LR007
Resolve: LR007
Year: 1991
Source Bill: SCR 17
Source Root: SCR017
Designating April 14 - 20, 1991, as "Bone Marrow Donor Week."
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
WHEREAS many Alaskans and thousands of people throughout the world suffer from leukemia and other blood-related diseases and cannot survive without a bone marrow transplant; and
WHEREAS recent advances in bone marrow transplants now give people dying of blood-related diseases hope to be cured if a donor can be found whose bone marrow matches their own; and
WHEREAS 70 percent of the individuals needing a bone marrow transplant lack a qualified donor within their own families and must find an unrelated donor whose bone marrow perfectly matches their own to provide the life-saving marrow; and
WHEREAS the chances of finding a suitable unrelated bone marrow donor is between one in 20,000 and one in 1,000,000, depending on the patient's genetic make-up; and
WHEREAS there is a national bone marrow donor registry, established in 1987, to assist people in finding a suitable donor from a pool of 230,000 "typed" volunteers ready and willing to donate their life- giving marrow; and
WHEREAS there is an urgent, nationwide need to increase the pool to 1,000,000 available marrow donors of all ethnic backgrounds to increase the chance of finding a suitable donor for the 10,000 people who are currently awaiting a bone marrow transplant throughout the United States and who will die without a bone marrow transplant; and
WHEREAS thousands of people have already died for lack of a suitable marrow donor and this same grim prospect faces many other patients and their families throughout Alaska; and
WHEREAS it is necessary to promote a greater awareness of the need for healthy bone marrow donors and to encourage Alaskans to step forward to be typed and enrolled into the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry so that the pool of donors is as large and diverse as possible;
BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature designates the week of April 14 - 20, 1991, as "Bone Marrow Donor Week"; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislature encourages the commissioners of the state departments, with the commissioner of health and social services taking the lead, to work in cooperation with the Blood Bank of Alaska, Inc., to educate and inform state employees and other Alaskans about the bone marrow donor program through newsletters, check stubs, and other appropriate forms of communication.
LR008
Resolve: LR008
Year: 1991
Source Bill: HCS SJR 15(STA)
Source Root: SJR015
Opposing the proposed reduction in the cost-of-living allowance for federal employees in Alaska.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
WHEREAS the federal Office of Personnel Management commissioned a study that found that the cost of living in some parts of Alaska is now equal to the cost of living in Washington, D.C., which is the base for deciding eligibility for cost-of-living allowances in the federal government; and
WHEREAS approximately 13,000 federal employees are employed in Alaska, approximately 9,000 of whom receive a cost-of-living allowance; and
WHEREAS the Office of Personnel Management is considering, based on the study, eliminating the cost-of-living allowance for federal workers in Anchorage and Fairbanks and reducing the allowance severely for federal workers living in Juneau; and
WHEREAS the reduction or elimination of the cost-of-living allowance will result in a considerable economic hardship on federal employees in Alaska; and
WHEREAS medical and dental facilities and services are more readily available and more easily accessible to residents of Washington, D.C., typically at a lower cost than comparable services are available in Alaska, and many residents of Alaska must leave their towns and villages, and in many cases, even the state, to obtain medical care; and
WHEREAS the elimination or reduction of the cost-of-living allowance may have a significant effect on the ability and willingness of current federal workers in the state to remain in federal service in the state; and
WHEREAS the elimination or reduction will affect the ability of the federal government to attract new federal employees to positions in the state; and
WHEREAS many federal employees in Alaska have relied on the cost-of-living allowance in making financial commitments, including purchasing their homes, and a reduction in the allowance would have a devastating effect on their ability to continue to make housing payments; and
WHEREAS prior cost-of-living surveys have always utilized personal interviews of federal employees as a means of gathering data, but this study did not include direct employee interviews; and
WHEREAS the cost of living in Alaska is higher than the average cost of living in the nation, Alaska's climate is much colder for longer periods than the climate in Washington, D.C., resulting in Alaskans having to pay higher home heating costs, Alaskans pay a higher cost for gasoline and other motor fuels than do residents of Washington, D.C., and Alaskans pay a higher cost for airline travel within the state and from the state to other world destinations; and
WHEREAS these costs are not adequately addressed in the cost-of-living study prepared for the Office of Personnel Management;
BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests the Office of Personnel Management to conduct another cost-of-living study for federal employees in the state, which
(1) factors in the higher costs for energy, medical care and services, and transportation; and
(2) uses direct personal interviews of federal workers in the state as part of its methodology; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests the Congress of the United States to adequately provide for the cost-of-living allowance for Alaska's federal employees in the federal budget and to consider enacting legislation to establish entitlement to cost-of-living allowances by comparison with the average cost of living in the nation rather than in Washington, D.C.
COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Constance B. Newman, Director, Office of Personnel Management; the Honorable Dan Quayle, Vice-President of the United States and President of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable George Mitchell, Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Thomas S. Foley, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; and to the Honorable Ted Stevens and the Honorable Frank Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.
LR009
Resolve: LR009
Year: 1991
Source Bill: HCR 9
Source Root: HCR009
Supporting a bid by the World Trade Center Alaska/Anchorage to host the 1994 World Trade Centers Association General Assembly and international trade show.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
WHEREAS the state's role in the international market is growing dramatically, as demonstrated by the fact that the state's exports have nearly tripled in the past four years to reach the current level of $3,500,000,000 for calendar year 1990; and
WHEREAS the state's location provides it with a unique geographic proximity to markets in Asia, Europe, and North America; and
WHEREAS the state is known as the air crossroads of the northern hemisphere, and Anchorage International Airport serves 15 international air carriers; and
WHEREAS the City of Anchorage is the home of World Trade Center Alaska/Anchorage, which provides information, contacts, and programs on international trade to companies and individuals throughout the state, and which is a member of the World Trade Centers Association, a worldwide network of more than 220 international business organizations and world trade centers; and
WHEREAS the World Trade Center Alaska/Anchorage is bidding to host the 1994 World Trade Centers Association General Assembly and international trade show, which would bring approximately 1,000 delegates to the state's largest city, draw international attention to the state, and spread benefits throughout the state; and
WHEREAS a delegation of state residents representing business, government, and education will travel to Hong Kong in April 1991 to formally present the bid of the World Trade Center Alaska/Anchorage at the spring meeting of the World Trade Centers Association;
BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature strongly supports the bid by World Trade Center Alaska/Anchorage to host the 1994 World Trade Centers Association General Assembly and international trade show, and pledges on behalf of all of the residents of the state to extend to the general assembly delegates the warm hospitality for which the residents of the state are known.
A COPY of this resolution shall be sent to John Choon Kim, the executive director of the World Trade Center Alaska/Anchorage.
LR010
Resolve: LR010
Year: 1991
Source Bill: CSSJR 19(RES)
Source Root: SJR019
Relating to the management of the walrus population.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
WHEREAS the Pacific walrus, which includes about 80 percent of the world's walrus population, occurs primarily in the Bering and Chukchi Seas; and
WHEREAS the Pacific walrus population was severely depleted by commercial hunting two times during the past 100 years but has surpassed its pre-exploitation population, and is currently estimated to number approximately 234,000 animals; and
WHEREAS the Pacific walrus is harvested by coastal Native people of the state under rights protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1361 -1407); and
WHEREAS, at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) in 1987, the Netherlands with the support of some animal rights groups proposed increasing the protection afforded the Pacific walrus by moving the Pacific walrus from Appendix III to Appendix II of CITES, but the proposal was not adopted; and
WHEREAS an Appendix II listing with CITES allows CITES to regulate international trade in a way that may affect the ability of Native residents of the state to use Pacific walrus in traditional and customary ways; and
WHEREAS a proposal to change the appendix designation of Pacific walrus may be considered at the 1992 meeting of CITES; and
WHEREAS the taking of Pacific walrus by Native people in the state has been much less in recent years and is not large enough to endanger the population of Pacific walrus; and
WHEREAS the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and the Eskimo Walrus Commission have signed a memorandum of agreement to work together to establish and maintain a sound management policy for the health of the Pacific walrus population; and
WHEREAS the memorandum of agreement and other existing management systems provide adequate mechanisms for conservation of the Pacific walrus population;
BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature considers any change in the CITES Pacific walrus designation from Appendix III inappropriate since current management of the species has resulted in healthy population levels; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature encourages the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Eskimo Walrus Commission, and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to make a coordinated effort to thwart any proposals to change the appendix designation of Pacific walrus by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna.
COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna; the Honorable John F. Turner, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; the commissioner of fish and game; the Honorable Benjamin Nageak, Chair of the Eskimo Walrus Commission; and to the Honorable Ted Stevens and the Honorable Frank Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.
