ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE
April 17, 2016
1:30 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Cathy Giessel, Chair
Senator Mia Costello, Vice Chair
Senator John Coghill
Senator Bert Stedman
Senator Bill Stoltze
Senator Bill Wielechowski
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Peter Micciche
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CS FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 28(FSH)
Opposing the United States Food and Drug Administration's
approval of AquaBounty AquAdvantage genetically engineered
salmon; urging the United States Congress to enact legislation
that requires prominently labeling genetically engineered
products with the words "Genetically Modified" on the product's
packaging; and supporting the efforts of the state's
congressional delegation to delay the confirmation of the new
commissioner of the United States Food and Drug Administration
until the United States Food and Drug Administration agrees to
require labeling for genetically engineered salmon.
- MOVED SCS CSHJR 28(RES) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HJR 28
SHORT TITLE: OPPOSING GM SALMON
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) TARR
01/19/16 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/19/16 (H) FSH, L&C
02/04/16 (H) FSH AT 10:00 AM CAPITOL 120
02/04/16 (H) Moved CSHJR 28(FSH) Out of Committee
02/04/16 (H) MINUTE(FSH)
02/05/16 (H) FSH RPT CS(FSH) NT 4DP
02/05/16 (H) DP: HERRON, KREISS-TOMKINS, ORTIZ,
STUTES
04/13/16 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/13/16 (H) Moved CSHJR 28(FSH) Out of Committee
04/13/16 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
04/14/16 (H) L&C RPT CS(FSH) NT 3DP 1NR
04/14/16 (H) DP: JOSEPHSON, KITO, OLSON
04/14/16 (H) NR: TILTON
04/15/16 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
04/15/16 (H) VERSION: CSHJR 28(FSH)
04/16/16 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/16/16 (S) RES
04/17/16 (S) RES AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE GERAN TARR
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HJR 28.
THATCHER BROWER, Staff to Representative Geran Tarr
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Offered to answer questions on HJR 28.
DANIEL GEORGE, Staff to Senator Bill Stoltze
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Explained Conceptual Amendment 1 to CSHJR
28(FSH) for the sponsor.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:30:33 PM
CHAIR CATHY GIESSEL called the Senate Resources Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Stedman, Costello, Coghill, and Chair
Giessel.
HJR 28-OPPOSING GM SALMON
1:30:52 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL announced consideration of CSHJR 28(FSH). [version
29-LS1213\H was before the committee.]
1:31:31 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GERAN TARR, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau,
Alaska, sponsor of HJR 28, presented the resolution.
THATCHER BROWER, Staff to Representative Geran Tarr, Alaska
State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, introduced himself.
REPRESENTATIVE TARR said everyone is familiar with the issue of
genetically modified salmon. The first piece of legislation
passed in 2005 required labelling at the state level. This has
been a universally opposed proposal by Alaskans. In 2013, prior
to approval, the legislature joined the congressional delegation
in speaking up against it. Unfortunately, on November 19, 2015,
the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved genetically
modified salmon. Since then the congressional delegation has
been leading the charge in fighting it and asking for additional
requirements, particularly related to labelling. More recently
lawsuits were filed in Canada and in the United States; so this
is not a done deal.
She said the potential impacts to Alaska's economy are
concerning. The commercial fishing industry is the largest
private sector employer bringing in more than $6 billion
annually. Also, wild Alaska salmon are integral to our Alaskan
way of life. Hopefully, this resolution gives our delegation a
little fuel to add to the fire so the delegation can say their
state stands strongly behind them.
REPRESENTATIVE TARR noted many supporting letters and documents
from major fishing groups and retailers that are concerned about
this issue.
1:33:31 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI joined the committee.
1:33:48 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TARR also noted that approval was done under the
1938 Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act as a veterinary drug. The U.S.
lawsuit challenges the FDA saying their authority was really
meant for testing drugs used in livestock to resist and prevent
disease not to approve genetically modified animals for human
consumption. This is the first time they have ever approved a
genetically modified animal for human consumption.
1:34:51 PM
SENATOR STOLTZE joined the committee
1:35:16 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL noted a correction saying they are hearing HJR 28
not HJR 29 as she stated at the beginning of the meeting.
Finding no further questions, she opened public testimony, and
finding none, closed it.
SENATOR STOLTZE said that the FDA-related Food Safety
Modernization Act has been a difficult issue for smaller Alaska
farmers. Alaska is classified as Tier 5 by volume of farms,
which throws it in the same category as Rhode Island and some of
the other small states.
In speaking to the farmers, including the new director of the
Division of Agriculture, Senator Stoltze said they are asking
the federal government to put Alaska into Tier 4, because of its
logistical challenges and non-connectivity. He asked
Representative Tarr if she felt that was consistent with this
FDA issue, if he were to offer an amendment.
1:36:30 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TARR agreed if they think broadly about food
security issues in Alaska that it would fit well with this as a
communication to the federal government, and specifically to the
people at the FDA.
1:36:46 PM
SENATOR STOLTZE moved Conceptual Amendment 1.
CHAIR GIESSEL objected for purposes of discussion.
SENATOR STOLTZE said his staff, Daniel George, had worked with
the Division of Agriculture, and the discussion would be more
complete with him.
1:37:12 PM
DANIEL GEORGE, staff to Senator Bill Stoltze, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, said the conceptual amendment does
three things. First, it puts the "WHEREAS" on page 3, line 3,
relating to the delay of the confirmation of the FDA
commissioner in the past tense. That commissioner was confirmed
by the Senate 89 to 4 on February 24. So, it just deletes the
word "has".
Second, the amendment adds two WHEREAS's and a FURTHER RESOLVED
on page 3, following lines 5 and 8. It talks about how Alaska is
classified as Tier 5 for purposes of appropriation and
compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act. They talked
with the director of the Division of Agriculture about the
concern that Alaska is not a state where one can simply go from
one end to the other in one day and it also has fiscal
challenges. The division asked them to do all they could to
assist in making this change.
Finally, Mr. George pointed out that on page 3, line 20, the FDA
no longer has an acting commissioner as he is now confirmed, and
this corrects that.
CHAIR GIESSEL removed her objection and asked for further
discussion.
SENATOR COSTELLO asked if this results in Alaska getting
additional federal funding.
1:39:22 PM
SENATOR STOLTZE replied that it could potentially get more
funding, and going to Tier 4 recognizes the compliance
difficulties as well. It puts Alaska into a category where
optimally there would be more than just money for the
inspections but at a higher threshold of understanding. He said
there is also a new Speaker of the House and Secretary of the
U.S. Senate that might need to be corrected as well.
CHAIR GIESSEL finding no further objection, announced that
Amendment 1 was adopted.
1:40:39 PM
SENATOR STOLTZE moved HJR 28, as amended, from committee with
individual recommendations and zero fiscal note(s). There were
no objections and SCS CSHJR 28(RES) moved from committee.
CHAIR GIESSEL thanked Representative Tarr for the resolution.
1:41:21 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL adjourned the Senate Resources Committee meeting
at 1:41 p.m.