Legislature(2021 - 2022)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/28/2022 03:30 PM Senate COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB298 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 298 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
April 28, 2022
3:30 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Shelley Hughes, Chair
Senator Robert Myers, Vice Chair
Senator David Wilson
Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Lyman Hoffman
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 298(CRA) AM
"An Act establishing the Alaska Food Strategy Task Force; and
providing for an effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 298
SHORT TITLE: ALASKA FOOD STRATEGY TASK FORCE
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) SNYDER
02/04/22 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/04/22 (H) CRA
03/15/22 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
03/15/22 (H) Heard & Held
03/15/22 (H) MINUTE(CRA)
03/17/22 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
03/17/22 (H) Heard & Held
03/17/22 (H) MINUTE(CRA)
03/24/22 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
03/24/22 (H) Moved CSHB 298(CRA) Out of Committee
03/24/22 (H) MINUTE(CRA)
04/04/22 (H) CRA RPT CS(CRA) 6DP 1NR
04/04/22 (H) DP: MCCARTY, DRUMMOND, MCCABE, PRAX,
HANNAN, SCHRAGE
04/04/22 (H) NR: PATKOTAK
04/14/22 (H) BEFORE HOUSE IN THIRD READING
04/14/22 (H) CALL FOR THE QUESTION WITHDRAWN
04/14/22 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
04/14/22 (H) VERSION: CSHB 298(CRA) AM
04/19/22 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/19/22 (S) CRA
04/28/22 (S) CRA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE LIZ SNYDER
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 298.
ARIELLE WIGGIN, Staff
Representative Liz Snyder
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented the sectional analysis for HB 298
on behalf of the sponsor.
HEATHER MCCARTY, Fisheries Consultant
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided invited in support of HB 298.
AMY SEITZ, Executive Director
Alaska Farm Bureau;
Chair, Alaska Food Policy Council
Soldotna, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided invited testimony in support of HB
298.
TIKAAN GALBREATH, Associate Director
Technical Assistant Network
Intertribal Agriculture Council
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided invited testimony in support of HB
298.
ROBBI MIXON, Executive Director
Alaska Food Policy Council
Homer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 298.
CLAIRE LUBKE, Program Director
St. Francis House Food Pantry
Catholic Social Services
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 298.
PHOEBE AUTRY, Interim Executive Director
Alaska Farmland Trust
Palmer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 298.
ALAN BUDAHL, Executive Director
Lutheran Social Services of Alaska;
Co-Chair, Alaska VOAD
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 298.
RON MEEHAN, Policy and Advocacy Manager
Food Bank of Alaska;
Manager, Alaska Food Coalition
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 298.
LINDA BEHNKEN, Executive Director
Alaska Longline Fishermen's Association
Sitka, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 298.
JAMIE MORGAN, Government Relations Regional Lead
American Heart Association
Sacramento, California
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 298.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:30:20 PM
CHAIR SHELLEY HUGHES called the Senate Community and Regional
Affairs Standing Committee meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. Present
at the call to order were Senators Gray-Jackson, Myers, Wilson,
and Chair Hughes.
HB 298-ALASKA FOOD STRATEGY TASK FORCE
3:30:44 PM
CHAIR HUGHES announced the consideration of CS FOR HOUSE BILL
NO. 298(CRA) am "An Act establishing the Alaska Food Strategy
Task Force; and providing for an effective date."
3:31:16 PM
REPRESENTATIVE LIZ SNYDER, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau,
Alaska, sponsor of HB 298, voiced excitement about the positive
energy that is focused on improving food security throughout the
state by improving access to healthy foods and growing the food
economy. She expressed support for the governor's Alaska Food
Security and Independence Task Force, the legislature's Alaska
Grown Caucus, and the broad suite of stakeholders involved in
food production, harvest, distribution, and consumption. She
continued to introduce HB 298 speaking to the following sponsor
statement:
HB 298 establishes the Alaska Food Strategy Task
Force, a multidisciplinary task force on Alaska's food
systems and sovereignty with the goal of improving
food security for the long-term benefit of Alaska's
communities, economy, and environment. Sitting members
will come from various communities and interests and
be representative of Alaska's diverse population.