LR011
Resolve: LR011
Year: 1991
Source Bill: HCS SCR 11(HES) am H
Source Root: SCR011
Urging all Alaskans to "Take Pride in Sobriety."
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
WHEREAS use and abuse of alcohol in Alaska occurs at a rate far above the average compared to other states in the country; and
WHEREAS use and abuse of other drugs in Alaska also occurs at tragically high rates; and
WHEREAS abuse of alcohol and other drugs debilitates the user, causes dysfunctional families, threatens community cohesion, and places a heavy burden on public and private health care and social services systems; and
WHEREAS healthy individuals, families, and communities form the greatest resource necessary for a prosperous future;
BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature strongly supports the efforts of all individuals and organizations in the state that are developing and operating programs to prevent and treat alcohol and other drug abuse in their communities; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature designates 1991 as Take Pride in Sobriety Year, designates October 17 - 19, 1991, as Take Pride in Sobriety Weekend, encourages participation by every neighborhood in National Red Ribbon Week, October 19 - 27, 1991, and urges schools, health care organizations and practitioners, and other public and private agencies and individuals, including Native traditionalists, healers and elders, to observe the year, and particularly these dates, with appropriate activities.
LR012
Resolve: LR012
Year: 1991
Source Bill: HJR 31
Source Root: HJR031
Relating to pollution prevention, waste reduction, and recycling.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
WHEREAS recycling saves energy, and 20 recycled cans can be made with the same energy that it takes to make a single can from new material; and
WHEREAS recycling fights pollution, with glass recycling cutting related air pollution by 15 to 20 percent and aluminum recycling cutting related pollution by up to 95 percent; and
WHEREAS people in the United States recycle only one percent of the plastic that they use; and
WHEREAS the state's exposure to recycled products has been limited in the past but increased public awareness and new waste reduction and recycled product preference laws have created new and substantial demands for recycling and recycled products; and
WHEREAS the primary deterrents to recycling have been the unavailability of recycled products and the lack of markets and coordinated marketing for the products; and
WHEREAS there is an ever increasing demand for recycled products in the state by governmental agencies, businesses, and consumers; and
WHEREAS the Friends of Recycling, a Juneau-based organization, has organized a recycling fair in Juneau for the weekend of April 26 - 27; and
WHEREAS two measures, Senate Joint Resolution 70 and House Joint Resolution 169, have been introduced in the United States Congress to designate April 15 as National Recycling Day;
BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature supports designating April 15 as National Recycling Day, as proposed by SJR 70 and HJR 169 in the United States Congress; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature designates the week of April 21 - 27 as Waste Reduction and Recycling Week in the state to support the efforts of the Recycling Fair organized by the Friends of Recycling in Juneau and to encourage other communities to hold similar fairs; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature commends the City and Borough of Juneau for participating in the Recycling Fair through its Citizens' Advisory Committee on Waste Management; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature requests Governor Hickel to participate in the Recycling Fair through his appointed group, the Governor's Task Force on Waste Reduction and Recycling; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges the Governor to send a message to all residents of the state that pollution prevention, waste reduction, and recycling will not only help the environment but also represent an economic development opportunity, and that all sectors of the state need to make a commitment to pollution prevention, waste reduction, and recycling.
COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable George Bush, President of the United States; the Honorable Dan Quayle, Vice-President of the United States and President of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Robert C. Byrd, President Pro Tempore of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Thomas S. Foley, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; the Honorable Ted Stevens and the Honorable Frank Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress; the Honorable Walter J. Hickel, Governor of Alaska; the Honorable Bruce Botelho, Mayor of the City and Borough of Juneau; and to June Dawson, Chair of the Friends of Recycling.
