Recognizing and celebrating the 60th anniversary of the entry of Alaska into the Union as the 49th State.

IV ★ 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 21 Recognizing and celebrating the 60th anniversary of the entry of Alaska into the Union as the 49th State. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 3, 2019 Mr. YOUNG submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform RESOLUTION Recognizing and celebrating the 60th anniversary of the entry of Alaska into the Union as the 49th State. Whereas July 7, 2018, marks the 60th anniversary of the en- actment of the Alaska Statehood Act as approved by the United States Congress and signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower; Whereas the Alaska Statehood Act authorized the entry of Alaska into the Union on January 3, 1959; Whereas the land once known as ‘‘Seward’s Folly’’ is now re- garded as critical to the strategic defense of the United States and important to our national and economic secu- rity; Whereas the people of Alaska remain committed to the pres- ervation and protection of the Union, with among the VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:26 Jan 10, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR21.IH HR21 pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS 2 HRES 21 IH1S highest rates of veterans and residents in active military service of any State in the Nation; Whereas Alaska is the northernmost, westernmost, and east- ernmost State of the Union, encompassing an area one- fifth the size of the United States; Whereas the State of Alaska has an abundance of natural re- sources vital to the Nation; Whereas Alaska’s North Slope currently produces over 500,000 barrels of crude oil per day and may contain one of the largest undeveloped natural gas resources in the world; Whereas Alaska’s 34,000 miles of shoreline form a gateway to one of the world’s greatest fisheries, providing over 60 percent of the country’s commercial seafood harvest; Whereas over 230 million acres of Alaska are set aside in na- tional parks, wildlife refuges, national forests, and other conservation units for the benefit of the entire country; Whereas over 58 million acres are designated wilderness in Alaska, representing 55 percent of the wilderness areas in the United States; Whereas Alaska Natives, the State’s first people, are an inte- gral part of Alaska’s history, and preserving the culture and heritage of Alaska’s Native people is of primary im- portance; Whereas the passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in 1971 signaled a new era of economic opportunity for Alaska Natives; Whereas Alaska’s Native people have made major contribu- tions to the vitality and success of Alaska as a State; VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:26 Jan 10, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR21.IH HR21 pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS 3 HRES 21 IH1S Whereas the people of Alaska represent the pioneering spirit that built this great Nation and contribute to our cul- tural and ethnic diversity; and Whereas the diamond anniversary, on January 3, 2019, pro- vides an occasion to honor Alaska’s entry into the Union: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives recog- 1 nizes and celebrates the 60th anniversary of the entry of 2 Alaska into the Union as the 49th State. 3 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:26 Jan 10, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR21.IH HR21 pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS