Energy
AFN supports responsible and environmentally sound oil and gas development in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Responsible development will bring considerable economic benefits to Alaska, some of which should be devoted to promoting the economic and social welfare of Alaska Natives. Because of the general lack of basic infrastructure and economic opportunities in rural Native communities in Alaska, energy costs are extraordinarily high. In order that Alaska Natives share in the economic benefits of development of ANWR, AFN recommends that: a) Congress fully endow the Power Cost Equalization Endowment Fund; b) ANCSA corporations be given an opportunity to participate in ANWR development activities; c) a Native-hire provision be included in the bill for development activities, similar to that contained in the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Agreement; and, d) the legislation include a revenue sharing provision that devotes two percent (2%) of the royalties of any oil and gas development in ANWR to local and tribal governments in Alaska.
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program: Alaska Natives living in rural Alaska pay some of the highest prices in the country for fuel, oil and gasoline and many live near or below the poverty level. Because of the extreme weather conditions in Alaska, families living in rural communities in Alaska require substantial amounts of energy for home heating. The recent, dramatic increase in the cost of fuel, oil and gasoline in rural Alaska is having a dramatic impact on limited household and community financial resources, creating conditions that threaten public health and safety, reduce basic services, negatively impact the capabilities of school districts to provide quality education, and threaten the economic viability of rural Alaska families and communities. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has existed for more than 25 years to assist those at or near poverty level with payments to their home energy bills during difficult winter months. For FY 2006, the President’s proposed budget for LIHEAP was nearly 10 percent less than 2005, yet energy costs, including the cost of home heating fuel, have increased as much as 140% over last year’s level. With heating costs predicted to rise up to 50%, and with hurricane victims still struggling to restore energy services in new or temporary homes, millions of low-income Americans are expected to have an unprecedented need for home energy assistance. AFN urges the Congress to fund LIHEAP in FY 2007 in an amount sufficient to meet the needs of all currently eligible recipients.
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