Alaska faces both significant challenges and
opportunities with respect to food systems and food
security. We are a geographically remote state with
expansive borders but have millions of acres of arable
land. We rely heavily on food imports, but also have
thriving traditions of hunting, fishing, and gathering
and a robust seafood industry. We are increasingly
susceptible to shifts in hydrological regimes and
forest fires but are also home to an abundance of
fresh water and have a future of extended growing
seasons.
The Alaska Food Strategy Task Force seeks to take
advantage of our strengths and provide sound, data-
driven policy recommendations to grow our food system.
It will do this by providing policy, legislation, and
implementation strategy recommendations for
strengthening Alaska's food systems in six integrated
focus areas:
1) Sustainably growing the agriculture industry;
2) Sustainably growing markets for locally grown,
locally harvested, and locally processed foods;
3) Enhancing the climate for food and beverage
businesses;
4) Minimizing food waste and diverting it from the
waste stream;
5) Improving connectivity, efficiencies, and
outcomes in state-run programs affecting food
availability and access; and
6) Ensuring food security in rural and urban
communities.
REPRESENTATIVE SNYDER highlighted that a seventh integrated
focus area was added in the other body to increase emphasis on
transportation and infrastructure.
HB 298 was created in collaboration with stakeholders
such as the Alaska Food Policy Council, the Alaska
Farm Bureau, and the Food Bank of Alaska, who want to
grow Alaska's food system and economy. It looks to
find long-term solutions and untapped economic
potential for our state. I hope you can join me in
supporting this bill and urge you to reach out to my
office with any questions or concerns.
REPRESENTATIVE SNYDER stated that because 95 percent of
Alaskans' commercially available food comes from outside the
state, it's very easy to imagine what would happen if that
supply-chain were interrupted for any length of time. This also
means that about $2 billion of Alaskans money is leaving the
state when it could be redirected to support and diversify local
economies by growing and harvesting food within the state.
REPRESENTATIVE SNYDER described the composition of the task
force executive board. Its membership is comprised of Alaska
Food Policy Council board members, two legislators from each
body with equal minority and majority representation, state
commissioners from relevant departments, and public members who
work in related fields. Over the course of about two years, the
task force will provide policy, legislation, and strategies for
implementation. The task force is designed to be part of the
solution for Alaska's food system insecurity challenges through
comprehensive engagement with policymakers and community
members.
SENATOR HUGHES requested the sectional analysis.
3:38:06 PM
ARIELLE WIGGIN, Staff, Representative Liz Snyder, Anchorage,
Alaska, presented the sectional analysis for HB 298 on behalf of
the sponsor. It read as follows:
Sec. 1: Adds legislative intent language to the
uncodified law of the State of Alaska to establish the
Food Strategy Task Force
Sec. 2: Adds a new section to the uncodified law of
the State of Alaska describing the composition and
function of the Alaska Food Strategy Task Force.
(a)-(d) outlines the composition of the Task Force.
The Task Force will consist of 9 executive board
members, and an additional 26 members, all of whom
serve on the advisory committees addressing the six
integrated focus areas as described in section 2(j).
The 9 members of the Executive Board will be:
o Five members of the Alaska Food Policy Council
(AFPC) selected by the governing board
o Four members of the legislature appointed
jointly by the president of the senate and
speaker of the house of representatives
Two members will be from the senate and two
from the house of representatives
At least one member must be a member of the
minority of the senate or the house
The following commissioners or their designees
shall serve as members of the task force:
o The Commissioner of the Department of Natural
Resources, or their designee
o The Commissioner of the Department of Fish and
Game, or their designee
o The Commissioner of the Department of Health
and Social Services, or their designee
o The Commissioner of the Department of Commerce,
Community, and Economic Development, or their
designee
o The Commissioner of the Department of Education
and Early Development, or their designee
o The Commissioner of the Department of
Transportation, or their designee
21 members, selected by the executive board,
shall include the following:
o One member from a mariculture development
organization
o One member from an agricultural development
organization
o One member from a fisheries-related
organization
o One member from a local food marketing
organization
o One member from a hunger and nutrition
organization
o One member from an economic development
organization
o One member from the food distribution or
transportation industry
o Two members from Alaska Native or intertribal
organizations or Alaska Tribal governments
addressing food sovereignty
o Two members who are Alaska food producers
o Two members from the food service industry o
One youth member
o One member each from the faculty at the
University of Alaska Anchorage, the University of
Alaska Fairbanks, the University of Alaska
Southeast, and Alaska Pacific University
o Three members selected to provide additional
expertise in food system development
(e)-(i) Provides general guidance for board
governance, specifically:
Instructs the executive board to select members
to provide expertise in key areas of food system
activity
Instructs the executive board to select the chair
and vice chair annually from members of the
executive board.
