CSHCR 5(EDA) am: Declaring 2015, 2016, and 2017 to be the Years of the Arctic; encouraging the state and its partners to join with the Institute of the North in encouraging the state to promote its Arctic policy during the Years of the Arctic and to take action to address the strategic recommendations in the Implementation Plan of the Alaska Arctic Policy Commission.
00 CS FOR HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 5(EDA) am 01 Declaring 2015, 2016, and 2017 to be the Years of the Arctic; encouraging the state and 02 its partners to join with the Institute of the North in encouraging the state to promote its 03 Arctic policy during the Years of the Arctic and to take action to address the strategic 04 recommendations in the Implementation Plan of the Alaska Arctic Policy Commission. 05 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 06 WHEREAS residents of the state are at the forefront of emerging economic and 07 resource development opportunities, vibrant healthy communities, and circumpolar 08 cooperation; and 09 WHEREAS the vision of the state for the Arctic is based on economic resource 10 development, a healthy environment, secure and safe communities, and transparent decision 11 making; and 12 WHEREAS the Arctic is an integral part of the identity of the state, home to many 13 residents of the state, and an important part of the history, culture, and prosperity of the state; 14 and 15 WHEREAS the Arctic is a significant geopolitical feature of the nation; and
01 WHEREAS the Arctic is becoming increasingly accessible, presenting a multitude of 02 opportunities that should be realized; and 03 WHEREAS the Implementation Plan, released by the Alaska Arctic Policy 04 Commission, highlights the critical importance of the Arctic to the future of the state; and 05 WHEREAS there is a need to strengthen international collaboration, promote 06 economic and resource development, and continue to cultivate healthy communities and a 07 healthy environment in the Arctic; and 08 WHEREAS the United States will chair the Arctic Council from April 2015 to 09 May 2017; and 10 WHEREAS the state should anticipate increased national and international attention 11 during this period; and 12 WHEREAS nothing in this resolution supports, endorses, or opposes the 13 reestablishment of the Alaska coastal zone management program that expired in 2011 and was 14 rejected by the state voters in 2012; and 15 WHEREAS nothing in this resolution supports, endorses, or opposes the United 16 Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; 17 BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature declares 2015, 2016, and 2017 18 to be the Years of the Arctic, a period during which the state should make every effort to 19 highlight the importance of the Arctic to residents of the state and nation; and be it 20 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature encourages the state and 21 its partners to join with the Institute of the North in encouraging the state to promote its Arctic 22 policy and broadening awareness of Arctic issues; and be it 23 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature encourages the state to 24 take action during the Years of the Arctic to address the strategic recommendations in the 25 Implementation Plan of the Alaska Arctic Policy Commission.