SJR 16-END RUSSIA EMBARGO ON U.S. SEAFOOD  SJR 17-INCREASE SEAFOOD EXPORTS  11:03:01 AM CHAIR STUTES announced that the order of business would be SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 16, Calling on President Biden to immediately seek and secure an end to the embargo imposed by Russia on seafood imports from abroad so that Alaska seafood producers' access to the Russian domestic seafood market is fully restored, and SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 17, Requesting the United States Trade Representative to bring a renewed focus on the plight of producers of seafood in the state and the United States and to compel China to comply with its commitment to increase its imports of seafood products from the United States. 11:03:33 AM REPRESENTATIVE STORY moved amendment 1 to SJR 16, labeled 32- LS0912\A.1, Bullard, 1/26/22, which read as follows: Page 2, line 12, following "States;": Insert "the Honorable Antony Blinken, United States Secretary of State; the Honorable Gina Raimondo, United States Secretary of Commerce; the Honorable Katherine Tai, United States Trade Representative;" REPRESENTATIVE STUTES objected. 11:03:49 AM REPRESENTATIVE STORY explained amendment 1 to SJR 16 which, following previous committee discussion, would include additional federal official recipients to include the States Secretary of State; the United States Secretary of Commerce; and the United States Trade Representative. 11:04:42 AM REPRESENTATIVE STUTES removed her objection; there being no further objection, amendment 1 to SJR 16 was adopted. 11:04:53 AM The committee took a brief at-ease. 11:05:13 AM CHAIR STUTES moved amendment 2 to SJR 16, labeled 32-LS0912\A.2, Bullard, 1/26/22, which read as follows: Page 1, lines 2 - 3: Delete "so that Alaska seafood producers' access  to the Russian domestic seafood market is fully  restored" Insert ", or place a reciprocal embargo on  Russian seafood entering the United States, until a  reasonable trade agreement restoring Alaska seafood  producers' full access to Russia's domestic seafood  market is secured" Page 2, lines 9 - 10: Delete "so that Alaska seafood producers' access to Russia's domestic seafood market is fully restored" Insert ", or place a reciprocal embargo on Russian seafood entering the United States until a reasonable trade agreement restoring Alaska seafood producers' full access to Russia's domestic seafood market is secured" 11:05:47 AM REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS objected. CHAIR STUTES explained that amendment 2 was drafted with the intent to place an embargo on Russian seafood imports until the Russian embargo on U. S. seafood imports was lifted. She added that U. S. seafood [market share] had been undercut by Russian seafood in the U. S. domestic market. 11:07:09 AM SENATOR GARY STEVENS, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor, expressed his appreciation for the amendments and offered no objection. 11:07:19 AM REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS stated that it was unlikely that Russia would respond to a request to lift the trade embargo in light of increasing Russian aggressions against Ukraine, and that, should the amendment pass, the resolution would be more appropriately consequential. 11:07:56 AM REPRESENTATIVE VANCE expressed her gratitude that the amendment had been collaboratively drafted and expressed her appreciation that it would result in a more proactive approach to the Russian embargo. 11:08:16 AM REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE expressed his agreement with the amendment and suggested that a stronger resolution, should the amendment pass, was appropriate. He added his support for adding the U.S. International Trade representative to the recipients of the resolution. 11:09:14 AM REPRESENTATIVE STORY expressed her support for amendment 2 to SJR 16. 11:09:21 AM REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS removed his objection. 11:09:25 AM REPRESENTATIVE STUTES ascertained that there was no further objection, and amendment 2 to SJR 16 was adopted. 11:09:49 AM SENATOR STEVENS thanked the committee for hearing the resolutions. He noted the ongoing tensions with Russia and China which has caused enormous problems for the Alaska fishing industry, a large part of the Alaska economy. He stated that stronger trade agreements and enforcement would provide more opportunity for the [seafood] industry and workforce, including support industries. He added that the resolutions would be a good first step in addressing Russias and Chinas unfair trade practices and would benefit the state. He added that the Alaska congressional delegation was aware of the consideration of SJR 16 & SJR 17 and were in support of them. 11:12:13 AM CHAIR STUTES asked Mr. Barrows from the Pacific Seafood Processors Association (PSPA) to share his thoughts testimony provided by Representative McCabe at the January 25, 2022, House Special Committee on Fisheries in which he had expressed concerns regarding inadequate U. S. Coast Guard patrols of the arctic. She acknowledged that Mr. Barrows, like Representative McCabe, had served in the U. S. Coast Guard and had direct experience with patrols in the arctic. 11:13:14 AM CHRIS BARROWS, President, Pacific Seafood Processors Association, stated that his specialty during his 29 years of military service had been in fisheries policy and law enforcement. He stated the importance of maintaining enforcement presence in the Bering Sea along the Maritime Boundary Line between the U. S. and Russia. He added that the patrols also furthered sustainable management of Alaskas fisheries. He added that he had managed strategy and policy of fishery law enforcement from his post in Washington, D.C. as well as from Juneau Coast Guard District 17. He noted that, during his service, there existed the Ocean Guardian Plan with a specific focus in Alaska on international fisheries management that included a major cutter presence in the arctic. He stated his understanding that the programs continue and remain important to Alaska fisheries. 11:17:21 AM REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE expressed his appreciation of the U. S. Coast guard presence in Alaska. He stated that there existed satellite surveillance to attempt to detect illegal fishing activities of the Russian fleet; however, physically present patrols could not be replaced by satellite technology. He suggested that representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard could be invited to provide additional information to the committee regarding patrols and technologies in use for international fisheries management enforcement. 11:19:05 AM MR. BARROWS confirmed to Representative McCabe that the North Pacific Fishery Management Council maintains a non-voting seat designated for the Admiral of the U.S. Coast Guard. He stated that reports containing the information sought are provided to the council regularly. 11:20:17 AM REPRESENTATIVE VANCE moved to report SJR 16, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, SJR 16, as amended, was moved from committee. 11:20:53 AM REPRESENTATIVE STORY moved to report SJR 17 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, SJR 17 was moved from committee.