Indicates members will serve without
compensation.
Subjects the Task Force to the Open Meetings Act
(AS 44.62.310 44.62.319) and the Alaska Public
Records Act (AS 40.25.100-40.25.295) and
instructs them to meet during and between
legislative sessions to accomplish its duties
Allows the executive board to remove a member of
the Task Force, if that member misses more than
two meetings in a calendar year and has not been
previously excused, or if they are not
contributing in a meaningful way to the
activities of the Task Force
(j)-(m) Directs and provides guidance for the Alaska
Food Strategy Task Force to create advisory committees
to present state policy, legislation, and
implementation strategy recommendations in [seven]
areas:
1. Sustainably growing the agriculture industry
2. Sustainably growing markets for locally grown,
locally harvested, and locally processed foods
3. Enhancing the climate for food and beverage
businesses
4. Minimizing food waste and diverting it from
the waste stream
5. Improving connectivity, efficiencies, and
outcomes in state-run programs affecting food
availability and access
6. Ensuring food security in rural and urban
communities.
7. Improving transportation and infrastructure to
transfer and deliver food in the state.
Each task force member shall serve on one or more of
these advisory committees. Recommendations created by
the Task Force must address:
o Public, non-profit, and private investment and
infrastructure o Regulatory issues
o Research and development needs
o Environmental changes o Workforce development
needs
o Infrastructure needs
o High food costs and food access
o Food safety
o Varying scales of food system development
o Innovative technologies for the Circumpolar
North
o Adaptation of successful food systems policies,
models, and programs across the Circumpolar North
and other US states
o Alaska Tribal relations as they pertain to food
security and food sovereignty
o Emergency preparedness
Task force recommendations must also be:
o Evidence-based
o Stakeholder-informed
o Economically sound
o Environmentally sustainable
o Equitable
(o) Requires the Task Force to present recommendations
on half of the integrated focus areas by August 1,
2023 and the other half by August 1, 2024 in a report
format. They must also submit the report to the
appropriate officials and notify the legislature that
the report is available.
Sec. 3: Addresses the DHSS split and subsequent change
in commissioners.
Sec. 4: Adds a new section to the uncodified law of
the State of Alaska that instructs the Alaska Food
Strategy Task Force to begin work by December 1, 2022,
or as soon as a majority of members have been selected
Sec. 5: Repeals Sections 1 and 2 of this Act on June
30, 2025
Sec. 6: Adds an effective date of July 1, 2022, for
section 3 alone.
Sec. 7: Adds an immediate effective date under AS
01.10.070(c) Time Statutes Become Law and Take Effect,
except as provided in section 6.
3:40:19 PM
SENATOR MYERS asked for an explanation of the goal of the third
integrated focus area of the task force identified on page 4
line 7:
(3) enhancing the climate for food and beverage
businesses;
REPRESENTATIVE SNYDER answered that it's not so much looking at
restaurants and areas where there is already great growth and
success such as with breweries, distilleries, and farmers
markets. It's more about promoting things like online sales hubs
for food producers and processors; addressing issues related
regulations and policies that may be hindering certain new areas
of food-related businesses; regulations about safety; and
startup incentives for certain lines of business that might be
seen in circumpolar countries but not in Alaska. She said she
understands how that may be misinterpreted and she would welcome
suggestions to tighten the language.
3:42:36 PM
SENATOR MYERS said he appreciates the illumination and agrees
that Alaska may be lagging in food processing.
3:43:18 PM
SENATOR D. WILSON referenced Section 2 and noted that on page 3,
line 3, paragraph (11) identifies one youth as a task force
member. He asked for an explanation.
REPRESENTATIVE SNYDER answered that the thinking was that it
would be someone under age 18 who is involved in 4-H or
gardening, or some other documented interest in some aspect of
the Alaska food system.