LR013
Resolve: LR013
Year: 1991
Source Bill: CSSCR 13(RES)
Source Root: SCR013
Relating to the bycatch of Alaska chinook salmon by United States and foreign trawl fisheries.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
WHEREAS salmon of Alaska origin are important to the people of Alaska for subsistence, sport, and commercial fisheries; and
WHEREAS chinook salmon are one of the most prized and valuable species of Alaska salmon; and
WHEREAS chinook salmon originating in Alaska range extensively along the Alaska coast and out into the North Pacific; and
WHEREAS the State of Alaska has a vested interest in the conservation of chinook salmon populations originating within Alaska, and throughout western North America, due to its active involvement in numerous national and international salmon management bodies and treaties; and
WHEREAS new information from the National Marine Fisheries Service observer program is documenting a significant bycatch of chinook salmon in the groundfish trawl fisheries in the United States Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; and
WHEREAS the bycatch of chinook salmon threatens to affect allocation, conservation, and management programs within the State of Alaska and confound international allocation and equity issues for these chinook fisheries which are managed under the provisions of the United States-Canada Pacific Salmon Treaty; and
WHEREAS new information from domestic and federal observers also strongly indicates a significant bycatch of chinook salmon in the international waters of the central Bering Sea "donut hole"; and
WHEREAS biological information developed by the Fisheries Research Institute of the University of Washington and accepted by the International North Pacific Fisheries Commission has determined that the chinook salmon in the Bering Sea are primarily North American in origin and from streams in Southcentral, Southeast, and Western Alaska as well as from British Columbia; and
WHEREAS bycatch occurs on a mixture of salmon stocks well before run strength can be assessed and thus reduces the number of fish available in inshore areas and increases the risk of overharvest; and
WHEREAS the documented bycatch of any chinook salmon originating in the Canadian portion of the transboundary Yukon River can adversely affect United States interests in the ongoing United States-Canada Yukon River treaty negotiations;
BE IT RESOLVED by the Alaska State Legislature that the Governor petition the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and the United States Secretary of Commerce to be prepared to implement emergency regulations to limit the bycatch of chinook salmon in the 1991 trawl fisheries in the United States Exclusive Economic Zone, and to expedite a 1992 chinook salmon bycatch plan amendment to the Bering Sea/Aleutian Island and Gulf of Alaska Groundfish Fishery Management Plans; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor petition the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and the United States Secretary of Commerce to implement emergency and permanent regulations limiting the bycatch of Alaska chinook salmon by domestic trawlers in the central Bering Sea "donut hole"; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor petition the United States Secretary of Commerce to identify the complete range of chinook salmon as defined in the 1990 revisions of the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act and implement a rebuttable presumption for the interception of chinook salmon beyond the United States Exclusive Economic Zone; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor petition the United States Secretary of State, Secretary of Commerce, and Secretary of Transportation to immediately initiate international negotiations to end fishing within the "donut hole" in order to protect Alaska chinook salmon; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor request the United States Secretary of State, Secretary of Commerce, and Secretary of Transportation to authorize the United States Coast Guard to seize, under the authority of the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act as well as other treaties or bilateral agreements as might be appropriate, vessels discovered with contraband salmon on board, with such vessels to be sequestered in United States ports until disposition by the Federal Courts.
COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable James A. Baker, III, Secretary of the U.S. Department of State; to the Honorable Robert A. Mosbacher, Sr., Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce; to the Honorable Samuel K. Skinner, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation; and to the Honorable Ted Stevens and the Honorable Frank Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.
LR014
Resolve: LR014
Year: 1991
Source Bill: HCR 13
Source Root: HCR013
Relating to the twenty-fifth annual Boys' State.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
WHEREAS the twenty-fifth annual Boys' State will be held June 25 - July 3, 1991, at Camp Carrol on Fort Richardson under the sponsorship of the American Legion and cooperating organizations; and
WHEREAS this fine annual program is dedicated to increasing the delegates' awareness of their future roles in state and local government as well as promoting interest and knowledge about the operation of our system of government; and
WHEREAS it is only through an admirable combination of volunteer effort and the enterprising talents of generous individuals who do not receive government or taxpayer monetary support that this week- long youth citizenship exercise known as Boys' State takes place; and
WHEREAS the legislature encourages state and local legislators and other public officials and agencies to volunteer their services and to provide copies of state publications and materials related to the program;
BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature applauds the sponsors of and participants in the twenty-fifth annual Boys' State program; commends to the attention of government officials and agencies and private individuals and organizations the opportunity to support and participate in this exercise in youth citizenship; and promises to continue to provide legislative materials, advice, and encouragement to the Boys' State program as it does to similar worthy civic efforts.
