Legislature(2025 - 2026)GRUENBERG 120
01/27/2025 08:30 AM House RULES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HJR3|| HJR4 | |
| HJR4 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HJR 4 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HJR 3 | TELECONFERENCED | |
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.
HJR 4-RES. TO MAINTAIN DENALI AS OFFICIAL NAME
9:01:05 AM
CHAIR STUTES announced that the next order of business would be
a continuation of 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.
9:01:22 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MAXINE DIBERT, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, gave a sponsor statement for HJR 4 [included in the
committee file], which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
Good morning, Madam Chair and members of the House
Rules Committee. I am Representative Maxine Dibert,
and I'm here today to ask for your support on House
Joint Resolution 4, which seeks to maintain the name
Denali.
There is something truly special about seeing Mount
Denali in our home state. Even a brief glimpse of the
highest peak in North America fills Alaskans with a
sense of pride. The towering giant, in all its glory,
stands as a symbol of our state's majesty. Denali has
been known by its true name for thousands of years,
and that name is Denali. It's not just a nameit's a
symbol of history, culture, and respect. The name
comes from the Koyukon Athabascan language, meaning
"The Tall One."
As many of you know, this process has not been easy.
It took nearly four decades after the Alaska State
Legislature's 1975 resolution for the federal
government to officially recognize the name Denali.
That long wait was a testament to the perseverance and
strength of the people of Alaska, who continued to
advocate for the name that felt most authentic to
their identity. Finally, in 2015, after years of
effort, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names officially
recognized Denali. This decision was widely celebrated
by Alaskans and reflected the recognition of the
mountain's cultural significancenot only to Native
communities, but to all Alaskans.
I urge you, members of the House Rules Committee, to
support House Joint Resolution 4. Denali is more than
just a mountain. It represents Alaska's history,
culture, and people. Changing the name back to Mount
McKinley would be a disservice to all those who have
fought to preserve the name Denali and to the Native
communities who have called this land home for
thousands of years.
Let's keep the name Denalithe name that has always
reflected the grandeur of the tallest peak in North
America, the name that connects us to our past, and
the name that honors our future. Thank you.
9:04:05 AM
CHAIR STUTES announced the committee would bring forth a
committee substitute.
9:04:22 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP moved to adopt the proposed committee
substitute (CS) to HJR 4, Version 34-LS0339\G, Bullard, 1/25/25,
as a working document. There being no objection, Version G was
before the committee.
9:04:46 AM
MATT GRUENING, Staff, Representative Louise Stutes, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of Representative Stutes and the House
Rules Standing Committee, explained the changes from the
original bill version to Version G by highlighting a sponsor
statement [included in the committee file], which read as
follows [original punctuation provided]:
Page 1, lines 2-4 of version G: The title was amended
to reflect the addition of new "resolve" language on
Page 2, lines 26-27, as well as lines 29-32.
Page 1, lines 4-5 of version N: Deleted "whereas"
language from the previous version.
Page 1, line 15 through Page 2, line 1 of version G:
Added the following language: "WHEREAS on June 7,
1913, Walter Harper, a 20-year-old man of Athabaskan
descent, became the first person to stand on the
summit of the mountain." Page 2, lines 19-24 of
version N: Deleted "whereas" language from the
previous version. Page 2, lines 22-24 of version G:
Added the following language "WHEREAS the Alaska State
Legislature supports efforts to recognize the heritage
of the state's Alaska Native peoples and the
continuing importance of the mountain to Alaska Native
culture." Page 2, lines 26-27 of version G: Added the
"United States Board on Geographic Names" to the list
of entities in the resolution's request. Page 2, lines
29-31 of version G: Added additional "resolve"
language requesting Alaska's congressional delegation
to advocate on behalf of, and work to preserve, Denali
as the official name for the tallest mountain in North
America. Page 3, lines 1-7 of version G: Replaced
previous reference to "United States Secretary of the
Interior" with the "Honorable Walter Cruickshank,
Acting United States Secretary of the Interior" for
cleanup purposes. Added the following to the list of
individuals and entities copied on the resolution: the
"Domestic Names Committee," the "United States Board
on Geographic Names," the "Honorable Lisa Murkowski,"
the "Honorable Dan Sullivan," and the "Honorable Nick
Begich."
9:07:46 AM
CHAIR STUTES ascertained that there were no questions or
amendments for HJR 4, Version G.
9:08:03 AM
REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON offered a comment in support of HJR 4. He
remarked that the distinction of the Denali name "in many
respects preceded the 1975 decision throughout the Native
community" and "throughout Alaska as a whole." She opined that
"time is of the essence" to send this message to the
congressional delegation and anyone involved "in this decision"
that [the Alaska State Legislature] is acting on behalf of all
Alaskans. He proffered that the name Denali has become an
Alaska landmark and courses through the business community,
through the state's vernacular, and is "a part of who we are."
He indicated that as a history buff, it is of interest to him
why President McKinley's name was even considered in the 1890s.
Representative Edgmon concluded that he thinks HJR 4 is
appropriate and he appreciates the sponsor brining it forward,
and he urged the committee to act quickly and decisively to keep
the name intact.
9:09:38 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP moved to report CSHJR 4, Version 34-
LS0339\G, Bullard, 1/25/25, out of committee with individual
recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes.
9:09:54 AM
CHAIR STUTES asked for a roll call vote but voided the roll.
She announced that there being no objection, CSHJR 4(RLS) was
reported out of the House Rules Standing Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HJR4 Version N 1.22.25.pdf |
HRLS 1/27/2025 8:30:00 AM |
HJR 4 |
| HJR3 Version A 1.22.25.pdf |
HRLS 1/27/2025 8:30:00 AM |
HJR 3 |
| CSHJR4 (RLS) Version G Explanation of Changes 1.26.25.pdf |
HRLS 1/27/2025 8:30:00 AM |
HJR 4 |
| HJR3 Fiscal Note-LEG-SESS-01-24-2025.pdf |
HRLS 1/27/2025 8:30:00 AM |
HJR 3 |
| HJR4 (RLS) Work Draft Version G 1.25.25.pdf |
HRLS 1/27/2025 8:30:00 AM |
HJR 4 |
| HJR4 Fiscal Note-LEG-SESS-01-24-2025.pdf |
HRLS 1/27/2025 8:30:00 AM |
HJR 4 |
| HJR 4 Sponsor Statement 1.26.25.pdf |
HRLS 1/27/2025 8:30:00 AM |
HJR 4 |