Comment from Cathy Giessel, Senate District P

Alaska’s Constitution was ratified by our citizens. It was also supported by the Alaska Statehood Act that was approved by Congress and signed by the President. As an elected legislator in the Alaska Senate, I have sworn to uphold the United States and State of Alaska Constitutions. Both the Statehood Act & the Alaska Constitution presume development of our natural resources. New oil from state and federal lands is essential to keep the TransAlaska Pipeline System (TAPS), Alaska’s economic lifeline, viable. TAPS is also an economic, petroleum resource and jobs lifeline for all America. Areas of the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas are under lease. Those leased areas need to be explored and produced now. As an Alaska State Senator, I urge BOEMRE to affirm the Lease Sale 193 and responsibly expedite permit approvals that allow lease tracts to be explored and developed without further delay. Respectfully, Senator Cathy Giessel