LR015
Resolve: LR015
Year: 1991
Source Bill: HCR 14
Source Root: HCR014
Relating to the twenty-third annual Girls' State.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
WHEREAS the twenty-third annual Girls' State will be held June 9 - 16, 1991, at the University of Alaska Fairbanks under the sponsorship of the American Legion Auxiliary and cooperating organizations; and
WHEREAS this outstanding annual program of the American Legion Auxiliary ranks high among the efforts of several Alaska organizations to bring to the youth delegates an awareness of their future roles in state and local government; and
WHEREAS this week-long youth citizen exercise of Girls' State is made possible by an admirable combination of volunteer service and the free enterprise of generous people and organizations without placing a financial burden on government or on the taxpayer; and
WHEREAS it is consistent with these standards for the legislature to encourage state and local legislators and other public officials and agencies to volunteer their services and provide copies of state publications and materials that form an important part of the program;
BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature salutes the sponsors of and participants in the twenty-third annual Girls' State program; commends those government officials and agencies and private individuals and organizations who support and participate in this exercise in youth citizenship; and pledges to continue to provide legislative materials, advice, and encouragement to the Girls' State program as it does to similar worthy civic efforts.
LR016
Resolve: LR016
Year: 1991
Source Bill: HCS CSSJR 18(JUD)
Source Root: SJR018
Relating to federal legislation against violence to women.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
WHEREAS three out of four women in the United States will be victims of at least one violent crime during their lifetimes; and
WHEREAS the most serious crimes against women are rising at a significantly faster rate than the rate of total crime, and rape rates have risen nearly four times as fast as the total crime rate during the past decade; and
WHEREAS in the United States between 3,000,000 and 4,000,000 women are beaten each year and a woman is beaten by her spouse or partner every 18 seconds; and
WHEREAS from 1974 to 1987 the national rate of assaults against young women jumped by 48 percent, while for men of the same age group it decreased by 12 percent; and
WHEREAS the rape rate in the state is one and one-half times the national rate; and
WHEREAS the state's domestic violence and sexual assault programs have seen a 23 percent increase in the number of victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and a 44 percent increase in shelter nights in the past three years; and
WHEREAS last year alone there was a 27 percent increase in domestic violence cases brought before the district courts of the state; and
WHEREAS on January 14, 1991, S.15, the Violence Against Women Act of 1991, was introduced into the United States Senate to combat violence and crimes against women on streets and in homes; and
WHEREAS S.15 is a comprehensive bill to address domestic violence and provides national leadership and funding for increased efforts by prosecutors, police, public safety departments, shelters, and rape crisis centers to provide effective prevention, intervention, and response to this growing national problem; and
WHEREAS on February 21, 1991, S.472, a bill that in part addresses the problem of domestic violence was introduced into the United States Senate to improve the reporting of sexual assaults at school campuses, fund education grants to reduce domestic violence and to create a national task force on violence against women.
BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature declares its support for prompt action by the United States Congress to enact comprehensive legislation to combat domestic and other violence against women, and urges the United States Congress to enact legislation encompassing the best and most enlightened provisions of both S.15 and Sec. 201 and Secs. 241 - 272 of S.472 in order to combat the growing national problem of violence against women.
COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Dan Quayle, Vice-President of the United States and President of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Thomas S. Foley, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; the Honorable George J. Mitchell, Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Joseph R. Biden, Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary; and to the Honorable Ted Stevens and the Honorable Frank Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.
LR017
Resolve: LR017
Year: 1991
Source Bill: SCR 22
Source Root: SCR022
Relating to the state transportation system.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
WHEREAS transportation in rural parts of the state is primarily provided through a network of small regional airport facilities that are used by air carriers to supply reliable, safe, and regular transportation services; and
WHEREAS transportation in other parts of the state is provided through a surface system of road, marine, and rail transportation operated and maintained by the state; and
WHEREAS the state Department of Transportation and Public Facilities is considering establishing landing fees and increasing land use fees at rural airports but, at department hearings on the subject, the testimony was overwhelmingly against these changes; and
WHEREAS increasing the types and amounts of fees at rural airports would significantly and adversely affect the residents of the state who do not have alternative, subsidized forms of transportation; and
WHEREAS the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities has not completed a state transportation plan that could serve as a framework for discussing revenue-raising recommendations that involve the state transportation system;
BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature opposes establishing landing fees and increasing land use fees at rural airports in the state; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests the Governor to direct the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to complete a state transportation plan and report back to the Eighteenth Alaska State Legislature on alternative methods of raising revenue for the state transportation system.
LR018
Resolve: LR018
Year: 1991
Source Bill: HCR 20
Source Root: HCR020
Designating May 6 - 12, 1991, as "Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Week."
