http://www.akdemocrats.org/Documents/050403_lincoln_ak_salmon_in_prisons.pdf

Additional information: SCR13 Lincoln

JUNEAU – Senator Georgianna Lincoln (D-Rampart) introduced a resolution this week to promote the use of Alaska’s surplus canned pink salmon for feeding Alaska inmates in Alaska and Arizona. At the beginning of the 2003 season, a projected 60 million tall (14.75 oz) cans of pink salmon will remain in surplus, with another strong year of pink salmon returns predicted for the 2003 season. Canned pink salmon inventories are readily available in Alaska and Seattle for shipping to Alaska and Arizona correctional facilities. “With another large harvest anticipated this year, this bill is a win-win for our fishermen and our inmates,” said Lincoln. Salmon is a traditional Alaskan food, yet Alaska inmates, particularly those in Arizona, receive little Alaskan salmon in their diet. “Alaska Natives make up over a third of our inmate population,” said Lincoln. “However, these inmates, particularly those in Arizona, receive little in the way of culturally-based rehabilitation. Those in Arizona are far from family, community support, and local culture – including traditional foods.” Canned pink salmon is an inexpensive source of Omega-3, a fatty-acid shown to decrease the risk for heart disease, inflammatory processes and certain cancers. Alaska salmon have been linked to improvements in or prevention of certain kinds of cancer, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis, arthritis, asthma, certain kinds of mental illness, depression and lupus erythematosus. Lincoln’s resolution, SCR13, encourages correctional facilities around the state and the Florence Corrections Center in Arizona to serve wild Alaska canned pink salmon to promote inmate health and cultural well-being.

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Putting Alaskans First · Moving Alaska Forward 2004
Sen. Bettye Davis, Sen. Johnny Ellis, Sen. Kim Elton, Sen. Lyman Hoffman, Sen. Hollis French, Sen. Gretchen Guess, Sen. Georgianna Lincoln, Sen. Donny Olson, Rep. Ethan Berkowitz, Rep. Sharon Cissna, Rep. Harry Crawford, Rep. Eric Croft, Rep. Les Gara, Rep. Max Gruenberg, Rep. David Guttenberg, Rep. Reggie Joule, Rep. Mary Kapsner, Rep. Beth Kerttula, Rep. Albert Kookesh, Rep. Carl Moses