SENATOR D. WILSON said he was trying to understand why the task
force should have multiple seats from the same or similar
sectors and whether that would make it too large to function as
intended.
3:45:22 PM
SENATOR HUGHES asked how a task force with 36 members would
function, who would be charged with managing the people, and
whether legislative staff would be used to provide staffing.
REPRESENTATIVE SNYDER answered that it is being set up to cover
the areas of expertise needed from food production, to harvest,
to processing, to distribution, to access to marketing, to food
safety, to cultural appropriateness, to disposal. The idea is
that the task force will create integrative food strategy for
the state.
She agreed that each of the university campuses would have
multiple seats. The reason is that there is broad expertise
across the different campuses and they all could make useful
contributions to the conversation. She also believes it is a
good idea to have broad representation from the different
geographic areas of the state. University faculty are also
accustomed to working in these types of groups to help
coordinate, collaborate, and generate documentation and reports.
They will bring valuable skillsets to this large group.
REPRESENTATIVE SNYDER noted that Heather McCarty had been
invited to testify. She is the former Chair of the Mariculture
Task Force and a lot of the bill was inspired by that task
force. First, that work is very recent, second it was focused on
a component of the larger food system, and third it was
exceptionally successful. At least two pieces of legislation
have been introduced as a direct result of that task force, they
helped reduce lease application backlogs, streamlined the
application process, and developed a training center. HB 298 is
a bit more explicit in the areas of expertise, but it was
modeled on the Mariculture Task Force. It had 11 members on what
was called the "task force proper" and additional members worked
on advisory groups so the size was similar to this task force.
She suggested that Ms. McCarty could talk about how the group
was able to coordinate and be productive.
REPRESENTATIVE SNYDER confirmed that legislators who serve on
the task force would dedicate some of their staff to assist with
administrative tasks associated with the task force. The Alaska
Food Policy Council recently received a USDA grant for data
gathering and stakeholder engagement activities statewide that
will work in parallel with this task force. They also have
resources to contribute to administering the work of this task
force.
3:51:24 PM
SENATOR HUGHES turned to invited testimony on HB 298.
3:51:58 PM
HEATHER MCCARTY, Fisheries Consultant, Juneau, Alaska, stated
that she was the vice chair then the chair of the Mariculture
Task Force that sunsetted last summer. She briefly described how
it worked. The task force proper had 11 members and then there
were working groups that worked on specific aspects of the
development of mariculture. Each of the working groups was
chaired by a member of the task force proper who had the
responsibility of transmitting all the work back to the task
force proper. The task force proper and the working groups met
separately. The task force proper met about once a month in
public meetings. In the beginning just two or three members of
the public attended the meetings but as interest grew across the
state more people attended. Towards the end of the life of the
task force 30-40 members of the public would attend the
meetings. The working groups would meet when called by the
chairs and those meetings were also open for public
participation. Each working group drew members from the industry
who had specific areas of expertise in mariculture, ranging from
research to marketing. At the end of the five-year life of the
task force, there was an enormous body of information and
recommendations that went into the report to the governor. Most
of the work was done in the working groups, which was very
effective, but the task force proper put it all together into
the report. She described it as an effective way to do business.
3:55:24 PM
AMY SEITZ, Executive Director, Alaska Farm Bureau; Chair, Alaska
Food Policy Council, Soldotna, Alaska, stated that both
organizations recognize the need for a comprehensive strategy to
build a resilient food system in Alaska. The food system in
Alaska has been reliant on the production of food, the
workforce, and long-distance shipping from other states and
countries for far too long. This has made Alaska vulnerable to
disruptions and caused it to miss out on about $2 billion per
year by relying on imported foods. She highlighted that with the
pandemic, the supply chain is not returning to normal very
quickly. Shelves are still empty and the price of food is
continuing to rise.
MS. SEITZ emphasized that it was time to work collaboratively
with the stakeholders in the food system to shape a strategy to
build a robust food system in Alaska. The different sectors must
work together, not in silos. The task force established under HB
298 will bring together experts from various industries and
sectors of the food system to share their expertise.
Importantly, there will also be input from state agencies and
legislators. HB 298 and the governor's task force fit together.
The Food Security and Independence Task Force will start soon,
has a shorter timeframe, and will provide recommendations to
work on over the fall and winter. HB 298 has a longer timeline
and it will build on the information from the governor's task
force in order to develop a strategy for building a resilient
food system for Alaska.