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
WHEREAS Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), also known as "crib death," is the number one cause of death in infants after the first week of life; and
WHEREAS approximately 6,000 - 7,000 infants die as a result of SIDS every year in the United States; and
WHEREAS these deaths are unpredictable because SIDS is not contagious, is not considered hereditary, and many of its victims display no observable symptoms before their deaths; and
WHEREAS no single test has been discovered to identify which infants will succumb to SIDS so there is no general means of preventing these deaths; and
WHEREAS SIDS occurs among families of all social and economic strata; and
WHEREAS the legislature wishes to acknowledge the tragedy of SIDS deaths and foster increased understanding of the trauma experienced by parents of the affected infants;
BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature designates the week of May 6 - 12, 1991, as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Week, and urges schools, health care providers, community organizations, state agencies, and other individuals and groups to undertake appropriate activities to educate persons in the state about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
LR019
Resolve: LR019
Year: 1991
Source Bill: CSHJR 16(TRA)
Source Root: HJR016
Relating to the federal highway trust fund and the federally aided highway program.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
WHEREAS the construction and maintenance of an adequate highway system is vital to the economic health of the states and the nation; and
WHEREAS the principle of relying on user fees held in a trust fund to finance the federal highway program has been recognized as a sound one by the Congress; and
WHEREAS, as a response to the federal deficit, the Congress enacted a five-cent motor fuels tax increase, of which half was earmarked for the federal highway trust fund with one-half cent designated for transit projects, and this increase is scheduled to expire in 1995; and
WHEREAS the Congress has for too long been holding back the highway trust fund money from its intended use in order to make it appear that the federal budget deficit is not as large as it actually is; and
WHEREAS the money in the highway trust fund is sorely needed by the states for their highway systems; and
WHEREAS the unique nature of Alaska's transportation needs has been recognized through an exemption in current federal law that allows the state to transfer funds between categories designated under the federal highway system; and
WHEREAS the federal aid highway program is due to expire in September 1991;
BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urgently calls upon the Congress to make federal highway trust fund money available immediately to the states for obligation in fiscal year 1991, or, in the alternative, requests that the states be repaid in later years for using state money for projects that should be financed by federal trust fund money; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the five-cent motor fuels tax be continued beyond 1995 and that the entire amount be earmarked for highway purposes; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that when the Federal Surface Transportation Assistance Act is extended, it should retain the same matching requirements and allocation formula for distributing money to the states that are used in the current Act and the same exemption that allows Alaska to transfer funds between categories designated under the federal highway system; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska Marine Highway System should be considered to be a part of the national highway system for purposes of federal transportation assistance.
COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Dan Quayle, Vice-President of the United States and President of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable George J. Mitchell, Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Thomas S. Foley, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; the Honorable Samuel K. Skinner, Secretary of Transportation; the Honorable Ted Stevens and the Honorable Frank Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress; and to the principal legislative committee whose jurisdiction includes transportation issues in each house of the legislature in the western states that are members of the Northwest Highway Users Association: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Hawaii.
LR020
Resolve: LR020
Year: 1991
Source Bill: SCR 1
Source Root: SCR001
Declaring June 16 - 22 to be Amateur Radio Week.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
WHEREAS amateur radio is an integral part of the life of many Alaska citizens; and
WHEREAS during the 1964 Alaska earthquake amateur radio operators, better known as "hams," provided the only link between Alaska and the other 49 states and were indispensable in establishing the only viable emergency communications links between key control points in the state; and
WHEREAS, when local emergencies such as fire and automobile accidents occur, amateur radio operators often play a role by relaying information that is vital to the public's safety, and may aid in contacting victims' relatives; and
WHEREAS during the holiday seasons many operators offer to send free messages to the families of the persons serving in the armed forces of the United States; and
WHEREAS, on the fourth Saturday of June each year, the American Radio League sponsors field day activities nationwide;
BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature declares June 16 - 22, 1991, to be Amateur Radio Week in Alaska in order to recognize the invaluable role that amateur radio has played and will continue to play in the state, and to increase the public's awareness of the vital importance of amateur radio to the lives and safety of all Alaska citizens.
