Legislature(2015 - 2016)BUTROVICH 205
03/19/2015 11:15 AM Senate SPECIAL CMTE ON THE ARCTIC
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SJR16 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SJR 16 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON THE ARCTIC
March 19, 2015
11:20 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Cathy Giessel, Co-Chair
Senator Lesil McGuire, Co-Chair
Senator Gary Stevens
Senator John Coghill
Senator Donald Olson
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Lyman Hoffman
Senator Click Bishop
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 16
Expressing support for the Arctic Economic Council; and
requesting that the United States Congress express support for
the Arctic Economic Council, for the chair of the Arctic
Economic Council to be a resident of this state, and for the
structure of the Arctic Economic Council leadership to mirror
the rotation of the chair of the Arctic Council.
- MOVED CSSJR 16(ARC) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SJR 16
SHORT TITLE: ARCTIC ECONOMIC COUNCIL
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) MCGUIRE
02/25/15 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/25/15 (S) ARC
03/19/15 (S) ARC AT 11:15 AM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
TREVOR GUTIERREZ, Staff
Senator Lesil McGuire
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented an overview of SJR 16 on behalf of
the sponsor.
TARA SWEENEY, Vice Chair
Arctic Economic Council
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information on the origin of the
Arctic Economic Council (AEC).
LORI DAVEY, General Manager
Fairweather
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SJR 16 as a member
of the Arctic Economic Council (AEC).
ACTION NARRATIVE
11:20:38 AM
CO-CHAIR LESIL MCGUIRE called the Senate Special Committee on
the Arctic meeting to order at 11:20 a.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Stevens, Coghill, Co-Chair Giessel, and Co-
Chair McGuire.
SJR 16-ARCTIC ECONOMIC COUNCIL
11:21:18 AM
CHAIR MCGUIRE announced the consideration of SJR 16.
CHAIR MCGUIRE explained SJR 16 as sponsor of the resolution.
11:22:43 AM
TREVOR GUTIERREZ, Staff, Senator Lesil McGuire, Alaska State
Legislature, presented an overview of SJR 16 on behalf of the
sponsor. He read the following sponsor statement:
SJR 16 "Expressing support for the Arctic Economic
Council; and requesting that the United States
Congress express support for the Arctic economic
Council, for the chair of the Arctic Economic Council
to be a resident of this state, and for the structure
of the Arctic Economic Council Leadership to mirror
the rotation of the chair of the Arctic Council."
The Arctic Council was established by the Ottawa
Declaration of 1996 to function as a high-level
intergovernmental forum to promote cooperation,
coordination, and interaction across the Arctic. The
Arctic Economic Council was established in 2012 by the
Arctic Council. The Arctic Economic Council is in
charge of fostering business development in the
Arctic, engaging in deeper circumpolar cooperation,
and providing a business perspective to the work of
the Arctic Council.
SJR 16 urges the federal government to work to empower
residents of Alaska, especially indigenous residents,
as partners in the Arctic Economic Council. It asks
the Alaskan State Legislature to express its
confidence in, and support for, the Arctic Economic
Council. The United States will become chair of the
Arctic Council in 2015. This resolution states that it
is the intent of this legislature to have the
chairmanship to the Arctic Economic Council parallel
the chairmanship of the Arctic Council.
I urge you to support this resolution emphasizing the
importance of the Arctic, and the role that Alaskans
will play in shaping its future.
11:24:07 AM
CHAIR SENATOR MCGUIRE requested a motion to adopt the new
committee substitute.
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL moved to adopt the CS for SJR 16, labeled 29-
LS060\H, as the working document. There being no objection, it
was so ordered.
CO-CHAIR MCGUIRE opened public testimony.
11:25:11 AM
TARA SWEENEY, Vice Chair, Arctic Economic Council, presented
information on the origin of the Arctic Economic Council. She
related that the Arctic Economic Council (AEC) was created by
the Arctic Council (AC) under the leadership of Canadian
Minister and Arctic Council Chair Leona Aglukkaq. There are 42
members of AEC from the United States, Canada, Denmark,
Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Finland, and Russia. In addition,
there are six permanent participant organizations; the Inuit
Circumpolar Council, Artic Athabaskan Council, Gwich'in Council
International, Aleut International Association, Saami Council,
and the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North.
MS. SWEENEY related that the U.S. is an Arctic state due to the
strategic location of Alaska. Alaska has three business
representatives, Crowley Maritime, Fairweather, and Bering
Straits Native Corporation. The U.S. also has representation in
four of the six permanent participants. All U.S. members of AEC
are Alaskans, which is important because Alaskans are about to
embark on a strategic journey to help shape guiding principles
for doing business in the Arctic. The U.S. delegation has
proposed to have the chairmanship of AEC mirror the same
rotation structure of the Arctic Council, which means in April
the chair would transfer to the U.S. for both AEC and AC, and
would demonstrate to other circumpolar nations that there is
support within the U.S. for AEC. Support from the Alaska
Legislature strengthens the position of the Alaskans
representing the U.S. on AEC.
11:28:45 AM
CO-CHAIR MCGUIRE thanked Ms. Sweeney for her work. She commented
on the process of choosing Alaskan leadership on the AC and the
representative to AEC. She related that the federal government
requested that Senators Herron and McGuire participate, who then
invited others to help lead AEC. SJR 16 requests that the chair
of AEC be from Alaska.
She listed the main tasks of AEC; to foster business development
in the Arctic, engage in deeper circumpolar cooperation, and
provide a business perspective to the work of the AC.
11:32:10 AM
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL commented that economic strength helps cultures
grow and thrive and that is what AEC is about. The Arctic is a
place where people live and wish to prosper and develop
technology, resources, and economic strength.
