The Final Resolution

President Carter's actions forced Congress to address the land conservation issue once again. At the beginning of the 96th Congress, Morris Udall again introduced H.R. 39, but this version was a stronger environmental bill than the original one, without many compromises. In the meantime, Sen. Stevens guided a compromise bill through the legislative process. It would set aside only 104 million acres of new reserves, 15 percent less than Udall's House bill. The bill passed the Senate in August.

Stevens warned the House environmentalists that the Senate bill was a "take it or leave it" proposal. Neither he nor Senator Gravel would accept any amendments. In the House, Congressman Udall prepared to stand firm. There, matters stood as the country went to the polls in November 1980.

It would be the American people who would resolve this impasse and make the decision on Alaska's land. In the 1980 elections, voters elected Ronald Reagan president and sent a Republican majority to the Senate. When the new Congress would take office in January, there would be fewer delegates in favor of a strong environmental bill. There was now no chance of getting approval for Udall's H.R. 39. Accepting this reality, two weeks after the election, Udall asked the House to approve the Senate bill. They did so by voice vote. On December 2, 1980, President Carter signed the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act into law, commonly referred to by its acronym ANILCA.

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