4:00:06 PM
TIKAAN GALBREATH, Associate Director, Technical Assistant
Network, Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC), Fairbanks,
Alaska, recounted the history of IAC including that it was
established in 1987 to focus on conservation development and
agricultural resources for the betterment of its people. He said
global events are showing the need to evaluate the
sustainability of food systems. IAC recognizes this need and
invests time and energy in an array of diverse services. He
described Alaska's position as unique, because in many cases the
state does not have existing infrastructure. This makes it
easier moving forward to imagine a future that Alaskans want to
see. There is an opportunity to develop a resilient and robust
food system that provides food, builds the economy, and reduces
contributions to the global carbon footprint.
MR. GALBREATH stated that part of the Technical Assistant
Network is funded under the national network. Technical
assistant specialists in each region are available to support
tribes and tribal producers to accomplish the goals of food
sovereignty. He highlighted that in Alaska he is starting to see
more Alaskan-made food and food products in homes. There should
be more of this because meals that are all Alaskan grown,
harvested, and caught brings people together, builds community,
and makes a more resilient state economy. Collectively, Alaska
Native people are the largest private landholders in the state.
In most cases, that land was selected based on the traditional
uses and availability of food resources. Alaska Natives
generally value the ability to continue to practice traditional
ways of life while ensuring food security in their communities.
MR. GALBREATH asked the committee members to consider whether
they would want to live in Alaska if all its food resources
disappeared. He encouraged support for HB 298 as a meaningful
step in supporting these resources.
4:06:50 PM
CHAIR HUGHES opened public testimony on HB 298.
4:07:14 PM
ROBBI MIXON, Executive Director, Alaska Food Policy Council,
Homer, Alaska, testified in support of HB 298 on behalf of AFPC.
She described AFPC's goal to create a healthier, more secure,
and self-reliant Alaska through a stronger, more equitable, and
sustainable food system. It is a small group with a large reach
and great expertise. She mentioned statewide working groups and
partnership grants that seek to connect local food system
organizations. AFPC has done asset mapping to identify unique
capacities for Alaska's food systems as well as barriers. She
opined that the training and resources AFPC has gathered over
the past ten years will be an asset for the task force proposed
in HB 298. She concluded that there are tremendous challenges
ahead, but AFPC believes in the vision of food security and is
in full support of HB 298.
4:10:56 PM
CLAIRE LUBKE, Program Director, St. Francis House Food Pantry,
Catholic Social Services, Anchorage, Alaska, stated support for
HB 298 as a robust, wholistic, and strategic way to address food
insecurity in Alaska. She advised that she would relay a short
message from CEO Robin Dempsey about the work Catholic Social
Services (CSS) does and how it relates to the Food Strategy Task
Force.
MS. LUBKE recounted that during FY 2021, CSS served more than
12,000 people in Anchorage. Last month there were 1,800 visits
to the food pantry. CSS sees how food insecurity impacts lives
and communities and understands the need to improve food
systems. She cited more data to demonstrate the seriousness of
the situation. She highlighted the positive contribution that
the Refugee Assistance and Immigration Services Program is
making to combat food insecurity in Anchorage. Through
agricultural programing, CSS is working to strengthen systems
that provide local, freshly grown produce to underserved
neighborhoods and provide opportunities for clients to become
food entrepreneurs. She opined that the results would be
overwhelmingly positive if HB 298 were to implement similar
initiatives statewide. The Food Strategy Task Force will
consider multiple facets of the food system while giving
communities a critical voice at the table. This will result in
better outcomes for those in need and the economy.
4:14:24 PM
PHOEBE AUTRY, Interim Executive Director, Alaska Farmland Trust
(AFT), Palmer, Alaska, testified in support of HB 298 on behalf
of AFT. She described AFT as a nonprofit whose primary mission
is to permanently protect Alaska's valuable agricultural soils
and support a thriving food system that will provide Alaskans
with healthy food and keep farmers farming. She stated that AFT
believes that the Food Strategy Task Force established under 298
is essential to create an inclusive localized opportunity for
stakeholders to collaborate on strategies to address food
security for all Alaskans. On a daily basis, AFT sees the
multilayered problems with Alaska's food system that make the
state very vulnerable. Shelves can be empty in the depth of
winter, but the effect of the global pandemic on grocery store
shelves is particularly worrisome for underserved Alaskans. AFT
believes that a strong agricultural economy and a vibrant food
system will not only improve food security but also diversity
the state economy and make it more sustainable. The Food
Strategy Task Force created under HB 298 will provide a path
forward and the best opportunity to increase food security in
Alaska. The Alaska Farmland Trust fully supports HB 298.
