01/27/2025 08:30 AM House RULES

         HJR 3-RES. TO MAINTAIN DENALI AS OFFICIAL NAME                                                                     
         HJR 4-RES. TO MAINTAIN DENALI AS OFFICIAL NAME                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
8:56:54 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR STUTES announced that the  first order of business would be                                                               
HOUSE  JOINT RESOLUTION  NO. 3,  Opposing efforts  to change  the                                                               
name of the tallest mountain in  North America from Denali to Mt.                                                               
McKinley, and  supporting efforts  to recognize the  heritage and                                                               
continuing  importance  of  the  mountain and  of  Alaska  Native                                                               
peoples and  HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION  NO. 4, Urging  the President                                                               
of  the United  States and  the  United States  Secretary of  the                                                               
Interior to maintain Denali as  the official name for the tallest                                                               
mountain in North America.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR STUTES  stated that this  is not a political  issue, rather                                                               
it is  about honoring  Alaska's Native  culture and  heritage, as                                                               
well as  "our right to determine,  as Alaskans, what is  best for                                                               
us."  She stated that [the  federal executive order to change the                                                               
name of Denali  to Mount McKinley] is a  federal overreach, which                                                               
is  something [the  State of  Alaska] has  always resisted.   She                                                               
noted that  the proposed resolutions  "do not carry the  force of                                                               
law"  but  "represent  an  expression  of  the  opinion  of  this                                                               
legislature."   She  concluded  by sharing  her  belief that  the                                                               
proposed resolutions  would send  a critical message  to Alaska's                                                               
federal   partners,  the   Lower   48,   and  the   congressional                                                               
delegation.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
8:58:10 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  ASHLEY  CARRICK,  Alaska  State  Legislature,  as                                                               
prime sponsor,  presented HJR 3.   She stated that June  7, 1913,                                                               
was the  day that  Athabascan Walter  Harper, at  the age  of 20,                                                               
became the  first person to  stand on  the summit of  Denali, the                                                               
highest peak in North America.   She said it was this legacy that                                                               
inspired her  to sponsor HJR 3,  to affirm the name  Denali.  She                                                               
then noted that in late May  2019, her father stood on the summit                                                               
of Denali  at age 50.   She stated,  "Denali is far  greater than                                                               
the  accomplishments of  man."   She noted  that the  name Denali                                                               
translates  to  English  as  "The  Great One."    She  asked  the                                                               
committee  to  support [HJR  3  and  HJR  4].   She  offered  her                                                               
understanding  that  "a vast  majority  of  Alaskans support  and                                                               
affirm the name of Denali."   She asked the committee to join her                                                               
in "respecting the deep heritage  and cultural importance Denali"                                                               
and "affirming its name."                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:01:00 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR STUTES announced that HJR 3 was held over.