Legislature(2025 - 2026)BARNES 124
05/15/2025 01:00 PM House RESOURCES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HJR26 | |
| HB119 | |
| HB206 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HJR 26 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SJR 19 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 119 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 206 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HJR 26-AK LNG PROJECT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
1:04:32 PM
CO-CHAIR BURKE announced that the first order of business would
be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 26, Requesting that the United
States Congress appropriate authorized federal workforce
development funds to train state residents for the development,
construction, and operation of the Alaska liquefied natural gas
project; and encouraging the hiring of residents and the use of
state-based small businesses in the development, construction,
and operation of the Alaska liquefied natural gas project.
1:04:44 PM
REPRESENTATIVE BILL ELAM, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, introduced HJR 26. He explained that the resolution
urged Congress to appropriate the $20 million in workforce
development funds authorized for the Alaska liquefied natural
gas (AKLNG) project. Congress had authorized this funding
specifically to support the workforce training for Alaska
Natives, rural residents, and dislocated workers for
participation in the AKLNG infrastructure. Despite the
authorization, the funds had not been appropriated. The
resolution further encouraged AKLNG project sponsors and
contractors to prioritize hiring trained Alaskans and working
with small in-state businesses. He explained how the resolution
aligned with existing statute. He pointed out that the training
infrastructure already existed across Alaska through regional
training centers and apprenticeship programs, but additional
funding would be needed to meet the labor needs of the LNG
project. He pointed to the long-term benefits of training
Alaska workers rather than relying on an out-of-state work
force. The resolution reinforced the state's support for in-
state labor and economic development tied to natural resource
projects.
1:07:55 PM
CO-CHAIR BURKE announced that the committee would hear invited
testimony.
1:08:08 PM
AMY SCHUMACHER, Executive Director, Fairbanks Pipeline Training
Center, spoke in support of HJR 26. She explained the
importance of gathering sufficient resources in preparation for
the proposed AKLNG project. She pointed out that the Fairbanks
Pipeline Training Center (FPTC) is the hub for everything that
goes to the slope, and the center is ready to train Alaskans.
1:09:15 PM
MS. SCHUMACHER responded to several questions by Representative
Saddler regarding funding, explaining that FPTC is a multi-craft
training trust. The funding includes contractor contributions,
some state grants, and support from the construction academy.
The FPTC would like to use the federal funds to expand and scale
up the annual pipeline training and for outreach classes to
introduce people to the pipeline trades. Regarding the question
of how the money would be spent, she explained that mainly it
would be training, capital improvements, equipment and
technology upgrades, and rural outreach.
1:12:58 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS described union activities and spoke of
the necessity of scaling up the training, emphasizing the
importance of apprenticeship.
1:14:09 PM
MS. SCHUMACHER addressed several of Representative Coulombe's
questions. She explained that most of the FPTC apprenticeship
programs require state residency. People from out of state who
seek training are encouraged to become residents. Individuals
from out of state would receive safety training, so they would
have the safety certification when they go to work. She said
the types of trades in the pipeline program include operating
engineers, plumbers and pipefitters, laborers, and teamsters.
The building trades are represented by the electricians. She
explained that FPTC trains on every capacity to build a pipeline
such as bringing the pipe in, stringing the pipe out, and
welding the pipe together. Each type of worker is familiar with
what the other workers are doing.
1:17:29 PM
MS. SCHUMACHER, in response to a question from Representative
Saddler, explained that if they wait and train during the build,
then they are too late. If the gas line does not go through,
there are still supporting projects that could benefit from
training Alaskans, including all the work on the North Slope.
1:19:34 PM
MS. SCHUMACHER responded to a question from Representative
Rauscher by first extending an invitation to the committee
members to visit FPTC in late October. She explained that each
craft learns their own trade. She described the training
experienced by the laborers, the pipefitters, the equipment
operators, the mechanics, and the teamsters. Each individual
craft would be learning their own task, but all would be doing
it in coordination with the other crafts, so they understood
what it would be like on the job, knowing where to stand and
where to be.
1:22:10 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS spoke about the unique environment of the
FPTC and explained that unlike schools where skills would be
learned individually, students at the FPTC learn to lay long
lengths of pipe with all the trades present prior to being on
the slope. The training would be coordinated, multi-craft work
that no individual training school could do on their own. He
pointed out that even if the AKLNG project did not materialize,
workers are needed for the Pikka and Willow projects.