4:16:33 PM
ALAN BUDAHL, Executive Director, Lutheran Social Services of
Alaska (LSSA); and Co-Chair of Alaska VOAD, a volunteer
organization that is active during disasters, Anchorage, Alaska,
testified in support of HB 298. He stated that LSSA has seen
such a large increase in the number of people who are seeking
assistance in obtaining food that the government is now allowing
weekly visits to the food pantries in Anchorage. There has also
been a sharp increase in the number of seniors who need
assistance. Pre-pandemic there were 152 on the food pantry's
enior Box List" and today there are 495 seniors on that list.
There are also many more families and households visiting the
mobile food pantry in the parking lot of the Lutheran Church of
Hope. Pre-pandemic 100-120 households visited this weekly food
bank and yesterday 210 households were served.
MR. BUDAHL said there is a clear need for the Food Strategy Task
Force that will be formed if HB 298 were to pass. He is also
interested because two Lutheran congregations started gardens in
the last several years to help the food pantry, and last year
they produced 2.5 tons of produce. Now a third congregation has
expressed interest in starting a garden. This needs to be
encouraged and the Food Strategy Task Force can do that.
MR. BUDAHL said he also wanted to highlight that the Alaska
Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) is always
working to ensure that a food supply is ready in the event of
disaster and transportation is available to get the food to the
disaster. He thanked the committee for its consideration of HB
298.
4:20:00 PM
RON MEEHAN, Policy and Advocacy Manager, Food Bank of Alaska;
and Manager, Alaska Food Coalition, Anchorage, Alaska, testified
in support of HB 298, reading the following prepared statement:
The Alaska Food Coalition consists of more than 160
partners from every corner of Alaska representing food
banks and pantries, state agencies, tribal councils,
faith-based organizations, nonprofits, among others.
We advocate for state and federal policies to reduce
food insecurity, build healthy communities, and
promote access to affordable, nutritious, and
culturally appropriate food through the cultivation of
a strong anti-hunger network. HB 298 will reinforce
our efforts to ensure all Alaskans have enough
nutritious food for a healthy life, and will help us
create a stronger and more sustainable food system.
Alaskans face unique challenges to food production and
maintaining access to nutritious foods due to our
geographic isolation and the distance between our
communities. Finding solutions to overcome these
barriers will require research and collaboration among
the different food sectors and from the different
regions of our state. The task force created by HB 298
will allow for this necessary broad representation
among the stakeholders of Alaska's food system while
also giving communities across Alaska a voice at the
table. Focusing policy and implementation
recommendations on sustainably growing the
agricultural industry, improving efficiencies and
outcomes in state-run programs, and ensuring food
security in both rural and urban communities stands to
substantially benefit all Alaskans. This legislation
supports this while also strengthening markets for
locally grown, harvested, and processed foods.
Ultimately, the formation of a robust food security
task force stands to greatly enhance Alaska's food
system, and we are enthusiastic about the research and
projects that HB 298 will provide.
4:22:19 PM
LINDA BEHNKEN, Executive Director, Alaska Longline Fishermen's
Association (ALFA), Sitka, Alaska, testified in support of HB
298. She stated that ALFA recognizes the importance of
developing a comprehensive statewide strategy to strengthen
Alaskan's food systems, improve food security for all Alaskans,
and encourage more food to be locally grown, harvested, and
distributed. She highlighted that seafood is an important
component of food security in Alaska. More than 50 percent of
the seafood harvested in US waters is harvested off Alaska, but
just one percent of that harvest stays in Alaska.
