03/12/2024 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS

         SB 131-ASIAN AMERICAN/PACIFIC ISLANDER PROGRAM                                                                     
                                                                                                                              
3:33:39 PM                                                                                                                  
CHAIR KAWASAKI announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO.                                                                   
131 "An Act requiring education in the history and contributions                                                                
of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders."                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:33:54 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR ELVI GRAY-JACKSON, District  G, Alaska State Legislature,                                                               
Juneau,  Alaska,  sponsor for  SB  131.  She  said SB  131  would                                                               
include  the  history of  Asian  American  Pacific Islanders  and                                                               
their contributions to K-12 schools.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:34:31 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KAWASAKI opened public testimony on SB 131.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:35:01 PM                                                                                                                    
GLADYS ANDERSEN,  representing self,  testified in support  of SB
. She  stated that as  a member  of the Filipino  community in                                                               
Juneau,  she appreciates  its organization  and  the backbone  it                                                               
provides for  a close-knit community, enabling  people to connect                                                               
both  locally  and  elsewhere.  She  expressed  her  belief  that                                                               
teaching Asian  American and Pacific Islander  (AAPI) history and                                                               
culture  is important,  given  the  significant contributions  of                                                               
Asian  Americans and  Pacific Islanders  in Alaska.  She recalled                                                               
discovering the book "Filipinos in  Alaska, 1788 to 1958" through                                                               
her  involvement  in  the   Filipino  community.  Including  AAPI                                                               
history  in  the  curriculum  would   help  children  and  future                                                               
learners broaden  their understanding and enhance  the history of                                                               
the diverse cultures and accounts  of Asian Americans and Pacific                                                               
Islanders  in the  state, thereby  increasing  the visibility  of                                                               
these communities in Alaska.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:35:55 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI joined the meeting.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:36:43 PM                                                                                                                    
SHAYNE  NUESCA, representing  self, Anchorage,  Alaska, testified                                                               
in  support  of SB  131.  She  said  she  serves as  the  Interim                                                               
Director of Make Us Visible  Alaska, a coalition working to bring                                                               
AAPI  history education  to Alaska  K-12  schools. She  expressed                                                               
that  the  bill  is  deeply   personal  to  her,  recounting  her                                                               
experience of  emigrating to the  U.S. from the  Philippines with                                                               
her  family at  the age  of six.  She shared  that although  they                                                               
could bring few  belongings, she brought a  set of encyclopedias,                                                               
which she  flipped through as  a child, searching  for references                                                               
to  the Philippines  and  Filipinos. She  reflected  on her  work                                                               
documenting  the history  of Filipinos  in Alaska  and connecting                                                               
with  students  who  have  also migrated  to  this  country.  The                                                               
ability to see  oneself represented in education and  media has a                                                               
profound  impact. Asian  American and  Pacific Islanders  are the                                                               
fastest-growing populations in  Alaska. SB 131 is  not just about                                                               
teaching  history but  also about  validating the  experiences of                                                               
students who deserve to feel seen.  She shared her desire for her                                                               
children  and all  children to  be  empowered by  the stories  of                                                               
Asian American  and Pacific Islanders  who have  made significant                                                               
contributions to the  state and country. She said that  SB 131 is                                                               
a matter of public safety  and recounted a personal experience of                                                               
being intimidated  by classmates for her  identity. She expressed                                                               
hope   that  future   generations   will   not  experience   such                                                               
discrimination  and  urged the  committee  to  pass SB  131  with                                                               
haste, ensuring  that future generations have  the representation                                                               
they  need to  feel  a  sense of  belonging  and  pride in  their                                                               
heritage.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:39:24 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KAWASAKI closed public testimony on SB 131.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:39:30 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KAWASAKI solicited a motion.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:39:32 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR CLAMAN  moved to report  SB 131, work  order 33-LS0769\A,                                                               
from  committee  with  individual  recommendations  and  attached                                                               
fiscal note(s).                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:39:50 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KAWASAKI  found no objection  and SB 131 was  reported from                                                               
the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.