03/18/2014 09:00 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS

          SCR 17-150TH ANNIVERSARY OF ALASKA PURCHASE                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:03:28 AM                                                                                                                    
ERIN HANSON,  Staff, Senator  McGuire, Alaska  State Legislature,                                                               
Juneau, Alaska, provided an overview of SCR 17 as follows:                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     SCR-17   is  a   resolution  commemorating   the  150th                                                                    
     anniversary  of   the  purchase  of  Alaska   for  $7.2                                                                    
     million. Urging Alaskan  communities to plan activities                                                                    
     and events in 2017  to commemorate the Alaska purchase.                                                                    
     Requesting that the  Alaska Historical Commission (AHC)                                                                    
     coordinate  events  and  inviting  Alaska  communities,                                                                    
     schools, universities,  libraries, museums, businesses,                                                                    
     civic  and historical  groups, and  government agencies                                                                    
     to participate in  and support commemorative activities                                                                    
     and  events. As  Alaskans  we all  share  a unique  and                                                                    
     special  pride in  our great  state,  from rich  Alaska                                                                    
     native   heritage,   to    our   unparalleled   natural                                                                    
     resources,  our  majestic  landscapes, to  our  diverse                                                                    
     communities,  plus   some  of   the  most   caring  and                                                                    
     resilient people in the  country. This resolution gives                                                                    
     us the opportunity to reflect  on the history of Alaska                                                                    
     under the American flag and  share with the rest of the                                                                    
     nation  what  makes our  state  so  strong. The  United                                                                    
     States purchased  Alaska from  Russia in 1867  for $7.2                                                                    
     million,  or   about  2  cents   an  acre.   The  150th                                                                    
     Anniversary  of the  purchase is  an ideal  opportunity                                                                    
     for all  Alaskans to  celebrate our  state's remarkable                                                                    
     history.  SCR 17  recognizes the  historic significance                                                                    
     of the  anniversary of the purchase  and encourages all                                                                    
     Alaskan  communities  to   participate  in  celebration                                                                    
     statewide.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
She noted that SCR 17 comes with a zero fiscal note.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:05:28 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  WIELECHOWSKI  pointed  out  that  "sesquicentennial"  is                                                               
defined as 150 years.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR COGHILL  remarked that  it is  important for  Alaskans to                                                               
begin to look  at Alaska's sesquicentennial from the  time of the                                                               
purchase until now.  He pointed out that Alaska  was purchased by                                                               
the federal government  and the state was  ultimately granted 104                                                               
million acres. He  noted that the Alaska was probably  one of the                                                               
largest geographic transfers that was done without bloodshed.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
9:07:20 AM                                                                                                                    
BARBARA PROPES, Staff, Office of  the Lieutenant Governor, Alaska                                                               
State Capitol, Juneau,  Alaska, said AHC has been  working on the                                                               
sesquicentennial event  and noted that  interest and  support was                                                               
growing  across the  state. She  pointed  out that  AHC has  been                                                               
working  considerably with  the native  communities to  make sure                                                               
all  sides are  heard.  She added  that AHC  has  reached out  to                                                               
Seattle and other  states that have been affected  by Alaska. She                                                               
said the hope is for  the sesquicentennial event to gain national                                                               
appeal as well.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR COGHILL  asked what organization  will be  overseeing the                                                               
event.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MS. PROPES  answered the Alaska Historical  Commission (AHC). She                                                               
noted that by statute, the  Lieutenant Governor serves on AHC and                                                               
currently acts as Chair. She added  that she is the current point                                                               
of contact for the sesquicentennial event.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  COGHILL noted  the importance  in having  Alaskans learn                                                               
about their state's history and  its impact on addressing present                                                               
day issues.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:09:14 AM                                                                                                                    
VICE-CHAIR GIESSEL  announced that seeing no  additional requests                                                               
for testimony, public testimony is closed.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:09:22 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  COGHILL  moved to  report  SCR  17 from  committee  with                                                               
individual recommendations and attached zero fiscal note.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:09:34 AM                                                                                                                    
VICE-CHAIR  GIESSEL declared  that seeing  no objections,  SCR 17                                                               
moves from committee.