SR 8-FEBRUARY 2018: BLACK HISTORY MONTH  3:38:17 PM CHAIR MEYER called the committee back to order. He announced the consideration of Senate Resolution 8 (SR 8). 3:38:48 PM SENATOR TOM BEGICH, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SR 8, said the resolution is like the resolution that was proposed the previous year and passed by the Senate. He explained that SR 8 simply declares February 2018 as "Black History Month." He noted differences from the previous year's resolution. He asserted that the history of African Americans in Alaska is a history that is part of the state's fabric. He disclosed that in 1926 the United States initiated "Negro History Week" observance. In 1976, President Ford expanded the observance to "Black History Month" with the month of February chosen to recognize African American contributions in the nation's history. He noted that the February was chosen because it was the birth month of Abraham Lincoln and Fredrick Douglas. 3:40:41 PM He addressed the previous resolution and noted that he knew Senator Faiks and shared his history with the senator when she served in the Legislature. 3:41:41 PM CHAIR MEYER opened and closed public testimony. 3:42:15 PM SENATOR GIESSEL moved to report SR 8, version 30-LS1308\D from committee with individual recommendations and attached zero fiscal note. 3:42:37 PM CHAIR MEYER announced that being no objection, the motion carried.