Legislature(2025 - 2026)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/04/2025 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Presentation: Andvsa- Alaska's Support for Those Experiencing Sexual and Domestic Violence | |
| SB40 | |
| SJR10 | |
| SJR6 | |
| SCR1 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 40 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SJR 10 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SJR 6 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SCR 1 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SJR 6-WASHINGTON D.C. STATEHOOD
4:29:00 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI announced the consideration of SENATE JOINT
RESOLUTION NO. 6 Supporting the admittance of Washington, D.C.,
into the Union as a state of the United States of America.
4:29:23 PM
MIKE MASON, Staff, Senator Loki Tobin, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, provided a recap of SJR 6 and read the
following:
[Original punctuation provided.]
The people that live in our nation's capital have many
of the same rights as you and I. However, they don't
have all the same rights. Senate Joint Resolution 6
seeks to change that.
Right now, the people of Washington, D.C. pay more in
federal taxes per capita than any other state in the
Union despite that fact that they are not fully
represented in Congress. If taxation without
representation is wrong, then the people of
Washington, D.C. are being wronged.
Right now, the people of Alaska are represented by two
U.S. Senators. The people of Washington, D.C. have no
representation in the U.S. Senate. Right now, the
people of Alaska are represented in the U.S. House of
Representatives by a single congressperson with all
the rights and responsibilities of a member of
Congress. Thanks to legislation passed in 1970, the
people of Washington, D.C. are allowed to send a
delegate to Congress. However, that person does not
get to vote on bills, resolutions, and other matters
before Congress. All they can do is talk.
I believe the will of the people that live in
Washington, D.C. is missing from the deliberations and
decisions made in the U.S. Congress. As a result, the
roughly 700,000 people that live in the District of
Columbia are disenfranchised from our federal
government despite that fact that they live in and
around the seat of the federal government.
4:31:08 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI announced invited and public testimony on SJR 6.
4:31:31 PM
WENDY HAMILTON, Reverend, Washington D.C., testified by
invitation on SJR 6 and stated that this legislation would give
representation in Congress to the 700,000 hardworking, taxpaying
residents of Washington, D.C. She stated that D.C is her home,
she lives, works, volunteers, and raises her family in D.C.,
like many others who contribute to the vibrant community. Yet,
D.C. residents have no vote in Congress, despite paying more
federal taxes per capita than any state and having a larger
population than Vermont or Wyoming. She said the local laws and
the budget can be overturned by Congress, which often uses D.C.
for political battles. D.C. residents have fought in every U.S.
war but still lack full representation. This isn't about
partisanship; it's about fairness and democracy. She stated that
D.C. isn't asking for anything special, just the same
representation every other state enjoys. D.C. statehood is about
giving a voice to Americans who have been denied their voice for
too long.
4:37:19 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN stated that Washington, D.C. was originally
designed as a square, spanning both sides of the Potomac River.
He asked why Washing D.C is no longer a square and why didn't
Virginia provide the portion of land as originally intended for
the capital.
4:38:07 PM
MS. HAMILTON answered her belief that the founders never
expected hundreds of thousands of people to permanently live in
D.C. but as the population grew, it became clear that D.C. had
to account for those residents outside the federal district. She
said what D.C. is asking for now is representation for those
residents, while still preserving the federal district itself.
4:38:45 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN asked whether it would be acceptable for
Washington, D.C. residents to gain congressional representation
by becoming part of Maryland, similar to how the Virginia
portion of D.C. was returned to that state.
4:39:09 PM
MS. HAMILTON answered that Maryland is not interested in having
Washington D.C. merge with the state of Maryland. She restated
her previous testimony.
4:41:32 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI closed invited and public testimony on SJR 6.
4:41:46 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked whether there are any other United
States citizens that pay federal taxes but aren't represented in
Congress.
4:41:57 PM
MR. MASON answered the United States citizens in Puerto Rico.
4:42:30 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI solicited the will of the committee.
4:42:38 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved to report SJR 6, work order 34-
LS0263\N, from committee with individual recommendations and
attached zero fiscal note(s).
4:42:52 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN objected.
4:42:53 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI found the objection was maintained and asked for
a roll call vote.
4:43:21 PM
A roll call vote was taken. Senators Gray-Jackson, Wielechowski
and Kawasaki voted in favor of moving SJR 6 and Senators
Bjorkman and Yundt voted against it. The vote was 3:2.
4:44:22 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI announced that SJR 6 was reported from committee
on a vote of 3 yeas and 2 nays.
4:44:34 PM
At ease.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SCR 1 Version A.pdf |
SSTA 3/4/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SCR 1 |
| SCR 1 Version A Sponsor Statement 1.29.2025.pdf |
SSTA 3/4/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SCR 1 |
| SCR 1 Supporting Document- Senate Majority Counsel Memo with Exhibits 3.11.2024.pdf |
SSTA 3/4/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SCR 1 |
| SCR 1 Supporting Document - S. Orlansky memo to D. Gardner 03.21.2024.pdf |
SSTA 3/4/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SCR 1 |
| SCR 1 Supporting Document - Alaska Constitution, Article II Section 16.pdf |
SSTA 3/4/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SCR 1 |
| SSA Alaska's support for those experiencing sexual and domestic violence.pdf |
SSTA 3/4/2025 3:30:00 PM |
|
| SCR1-LEG-SESS-03-03-2025.pdf |
SSTA 3/4/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SCR 1 |