Legislature(2025 - 2026)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/05/2026 01:30 PM Senate SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ARCTIC AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SJR24 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SJR 24 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ARCTIC AFFAIRS
MARCH 5, 2026
1:30 P.M.
DRAFT
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Cathy Giessel, Chair
Senator Gary Stevens, Vice Chair
Senator Bill Wielechowski
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Donald Olson
Senator Scott Kawasaki
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 24
Recognizing and honoring the relationship between the state and
Greenland; and recognizing the importance of cooperation between
the United States of America and the Kingdom of Denmark in the
Arctic.
- MOVED CSSJR 24(AAF) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SJR 24
SHORT TITLE: HONORING RELATIONSHIP WITH GREENLAND
SPONSOR(s): SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ARCTIC AFFAIRS
02/06/26 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/06/26 (S) AAF, RES
02/26/26 (S) AAF AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/26/26 (S) Heard & Held
02/26/26 (S) MINUTE(AAF)
03/05/26 (S) AAF AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
WITNESS REGISTER
SAMANTHA FREEBORN, Staff
Senator Cathy Giessel
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave a recap of SJR 24.
BEN GOLTZ, Intern
Senator Cathy Giessel
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Explained the changes Amendment 1 proposes
to make to SJR 4.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:30:32 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL called the Senate Special Committee on Arctic
Affairs meeting to order at [1:30 p.m.] Present at the call to
order were Senators Wielechowski, Kawasaki, and Chair Giessel.
SJR 24-HONORING RELATIONSHIP WITH GREENLAND
1:31:01 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL announced the consideration of SENATE JOINT
RESOLUTION NO. 24 Recognizing and honoring the relationship
between the state and Greenland; and recognizing the importance
of cooperation between the United States of America and the
Kingdom of Denmark in the Arctic.
CHAIR GIESSEL invited her staff, Ms. Freeborn, to give a recap
of SJR 24.
1:31:29 PM
SAMANTHA FREEBORN, Staff, Senator Cathy Giessel, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, gave a recap of SJR 24 with
prepared remarks:
SJR 24 recognizes and honors the longstanding
relationship between the United States of America and
Greenland and underscores the importance of continued
cooperation between the United States and the Kingdom
of Denmark in the Arctic.
As Arctic neighbors, the United States and Greenland
share a longstanding indigenous culture, extraordinary
environments, and natural resources. Together, we face
common challenges directly affecting our remote
communities, such as coastal erosion, food security,
and infrastructure needs.
SJR 24 affirms a commitment to fostering friendship,
mutual respect, and long-term cooperation between the
people of Alaska and Greenland in support of a
peaceful, prosperous, and resilient Arctic.
1:32:29 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL said the committee received one amendment for
consideration.
CHAIR GIESSEL solicited a motion.
1:32:38 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI moved to adopt Amendment 1, work order 34-
LS1419\A.1.
34-LS1419\A.1
Bergerud
2/28/26
A M E N D M E N T 1
OFFERRED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR GIESSEL
TO: SJR 24
Page 2, following line 1:
Insert new material to read:
"WHEREAS the United States of America has, at
various times, maintained an expanded military
presence in Greenland, including during World War II
under agreements with the Danish government during the
German occupation of Denmark, and that presence
neither intended nor established sovereignty,
ownership, or territorial control by the United States
of America; and"
Page 2, line 2:
Delete "American"
Insert "America"
1:32:40 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL objected for purposes of discussion.
CHAIR GIESSEL invited her intern to explain Amendment 1.
1:32:54 PM
BEN GOLTZ, Intern, Senator Cathy Giessel, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, explained the changes in Amendment
1, stating the amendment:
• Inserts a clause on page 2, following line 1, which clarifies
the history of the United States' involvement with Greenland
to better inform our understanding of how we arrived at our
current relationship with Greenland and the Kingdom of
Denmark.
• Corrects a misspelling, replacing the word "American" with
America" on page 2, line 2.
1:33:51 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL removed her objection. She found no further
objection, and Amendment 1 was adopted. She noted that a
committee member said the amendment was important to clarify
misinformation in the resolution.
1:34:09 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL opened public testimony on SJR 24; finding none,
she closed public testimony.
1:34:21 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL solicited the will of the committee.
1:34:24 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI moved to report SJR 24, work order 34-
LS1419\A, as amended, from committee with individual
recommendations and attached zero fiscal note(s) and to
authorize Legislative Legal Services to make technical changes.
1:34:41 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI said he wanted to place a matter on the record.
He explained that the legislature received numerous questions
about the potential deployment of approximately 1,500 soldiers
from the 11th Airborne Division to Minneapolis, Minnesota. Among
those inquiries was a question from Peter Moller, a journalist
in Denmark working for the national television broadcaster TV 2.
He said the journalist asked about the 11th Airborne Division,
which is stationed at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks and Joint
Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, and about the deployment
of the soldiers.
SENATOR KAWASAKI said the journalist relayed that several
military analysts in Denmark had expressed concern that the 11th
Airborne Division might be on heightened readiness because
President Trump was considering using the division in a military
operation related to Greenland. He said the analysts noted that
the division is particularly suited for Arctic operations.
SENATOR KAWASAKI remarked that it was striking to receive
national media attention on the issue during that period. He
said he responded that the 11th Airborne Division is the
nation's Arctic fighting force, and that Alaskans are proud of
the unit, but that the United States does not attack its allies.
He indicated that the response appeared sufficient for the
journalist. He cautioned that statements made on social media
can create international ripples. He expressed appreciation for
the intent of the resolution and supports it.
1:36:28 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL found no further comments and CSSJR 24(AAF) was
reported from the Senate Special Committee on Arctic Affairs.
1:36:50 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Giessel adjourned the Senate Special Committee on Arctic
Affairs meeting at 1:36 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SJR 24 A.1.pdf |
SAAF 3/5/2026 1:30:00 PM |
SJR 24 |