• What reason is there for net transfer of even one more acre of private land in Alaska to the federal government? In Alaska it should not even be a goal to have "No Net Loss of Private Land". Exclusive of native corporations, only one third of one percent of our state is private land as it is! We should be going in the other direction, conveying more federal land to private ownership.

• The private property protections in HR 701 are weak and will be ineffective in protecting land owners from special interests and agencies who really want Congress to give them the unchecked condemnation powers under HR 798. As long as the trust fund money is supplied, the ultimate result will be the same as under HR 798.

• HR 798 and 701 are fatally flawed. Any benefits from HR 701 OCS revenue sharing will not be worth the terrible cost to American values and society that will result from the land trust entitlement in both bills. See Resolution S99-12 of the California Republican Party.

• A wise steward takes care of and protects what he has before buying even more land. Everyone agrees there is an unmet multi billion dollar maintenance backlog on government property and facilities already. Why can't Land & Water Conservation Funds be freed up to address this backlog? Why restrict use of the federal LWCF funds to land purchases?

More information and copy of complete testimony see: American Land Rights Association website

or contact Ray Kreig (907) 276-2025