00                      HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 19                                                                     
01 Supporting widespread infrastructure investment in the state.                                                           
02 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
03       WHEREAS improving the state's transportation, energy, and technological                                         
04 foundations is a key goal of the comprehensive economic development strategy of the state;                              
05 and                                                                                                                     
06       WHEREAS the state received a grade of C- when last reviewed by the American                                     
07 Society of Civil Engineers in 2017; and                                                                                 
08       WHEREAS the 2019 Alaska Broadband Task Force Plan identified the expansion of                                   
09 broadband infrastructure as critical to meeting the ever-increasing demand for bandwidth to                             
10 support innovations in commerce, education, and health care, among other sectors of the                                 
11 state's economy; and                                                                                                    
12       WHEREAS the deployment of broadband and low earth orbit satellites is critical to                               
13 the state's comprehensive economic development strategy, because many communities in the                                
14 state lack adequate access to the Internet; and                                                                         
15       WHEREAS the state has an estimated backlog of deferred maintenance at state                                     
16 facilities of over $2,000,000,000; and                                                                                  

01       WHEREAS the University of Alaska has a separate deferred maintenance backlog of                                 
02 $1,300,000,000; and                                                                                                     
03       WHEREAS some communities in the state do not have centralized water or                                          
04 wastewater systems, requiring residents to haul water from rivers and lakes and use "honey                              
05 buckets" for disposal of solid waste; and                                                                               
06       WHEREAS addressing all clean water and sanitation needs in communities in the                                   
07 state would require an investment of nearly $2,200,000,000; and                                                         
08       WHEREAS residents and businesses in many areas of the state endure extremely high                               
09 electric and heating costs; and                                                                                         
10 WHEREAS the state's abundant renewable energy resources have the potential to                                         
11 reduce energy costs but require an upfront investment before these resources can produce                                
12 clean energy for decades to come; and                                                                                   
13 WHEREAS affordable housing shortages persist throughout all corners of the state,                                     
14 affecting the viability of rural communities and the ability of businesses and governments to                           
15 hire locally; and                                                                                                       
16 WHEREAS the state needs approximately 16,000 affordable homes, at an estimated                                        
17 cost of $7,000,000,000, to alleviate overcrowding across the state; and                                                 
18 WHEREAS the Port of Alaska moves goods consumed by 90 percent of the state's                                          
19 population and serves as a critical strategic asset for military readiness; and                                         
20 WHEREAS the Port of Alaska needs significant investment to complete an ongoing                                        
21 modernization project in an active seismic zone; and                                                                    
22 WHEREAS the Alaska marine highway system has an aging fleet of vessels that                                           
23 require replacement and repair to ensure the continued viability of this unique form of public                          
24 transit; and                                                                                                            
25 WHEREAS the need for infrastructure investment across the state far outpaces the                                      
26 state's ability to directly fund these needs; and                                                                       
27 WHEREAS several funding mechanisms, including the Denali Commission, the                                              
28 renewable energy grant fund, the Alaska marine highway system vessel replacement fund, the                              
29 Alaska microloan revolving loan fund, and many others established by state and federal law,                             
30 are already in place to capitalize infrastructure needs in the state; and                                               
31 WHEREAS the President of the United States and the United States Congress are                                         

01 currently working toward a meaningful legislative package with investments in areas of new                              
02 and existing infrastructure, power and renewable energy, housing, transit, and building                                 
03 retrofits;                                                                                                              
04 BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature supports widespread                                                  
05 infrastructure investment in the state.                                                                                 
06 COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Joseph R. Biden, President                                   
07 of the United States; the Honorable Kamala D. Harris, Vice President of the United States and                           
08 President of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of                                  
09 Representatives; the Honorable Mitch McConnell, Minority Leader of the U.S. Senate; the                                 
10 Honorable Kevin McCarthy, Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives; and the                                 
11 Honorable Charles Schumer, Majority Leader of the U.S.; the Honorable Lisa Murkowski and                                
12 the Honorable Dan Sullivan, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S.                                            
13 Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.