SENATOR COGHILL asked Ms. Sweeney what to consider in the
business climate in the Arctic.
MS. SWEENEY said AEC adopted five overarching themes:
establishing strong market connections between Arctic states,
encouraging public/private partnerships for infrastructure
investment, creating stable and predictable regulatory
framework, facilitating the knowledge and data exchange between
industry and academia, and traditional indigenous knowledge,
stewardship and focus on small business in the Arctic.
CO-CHAIR MCGUIRE requested a copy of those principles.
MS. SWEENEY said she would send a Power Point to that effect.
11:34:47 AM
SENATOR COGHILL noted a focus on working with Russian
counterparts. He asked for an update.
MS. SWEENEY said AEC is establishing relationships with all
Arctic states, including Russia. She related that there are good
contacts with Russia. She said she sits on the executive
committee and meets every three weeks with Canada, Finland, and
Russia.
SENATOR COGHILL was interested in the methods of working
together. He wished to know how to work best with Russia.
MS. SWEENEY said that AEC shares that interest. She spoke to the
Bering Strait Native Corporation's involvement.
SENATOR COGHILL asked how the legislature could make connections
with local dumas.
CO-CHAIR MCGUIRE noted the arrival of Senator Olson.
She said there have been conversations about connecting with
Russia via a duma exchange. The Governor has stated that Alaska
is re-joining the Northern Forum. She stressed the importance of
Alaska's connections with Russia. She suggested working
together.
MS. SWEENEY concluded that AEC is interested in serving as a
resource to the legislature in that capacity.
11:39:04 AM
NILS ANDREASSEN, Executive Director, Institute of the North,
provided information on the Institute of the North. He stated
that AEC is one of Canada's more important accomplishments
during the last two years. He said AEC's theme is economic
development by the people of the North. He voiced appreciation
for Alaska's delegation to AEC.
He spoke of the challenge regarding how AEC relates to the
Arctic Council. Many of the Arctic nations have been supportive
of that linkage. He spoke in support of SJR 16, which suggests
that the U.S. supports AEC and its relationship with the Arctic
Council. He maintained that AC needs a business voice. He
reminded the committee of the responsibility to talk about
economic development in the North. He stressed the importance of
promoting Alaska as an Arctic state and the U.S. as an Arctic
nation.
11:44:03 AM
SENATOR COGHILL thanked Mr. Andreassen for his work. He
commented that "a sustainable and healthy ecosystem only works
if you have a healthy, vibrant economic system." He concluded
that they have to work hand in hand.
MR. ANDREASSEN agreed and said it is an obligation of the U.S.
chairmanship to remind others of this.
SENATOR STEVENS noted that the frantic mood of dealing with the
Arctic has changed and now the process is more logical. We are
taking the time to move ahead properly. He asked if that is Mr.
Andreassen's reading of the situation.
MR. ANDREASSEN opined that the pace is just right. Governments,
industries, and communities around the Arctic are responding and
are developing policy.
11:47:09 AM
LORI DAVEY, General Manager, Fairweather, testified in support
of SJR 16. She said she is also a member of AEC.
CO-CHAIR MCGUIRE thanked Ms. Davey for her service.
MR. GUTIERREZ presented information about why Alaska should care
about the Arctic and why the Arctic is important. He contrasted
the purposes of AC and AEC.
He described why the AEC was created and listed its objectives.
He described the governance of AEC and how the meetings take
place. He turned to the organizational structure of the AC and
showed a map of the Arctic countries.
11:51:39 AM
MR. GUTIERREZ listed the permanent participants on the AC and
the observing nations and organizations. He described the AC
working groups.
He explained what SJR 16 will do. It recognizes the importance
of the Arctic Economic Council in providing a forum for
residents of the state to give input on policies. The state of
Alaska holds a strategic position as the gateway to the Arctic.
Alaska will benefit from the efforts of AEC. It seeks to empower
the U.S. EC delegation, which consists entirely of residents of
this state.
He concluded that in SJR 16, the Alaska State Legislature
expresses its confidence and support for AEC. The legislature
respectfully requests that Congress express support for AEC. It
requests that the chair of AEC be a resident of Alaska and for
the structure of AEC leadership to mirror the rotation of the
chair of the Arctic Council.
11:54:12 AM
SENATOR GIESSEL moved to report CSSJR 16(ARC) from committee
with individual recommendations. There being no objection, the
motion carried.
11:54:43 AM
There being nothing further to come before the committee,
Senator McGuire adjourned the Senate Special Committee on the
Arctic at 11:54 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SJR 16 Version W.pdf |
SARC 3/19/2015 11:15:00 AM |
SJR 16 |
| SJR 16 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SARC 3/19/2015 11:15:00 AM |
SJR 16 |
| SJR 16 Supporting Document-letter of support from ASRC.pdf |
SARC 3/19/2015 11:15:00 AM |
SJR 16 |
| SJR 16 Supporting Document- Letter of Support from Gana-A'Yoo, Lmt.pdf |
SARC 3/19/2015 11:15:00 AM |
SJR 16 |
| SJR 16 Supporting Document- Murkowski letter to Balton - SAO meeting Whitehorse.pdf |
SARC 3/19/2015 11:15:00 AM |
SJR 16 |
| SJR 16 Supporting Document- Letter of Support from Dr Mike SFraga.pdf |
SARC 3/19/2015 11:15:00 AM |
SJR 16 |
| SJR 16 Presentation.pdf |
SARC 3/19/2015 11:15:00 AM |
|
| SJR 16 Supporting Document- Letter of Support Bering Straits Native Corp.pdf |
SARC 3/19/2015 11:15:00 AM |
SJR 16 |
| SJR 16 FN.pdf |
SARC 3/19/2015 11:15:00 AM |
SJR 16 |