Resolution Urging Opening of ANWR for Exploration & Leasing Heads to Congress

(Juneau) - The Alaska House of Representatives today concurred in Senate changes to House Joint Resolution 9, passing the resolution urging Congress to open the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, or ANWR, to responsible exploration and development. House Special Committee on Energy Co-Chair Lance Pruitt, R-Anchorage, sponsored HJR 9 to echo and endorse past legislative action "enthusiastically supporting the opening of ANWR."

ANWR is safe, onshore domestic oil and gas, which is even more important to consider in light of the unrest and uncertainty in the Middle East.
~ Rep. Lance Pruitt

"I thank my peers in the Senate for once again agreeing to send this message to the nation's capitol. It is paramount that the 27th Alaska Legislature joins the past efforts in sending a unified message to congress supporting the opening of ANWR. Our (Majority) Caucus put 'Responsible Resource Development' as one of our guiding principles and this falls squarely in that message," Pruitt said. "ANWR is safe, onshore domestic oil and gas, which is even more important to consider in light of the unrest and uncertainty in the Middle East. We've shown that we can produce safely and securely on the North Slope, and HJR 9 furthers the decades of legislative actions towards Washington, D.C. that says 'we can do it; now let us prove it.'"

HJR 9, which passed the Alaska Senate earlier today, will be sent to President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, U.S. Senate Energy Chair Jeff Bingaman, Alaska's congressional delegation, and all other members of the 112th U.S. Congress.