Senator Olson's Resolution to Help Rural Communities Affected by Flooding
And Erosion Passes Community and Regional Affairs
Senate Joint Resolution 25, sponsored by Senator Donny Olson (D-Nome), calls on the federal government to ease the strict cost and benefit analysis rules associated with federal assistance for flood and erosion damage, as discussed by the United States General Accounting Office in its report, and expeditiously move to help communities in the state that are threatened by erosion and flooding. This resolution comes as a result of a report by the General Accounting Office finds that four communities--Kivalina, Koyukuk, Newtok, and Shishmaref--"are in imminent danger from flooding and erosion and are making plans to relocate" at a cost of several hundred million dollars. The General Accounting Office describes the relocation process as "daunting" and recommends that the United States Congress consider alternatives that would enhance existing federal programs for control and prevention of erosion and flooding.
SJR 25 now moves to State Affairs.
Representative Kerttula's
Resolution in Support of
Fish Labeling Passes Senate Resources
House Joint Resolution 32, sponsored by Representative Beth Kerttula (D-Juneau), will help give consumers the ability to choose between wild and farm raised fish. HJR 32 states that the Alaska State Legislature supports the timely labeling of fish and fishery food products in the market place to identity the country of origin and the presence of coloring and other additives, to indicate whether there has been genetic modification, and to distinguish between wild and farmed fish. This resolution follows the passage of bills at both the state and federal level in support of labeling.
HJR 32 [sponsor statement] now moves to the Senate Floor.
Upcoming Events-
Thursday, March 4th - Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) and economist Gregg Erickson will speak at the Bill Egan Forum at the Baranof Hotel (Juneau) beginning at noon. The title of the talk is "Alaska's Shrinking E.L.F."
Wednesday March 3rd, Thursday March 4th, Friday March 5th, and Saturday March 6th - The House Finance Committee will take testimony on the operating budget. You need to travel to one of the Legislative Information Offices to testify.
The schedule will
be:
Wednesday, March 3rd-5:30-8:30 PM-Anchorage
Thursday, March 4th- 6:00 - 8:30 PM Fairbanks
Friday, March 5th- 1:30 - 4:00 PM Juneau
Saturday, March 7th- 10-11 AM Sitka, Wrangell, Petersburg, Homer
-- 11-12 PM Bethel, Delta Junction, Tok, Glennallen, Cordova
-- 12-1 PM Lunch
-- 1-2 PM Valdez, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Seward, Kenai
-- 2-3:30 PM MatSu, Kotzebue, Barrow, Nome, Dillingham
-- 3:30-5 PM Offnets*
You can also call
or email Republican members of the
House Finance Committee to voice your concerns-
Representative
John Harris 1-888-465-4859
Representative Bill
Williams 1-800-303-2455
Representative Kevin
Meyer 1-866-465-4945
Representative Mike
Chenault 1-800-469-3779
Representative Richard
Foster 1-800-478-3789
Representative Mike
Hawker 1-800-478-4950
Representative Bill
Stoltze 465-4928
Representative Hugh Fate
1-866-465-4976
Legislative Information Office:
Anchorage – 716 W. 4th Ave., Ste. 200, 269-0111
Barrow – 119 Bank Building, 852-7111
Bethel – 301 Willow Street, 543-3541
Cordova – 705 2nd St., 424-5461
Delta Junction – Jarvis Office Center, 895-4236
Dillingham – Kangiiqutaq Building, 842-5319
Fairbanks – 119 Cushman, Ste. 101, 452-4448
Glennallen – Community Library, 822-5588
Homer – 345 W. Sterling Hwy., Ste. 102, 235-7878
Juneau – Terry Miller Bldg. Room 111, 465-4648
Kenai Peninsula – 145 Main St. Loop, Ste. 217, 283-2030
Ketchikan – 50 Front St., Ste. 203, 225-9675
Kodiak – 112 Mill Bay Rd., 486-8116
Kotzebue – 373 2nd St., Pillautaq Bldg., 442-3880
Matanuska/Susitna – 600 E. Railroad Ave., 376-3704
Nome – State Office Bldg., 103 E. Front St., 443-5555
Petersburg – 101 Gjoa St., 772-3741
Seward – 2001 Seward Hwy., 224-5066
Sitka – 210 Lake St., 747-6276
Tok – East 1 st St. in UAF Bldg., Suite 1, 883-5020
Valdez – Rm. 13, State Office Bldg., 835-2111
Wrangell – 223 Front St., 874-3013
Putting Alaskans First - Moving Alaska Forward