LR021
Resolve: LR021
Year: 1991
Source Bill: CSHJR 29(STA) am
Source Root: HJR029
Relating to the Persian Gulf conflict.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
WHEREAS the members of our Armed Forces were called upon to liberate Kuwait and defend Saudi Arabia and Israel from the aggression of Iraq; and
WHEREAS many of the U.S. troops sent to the Persian Gulf were pulled away from civilian lives at great personal sacrifice; and
WHEREAS many of our U.S. troops, including Sergeant David Douthit of Alaska, made the ultimate sacrifice by giving their lives while serving in the Middle East; and
WHEREAS the Allied troops endured the uncertainties and hardships caused by separation from their loved ones for months while stationed in the harsh climate of the Middle Eastern desert under conditions that left them vulnerable to unpredictable missile attacks and terrorist activities; and
WHEREAS the troops successfully performed their mission with great dispatch, exemplifying the high degree of dedication, professionalism, and training that underlies the technological and strategic superiority of our military strength;
BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature
(1) commends the bravery of Alaska's military personnel, all the men and women who served in the Allied Forces in the Persian Gulf, and the civilians residing in the area; and
(2) congratulates the Allied commanding officers for pursuing tactics that led to a speedy cease-fire to end the ground war with very little loss of American or other Allied troops' lives; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislature requests the Alaska Legislative Council to direct the Legislative Affairs Agency to send the following message to all returning Alaskans and persons stationed in Alaska who served in the U.S. military forces in the Persian Gulf conflict: "The Alaska State Legislature thanks you heartily for your efforts in stopping Iraq's aggression, liberating Kuwait, and laying the foundation for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. You deserve a hero's welcome."
COPIES of this Resolution shall be sent to the Honorable George Bush, President of the United States; the Honorable Dan Quayle, Vice-President of the United States and President of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable George J. Mitchell, Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Thomas S. Foley, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; the Honorable Dick Cheney, Secretary of Defense; General Colin L. Powell, Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; General Norman Schwarzkopf, Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Central Command; the Honorable Ted Stevens and the Honorable Frank Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress; Lieutenant General Thomas G. McInerney, Commander, Alaskan Command; Major General Sam Ebbesen, Commander, Sixth Infantry Division (Light), U.S. Army; and to Major General Hugh Cox, Adjutant General, Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs.
LR022
Resolve: LR022
Year: 1991
Source Bill: SCS CSHJR 20(STA)
Source Root: HJR020
Encouraging the United States and Soviet national governments to establish consulates in Alaska and the Soviet Far East.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
WHEREAS Alaska is the only state with a Soviet border and is geographically closer to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.) than any other state, separated by only 2.5 miles at the closest point; and
WHEREAS Alaska and the Soviet Union share a common history and heritage and many Native people of both countries are related by blood and speak a common language; and
WHEREAS regular contact between Alaska and the Soviet Far East resumed about three years ago following more than 40 years of separation; and
WHEREAS citizens of Alaska and the Soviet Far East are at the forefront of opening trade, scientific, and cultural relations between the United States and the U.S.S.R. and Alaska and Soviet air carriers make frequent flights across the Bering Strait; and
WHEREAS the growing number of visits by Alaskans and Soviets to each other's countries and an increasing number of trade, tourist, scientific, and cultural ventures require visas and other approvals by both national governments; and
WHEREAS there is a considerable burden on and delay for those seeking to travel and pursue joint ventures because Soviets must personally travel to Moscow, the U.S. Embassy in Moscow is cutting back on approvals, and the Soviet Embassy in San Francisco processes an estimated 5,000 visa applications monthly;
BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature requests the United States and U.S.S.R. national governments to establish as soon as possible a U.S. consulate in the Soviet Far East and a Soviet consulate in Alaska to more quickly and efficiently process the required approvals for Alaska-Soviet exchanges and visits, and to further encourage the warming relations between our two countries.
COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable George Bush, President of the United States; the Honorable Mikhail S. Gorbachev, President of the Soviet Union; the Honorable James A. Baker, III, U.S. Secretary of State; the Honorable Alexander Bessmertnyk, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the U.S.S.R.; the Honorable James Matlock, U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union; the Honorable Viktor Kamenev, Soviet Consulate General in San Francisco; the Honorable Gueorgui S. Markossov, Consular for Intergovernmental Affairs, Soviet Embassy in Washington, D.C.; and to the Honorable Ted Stevens and the Honorable Frank Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.