MS. BEHNKEN reported that in 2010 ALFA launched Alaskans Own. It
is the first community-supported fishery program in the state to
increase the availability of local seafood and build connections
between residents who value Alaska's sustainable seafoods and
the fishermen who catch it. Alaskans Own provides high-quality
seafood that is caught by local fishermen, processed locally,
and distributed throughout the state with a forward funded
subscription program. Because of this network, ALFA was well
positioned to help families in need when the pandemic hit and
food shortages proliferated. With many project partners, ALFA
was able to provide more than 630,000 seafood meals to Alaskan
families in need as well as some in the Lower 48. With funding
from a USDA regional food system planning grant, ALFA is
currently working to continue distribution. ALFA recognizes that
Alaska's food system is vulnerable and believes it is important
for Alaskans to support Alaskans both in times of need and times
of plenty. This is more important than ever and HB 298 is an
important step to meet the challenges and seize the
opportunities. She urged the committee to support the
legislation and task force it would create.
4:25:19 PM
JAMIE MORGAN, Government Relations Regional Lead, American Heart
Association (AHA), Sacramento, California, testified in support
of HB 298. She stated that AHA advocates for state and federal
policies that reduce food insecurity, build healthy communities,
and promote access to affordable and nutritious food. She
relayed that HB 298 is consistent with AHA's efforts to ensure
that all Alaskans have access to healthy food, which will
ultimately help communities thrive.
4:26:17 PM
SENATOR HUGHES closed public on HB 298.
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON said she was concerned initially about the
size of the task force, but she has come to understand why so
many varied entities are involved.
SENATOR HUGHES commented that it will take money to make a
transformative, systematic change to Alaska's food system. She
posited that the three task force members selected "to provide
additional expertise in food system development" may be the
avenue to provide that. She wanted that observation on the
record.
CHAIR HUGHES referenced subsection (i) on page 3 that addresses
the removal of a member of the task force. It read:
(i) The executive board may remove a member of the
task force if the member misses more than two meetings
in a calendar year without being previously excused or
if the member does not contribute in a meaningful way
to the activities of the task force. Vacancies on the
task force shall be filled in the same manner as the
original selection.
CHAIR HUGHES asked if this also applied to the "sub work
groups.
REPRESENTATIVE SNYDER answered no; the remaining 21 members of
the task force are selected by the executive board. Her vision
was that if a member was removed, the executive board would find
a replacement. This language came from the Mariculture Task
Force. She expressed willingness to add specificity to the
language if that was the committee's desire.
CHAIR HUGHES asked for confirmation that this only applied to
the 21 members of the task force that were not on the executive
board or any of the six commissioners.
REPRESENTATIVE SNYDER answered that is what was envisioned.
CHAIR HUGHES mentioned Mr. Galbreath's testimony about Alaska's
bounty. She asked if there was research to support the notion
that foods that are grown, caught, or harvested locally are
healthier.
4:28:44 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SNYDER answered yes; she is aware of studies both
on the antioxidant content in wild harvested blueberries
compared to store bought as well as evidence that the nutrients
in produce degrade with age. She also recalled that the Division
of Agriculture held a taste test that found Alaska grown carrots
were much sweeter than store bought. She said the science is
that the cooler nights converts more sugars into the carrot. A
body of literature also documents the cultural appropriateness
of foods and the relationship to mental health and social well-
being. The availability of familiar healthy foods in hospital
environments is also associated with faster recouperation.
Another body of evidence suggests that allergies can be reduced
by consuming foods that come from a person's local environment.
She offered to gather the information if that was of interest.
CHAIR HUGHES said it seems like common sense and it's always
nice when science supports a gut feeling. She reviewed several
items that would appear in the forthcoming Senate Committee
Substitute and raised the idea of establishing a special
committee in both the House and Senate to address food security.
4:35:23 PM
CHAIR HUGHES held HB 298 in committee.
4:35:43 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Hughes adjourned the Senate Community and Regional Affairs
Standing Committee meeting at 4:35 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 298 Sponsor Statement 02.07.2022.pdf |
SCRA 4/28/2022 3:30:00 PM |
HB 298 |
| HB 298 Sectional Analysis Version C 04.19.2022.pdf |
SCRA 4/28/2022 3:30:00 PM |
HB 298 |
| HB 298 Explanation of Changes.pdf |
SCRA 4/28/2022 3:30:00 PM |
HB 298 |
| HB 298 Testimony - Recieved as of 04.28.2022.pdf |
SCRA 4/28/2022 3:30:00 PM |
HB 298 |