Alaska's two U.S. senators have introduced legislation that would make another 3.7 million acres of federal land in the National Wildlife Refuge System available to Alaska Native veterans of the Vietnam War while blaming Democrats for the current paucity of suitable pickings.
It was the honor of my life to serve President George W. Bush as Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. I worked alongside the 8,000 employees of
KINY Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan have introduced legislation to amend the Alaska Native Vietnam era Veterans Land Allotment program which aims to make over 3 million acres of federal land in the National Wildlife Refuge System available for selection.
Murkowski said in a release that due to opposition from lawmakers the lands in her previous legislation, the Dingell Act, provided for land that was undesirable and too difficult to access.
The Senator added that The lands opened by this new legislation will mean more options and selections could be made closer to where the veterans lived or traditionally hunted. These veterans deserve no less.”
The National Wildlife Refuge System is an American institution, with roots going back to the early years of the 20th century. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska is its crown jewel, celebrated as “one of Planet Earth’s own works of art”. So, it is no surprise that the attempt to start oil exploration in .