00                         SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 2                                                                        
01 Urging the governor to issue a new declaration.                                                                         
02 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE:                                                                                           
03       WHEREAS, on January 14, 2021, the governor issued a declaration under AS 26.23,                                 
04 stating that the outbreak of COVID-19 was occurring in the state because of widespread                                  
05 community transmission; and                                                                                           
06       WHEREAS, since the initial outbreak of COVID-19 in the state in March 2020, the                                 
07 effects have resulted in serious consequences for all residents of the state; and                                       
08       WHEREAS the Senate recognizes that, because of local action, students throughout                                
09 the state have been deprived of in-person learning, and the state has seen increased incidence                          
10 of depression and other emotional harm in students as a result of school closures, as well as                           
11 increased instances of child abuse and food insecurity; and                                                             
12 WHEREAS the Senate also recognizes that communities in the state have seen fit to                                     
13 impose lockdown orders, which have severely reduced economic activity in those                                          
14 communities, resulting in the loss of thousands of jobs, the closure of many businesses, and                            
15 significant economic harm to a large proportion of Alaskans in various economic sectors; and                            
16 WHEREAS, partly because of the state's robust COVID-19 response efforts and the                                       

01 governor's leadership, the state currently has the third-lowest COVID-19 fatality rate in the                           
02 United States; and                                                                                                      
03       WHEREAS, because of diligent efforts, the state has one of the highest vaccination                              
04 rates in the United States; and                                                                                         
05       WHEREAS the Senate acknowledges the state's transition from a disaster to a                                     
06 recovery phase and supports the reduction of mandates to carefully but fully reopen the state's                         
07 economy, while safely protecting Alaskans; and                                                                          
08       WHEREAS the governor's January 14, 2021, declaration is set to expire on                                        
09 February 14, 2021; and                                                                                                  
10 WHEREAS there is insufficient time to allow the Alaska State Legislature to fully                                     
11 debate and determine the least restrictive means to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and pass                                
12 legislation, instead of relying on additional emergency orders, while, at the same time, being                          
13 certain that the state does not lose access to federal funding for programs important to                                
14 Alaskans;                                                                                                               
15 BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate, without waiving the authority of the legislature                                      
16 under AS 26.23.020(c) or 26.23.025(b), urges the governor to issue a new, narrowly defined                              
17 declaration, not to exceed 30 days, to access funding and protect the health and safety of                              
18 Alaskans.