1:23:18 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ELAM, in response to a question from
Representative Hall, explained that he didn't know why the money
had not yet been appropriated. He pointed out that the
resolution would help keep attention on the issue.
1:24:25 PM
KENDRA BROUSSARD, Staff, Representative Bill Elam, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of Representative Elam, prime sponsor,
answered questions regarding HJR 26. In response to a question
from Representative Hall, she explained that the Alaska Natural
Gas Pipeline Act was passed in 2014.
1:25:24 PM
MS. SCHUMACHER responded to a question from Representative Hall,
explaining that the Act was first written in 2004 and amended in
2014. She clarified that 15 percent of the funding was for a
pipeline training facility in Fairbanks.
1:25:55 PM
GREG CASHEN, Lobbyist, Fairbanks Pipeline Training Center,
addressed several questions from Representative Hall regarding
why the money for the FPTC had not been appropriated at that
time. He described the appropriation process, explaining that
the language includes a reasonable expectation that the natural
pipeline construction would commence by a date two years after
the date of certification. He pointed out that the project had
not made it that far, so the money had not been appropriated by
Congress. He said there was progress and there was a reasonable
likelihood of the appropriations going through. The funding
would go through the Department of Labor & Workforce Development
(DLWD). He described the pipeline training which simulated
actual Arctic pipeline conditions including staying in a camp
like the North Slope.
1:32:04 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER opined that the political climate at the
federal level should support the proposed LNG construction and
the thriving oil and gas industry, so the resolution is timely
and appropriate.
1:33:02 PM
MS. SCHUMACHER, in response to a question from Co-Chair Dibert,
explained that FPTC was engaged in training for each of the
North Slope trades. She discussed the North Slope pipeline
certification required for employment on the slope.
1:35:11 PM
WARREN CHRISTIAN, Secretary, Fairbanks Pipeline Training Center;
President, North Slope Contractors Association, explained the
role of the North Slope Contractors Association regarding
pipeline construction in Alaska and the role of the organization
in the FPTC. He described his meeting with the Alaska
congressional delegation in Washington, D.C. to address the
funding questions. He discussed the recruitment, the training,
and the apprenticeship programs sponsored by the unions, and
pointed out the value of training rural Alaskans. He explained
that the FPTC focuses on bringing in entry level personnel who
might be trained in one trade at the FPTC but then might enroll
in one of the union apprenticeship programs. The union
apprenticeship program at the FPTC then would help bring an
individual up to the skill level needed on the North Slope. He
pointed out at that time there was work at the Willow, the
Santos, and the Coyote projects in pipeline and ice road
construction.
1:38:34 PM
MS. SCHUMACHER, in response to a question from Co-Chair Dibert,
explained that there were five apprenticeships. There were 60
to 80 students during the last two years, and everyone who went
through the training went directly to work.
1:40:09 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ELAM agreed with Representative Coulombe's
suggestion that the governor should be added to the list of
recipients of the resolution.
1:42:15 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 1:42 p.m. to 1:43 p.m.
1:43:27 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS explained that he had to leave for another
meeting but that he supported the resolution.
1:43:45 PM
CO-CHAIR DIBERT moved to adopt Conceptual Amendment [1] to HJR
26, to add "the Honorable Michael J. Dunleavy, Governor of the
State of Alaska," to the recipient's list, following "Congress"
on line 24. There being no objection, Conceptual Amendment 1
was adopted.
1:44:22 PM
The committee took a brief at-ease at 1:44 p.m.
1:45:30 PM
CO-CHAIR BURKE opened public testimony on HJR 26, as amended.
After ascertaining there was no one who wished to testify, she
closed public testimony on HJR 26.
1:45:55 PM
CO-CHAIR DIBERT moved to report HJR 26, as amended, out of
committee with individual recommendations and the attached zero
fiscal note. There being no objection, CSHJR 26(RES) was
reported out of the House Resources Standing Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| draft RES CS HB 119 ver G.pdf |
HRES 5/15/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 119 |
| HB 206 Presentation HRES 5.14.pdf |
HRES 5/15/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 206 |
| HB 119 Summary of Changes N to G.pdf |
HRES 5/15/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 119 |