LR023
Resolve: LR023
Year: 1991
Source Bill: CSHCR 22(HES)
Source Root: HJR022
Relating to Alcohol-Related Birth Defects Awareness Week.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
WHEREAS fetal alcohol syndrome is the number two cause in the United States of birth defects accompanied by mental retardation, and the only preventable one; and
WHEREAS fetal alcohol syndrome results in permanent growth retardation, physical malformations, and permanent central nervous system damage, including developmental delay, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems, and is most often accompanied by mental retardation; and
WHEREAS pregnant women who consume alcohol also risk having children with fetal alcohol effects, which most often include permanent developmental delays, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems; and
WHEREAS alcohol-related birth defects have only recently been discovered to be a major health problem, and many questions regarding them remain unanswered; and
WHEREAS the latest research shows that children with fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effects are often unable to live totally independent lives; and
WHEREAS the research has also shown that additional children of a woman who has previously given birth to a child with an alcohol-related birth defect are most often born with alcohol-related birth defects in successively severe degrees if the woman continues to drink during her pregnancies; and
WHEREAS, without exception, mothers of infants born with fetal alcohol syndrome consumed alcohol during pregnancy; and
WHEREAS alcohol-related birth defects can be prevented if pregnant women and women who plan to become pregnant abstain from alcohol consumption; and
WHEREAS the Surgeon General has issued an advisory that pregnant women and women who plan to become pregnant should not consume alcohol;
BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature designates May 12 - 18, 1991, as Alcohol-Related Birth Defects Awareness Week, and urges schools, health care organizations and practitioners, and other public and private agencies and individuals observe the week with appropriate activities.
COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the governing body of each school district and the chief executive officer of each hospital and health clinic in the state.
LR024
Resolve: LR024
Year: 1991
Source Bill: HCR 28
Source Root: HCR028
Suspending Uniform Rules 41(b), 24(c), and 35 of the Alaska State Legislature concerning Senate Bill No. 9, relating to naming a highway, bridge, and mountain.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
That under Rule 54 of the Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, the provisions of Rule 41(b), Rule 24(c), and Rule 35 of the Uniform Rules, regarding changes to the title of a bill, are suspended in consideration of Senate Bill No. 9, naming the Bob Blodgett Nome-Teller Highway, the Ina Johnston Bridge, and Mount McGhan.
LR025
Resolve: LR025
Year: 1991
Source Bill: SCR 20
Source Root: SCR020
Relating to Kodiak Island as a bicentennial community in 1992.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
WHEREAS Kodiak Island was settled in 1792 by Alexander Baranov; and
WHEREAS 1992 represents the 200th anniversary of this initial colonization; and
WHEREAS the Kodiak Island community has prospered throughout the years and has a long standing tradition of honoring the past while looking to the future; and
WHEREAS Kodiak Island has the state's largest fishing port and bountiful resources for tourism and sport hunting and fishing; and
WHEREAS 1991 represents the 25th anniversary of the "Cry of the Wild Ram," the state's only outdoor historical drama, whose production will commence the bicentennial celebration; and
WHEREAS the Kodiak Island Convention and Visitor's Bureau is sponsoring a Bicentennial Committee to plan and develop a celebration in 1992 of the 200 years that have elapsed since the Russian-American relationship was established; and
WHEREAS Kodiak Island and its residents have invited all citizens of the state to salute its rich and diverse past by joining in the celebration of its bicentennial;
BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature recognizes Kodiak Island as a state bicentennial community and urges all citizens of the state to support Kodiak Island and the Kodiak Island Convention and Visitors Bureau in their endeavors and celebrations for Kodiak Island's 200th anniversary in 1992.
A COPY of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Robert B. Brodie, Mayor of the City of Kodiak, and to the Honorable Jerome M. Selby, Mayor of the Kodiak Island Borough.
LR026
Resolve: LR026
Year: 1991
Source Bill: HCR 10
Source Root: HCR010
Declaring June 2 - 8 to be Alaska Garden Week.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
WHEREAS the growing of flowers and vegetables is important to the citizens of the state and instills an appreciation of nature, conservation, pollution control, and the care and enhancement of the environment; and
WHEREAS gardening provides a healthful, productive, and pleasant activity for many of the residents of the state and sustains an established multi-million dollar horticultural business in the state; and
WHEREAS attractive landscaping and colorful plantings of flowers beautify the communities of the state for the enjoyment of residents and visitors, including tourists whose steadily growing numbers have made tourism one of the state's leading industries;
BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature declares June 2 - 8, 1991, to be Alaska Garden Week; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature encourages private citizens, businesses, government agencies, schools, civic groups, and all residents of the state to observe Alaska Garden Week by participating in gardening and environmental activities, including those sponsored by the Alaska State Federation of Garden Clubs.
