of anticipated high prices. It will also quicken the pace of developing a pipeline. It does however imply more risk in Alaska's revenues over the years. The future price of natural gas will not be lower than $4 on the East Coast and will easily stay in the $6 to $10 range. This is because Atlantic Basin LNG producers will be slow to ramp up production even while Lower 48 production goes into decline. Plus LNG exporters can manipulate market prices exactly the way domestic suppliers have been accused of doing. Alaska can take advantage of this and negotiate to get a line done quickly and with greater profits.