00HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 30                                                                                           
01 Relating to epidemiological and quarantine services in ports of entry in the state.                                     
02 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
03  WHEREAS Alaska is becoming increasingly important as an international center for                                       
04 trade and travel to and from the Russian Far East and other Pacific Rim countries; and                                  
05  WHEREAS the increasing frequency of travelers increases the risk of the spread of                                      
06 communicable diseases; and                                                                                              
07  WHEREAS Alaskans have reported medical problems after returning from the Russian                                       
08 Far East and other Pacific Rim countries; and                                                                           
09  WHEREAS the medical and disease monitoring capabilities in Russian Far East may                                        
10 not be sufficient due to the political changes occurring in the Russian government; and                                 
11  WHEREAS the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has discontinued its                                            
12 support of epidemiological and quarantine services in ports of entry in the state, including the                        
13 Anchorage International Airport;                                                                                        
14  BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges the Congress and the                                            

01 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to support additional epidemiological staff to                               
02 increase Alaska's capability to monitor potential outbreaks of communicable diseases carried                            
03 by travelers from the Russian Far East and other Pacific Rim countries.                                                 
04  COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to Donna E. Shalala, Secretary of Health and                                   
05 Human Services; James O. Mason, Assistant Secretary for Health, Public Health Service;                                  
06 William L. Roper, Director, Centers for Disease Control; and to the Honorable Ted Stevens                               
07 and the Honorable Frank Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S.                                     
08 Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.