March 6, 2009 eNews
Energy Committee Meeting in Bethel
As most of you know, the House Energy Committee meeting scheduled for Feb. 28th in Bethel had to be postponed due to uncooperative weather. I was looking forward to the opportunity for the Committee to hear directly from my friends and neighbors in the YK Delta, and was disappointed with the delay. I have been assured that the Energy Committee will reschedule the Bethel meeting, possibly for some time before the spring barge. I will keep you updated as plans develop.
Bypass Mail
I am paying very close attention to the issue of Bypass Mail. On Monday I sent in a letter to Dan Blair, the Chairman of the Postal Regulatory Commission, urging him to consider the effects of a rate increase on Bypass Mail. Here are excerpts from my letter:
Dear Mr. Blair:
I am writing in my capacity as an Alaska State Representative to urge you not to increase the rates for Parcel Post, and by extension, Bypass Mail. I represent Alaska House District 38, which includes the Kuskokwim and Johnson Rivers, Kuskokwim Bay, and Nelson Island. My district includes one hub community, Bethel, and 26 villages.
Rural Alaska is suffering through an energy crisis which threatens the health and safety of its residents. With heating fuel costing $8-$10 a gallon in some places, my constituents have to decide between keeping their houses warm and buying groceries. The increase in rates for Bypass Mail would mean an increase in the cost of essentials, and would have a devastating effect on those who are already coping with an untenable situation.
Raising the rates would strain an economy already suffering from the national downturn, as well as a critical lack of jobs. It would also impact the number of people flying in and out of rural Alaska, further harming the economy.
I know we are struggling with a challenging economic climate, but I urge you to consider the effect this rate increase will have on rural Alaska. Thank you very much for your consideration in this matter.
Chinook Bycatch
Like many in our district, I am deeply troubled by unmitigated catches of Chinook salmon by the Bering Sea pollock trawl fleet. Chinook bycatch has serious economic and cultural ramifications for our district, and it is imperative that we put in place safeguards to ensure healthy salmon runs. I am working with other rural legislators to deliver a letter to the Chair of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and the Administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service. We are requesting that a hard cap of 30,000 salmon be put into place, a cap that sets a bar with which the pollock industry must comply, and which is absolutely essential to protect the subsistence fisheries upon which our communities depend. The need for a cap is exacerbated by the poor salmon runs last year and the subsequent decision of the Department of Fish and Game not to declare a fishery disaster on the Yukon River. When fish numbers are low, subsistence is the first priority, and a hard cap reflects this priority. The North Pacific Management Council will take action this April on the Chinook Salmon Bycatch Environmental Impact Study, and I am hopeful that they will heed our concerns.
HJR10
Next Tuesday I have scheduled HJR 10 to be heard in the Health and Social Services committee. This important resolution urges Congress to provide our veterans with adequate and improved health care. Information on the bill can be found at: http://www.legis.state.ak.us/
Operating Budget Testimony
Thank you to all the people who testified on cuts to the state operating budget via teleconference to the House Finance Committee on March 3rd. Testifiers included:
Thor Williams, who appealed for the committee to fully fund the Troopers, public safety, women’s shelters, the Office of Children’s Services, VPSOs, the Department of Education, and juvenile justice and behavioral health programs.
Monica Leinberger, Michelle Dewitt, and Dr. Elizabeth Roll, of Tundra Women’s Coalition (TWC), voiced concern with the Legislature’s decision to cut the $1.7 million the Governor had allocated for the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault to $296,000. While they appreciate the small increase, the larger number in the Governor’s budget was based on hard data reflecting what the real need is. In 2008 the shelter provided over 5000 shelter nights to those in need. It is now over capacity and needs increased funding to fully staff the shelter.
Dan Leinberger, Vice Mayor, on behalf of the City of Bethel, praised the Legislature for including $60 million this year for Community Revenue Sharing, and for increasing funding for PCE to $32 million. He would like to see PCE expanded to all users, not just residential users.
Alvin Jimmie Sr., AVCP VPSO Program, eloquently described the need for these public safety officers in villages and noted that for the 56 villages under the aegis of AVCP there are only 19 VPSOs available.
Ann Applebee, YKHC, thanked the Governor for her $2 million increase for infant learning programs and encouraged the legislature to keep that funding in the budget.
4th WWAMI Annual PreMed Summit:
Saturday, March 28, the University of Alaska is hosting a PreMed Summit. Anyone interested in a medical career should look into this exciting program. The event is offered n Juneau and Fairbanks, and will be videoconferenced in Kodiak. For more information check out: http://biomed.uaa.alaska.edu.
This Week’s Visitors from Home:
Brad Allen, Superintendent, Kuspuk School District, Aniak
Gary Baldwin, Superintendent, Lower Kuskokwim School District, Bethel
Wally Baird, Past Bethel City Manager and Susan Baird, Assistant Director, UAF College of Rural and Community Development, Kuskokwim Campus, Bethel. The Kuskokwim Campus of the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) in Bethel serves a population of 25,000 people in 47 rural villages. In the Fall of 2008 there were 310 students, 70% of which were native Alaskan – the highest native proportion on any UA campus. The campus awarded nearly 60 degree certificates and credentials in FY08, almost two and a half times the number delivered in FY01. Kudos to the students, faculty and alumni of the Kuskokwim Campus for making this college such a robust asset to the Y-K Delta and Alaska.
John Chase, Community Planner & Coastal Area Specialist, Northwest Arctic Borough, Kotzebue, (Home Town – Nunapitchuk) and Glenn Gray, Consultant on Environmental and Land Use Solutions




























