March 31, 2014

Another busy week in the Capitol!  This week went by just as quickly as the preceding weeks.  I spend much of my time creating the Senator’s Ulu Newsletter, in Judiciary Committee, and Labor and Commerce Committee.  This week has also had considerably nice weather, so I’ve also spent most lunches and after work outside enjoying the sunny weather.

HB 216 Official Languages of the State was heard this week and didn’t seem well received by some of the Representatives in House State Affairs.  It was somewhat disheartening to see, but they did bring up a good point in that they are worried about the potential cost of making all of them official.  It sounds like some work needs to be done to work out some of the kinks.

The two committees Judiciary and Labor and Commerce that I’ve been responsible for were all bills that had been previously heard.  In Judiciary I heard HB 47 Injunction Security:  Industrial Operation, HB 218 Sentencing on Aggravator/Deportation Status, and SB 201 Criminal Trespass on Private Property.  In Labor and Commerce I heard SB 183 Extend Emerging Energy Technology Fund, HB 269 Immunity for Volunteer Health Care Provider, and HB 167 Architects, Engineers, Surveyors.  Seeing the multitude of bills coming through each of the committees is fascinating considering the holes in different laws, or loopholes that people use to get around the law. 

I also just read about my first project I took on in the legislature that involves Katie John.  I put together the packet and presented on Katie John Day which taught me most of what I know about subsistence rights.  In the news today I found out that the Supreme Court decided that it will not review the latest ruling in Katie John case, a blow to the state and a win for AFN!

March 24, 2014

Last week was another busy week.  There are only 28 days left in the legislative session.  I spent much of my time filling in for Senate Judiciary committee and Senate Labor & Commerce committee by preparing packets and attending the meetings.  What I like about my experience so far is the variety of topics to learn about.  One bill may be about prostitution laws and the next bill about hunting regulations.  I feel that this experience definitely feeds my curiosity and my interest in continual learning.

I also attended the weekly Native Issues Forum where my boss Senator Olson was one of the guest speakers.  It was the first public speech I’ve heard him give outside of the Capitol.  He gave a great speech about his experience in the education system and a couple of reindeer herding stories before he rolled into this session’s important topics.  Some he brought up were VPSO firearms, budget cuts and a fiscal overview. 

This weekend I attended the yearly Legislative Shoot Out competition with staffers in Senator Giessel’s office.  It was a lot of fun and I got to spend time with people that I don’t normally see while working in the Capitol. I also went with my aunt and uncle to a dance practice held on Auke Bay Beach.

March 16, 2014

"Selfie" with the Governor

 

This week seems to have gone by in a blur as we head into the second half of the session.  Things are  be speeding up and moving right along.  I spent much time on the phone with Alaskan citizens about SJR9 School Vouchers that the Governor is really trying to push.  A vast majority are against allowing moneys for private institutions.  It was supposed to be heard on the Senate floor last Wednesday but they postponed and it hasn't been heard yet.  Many suspect that SJR9 would pull money further away from education in rural locations that are already suffering.

This week I went to a lunch and learn and learned more about Unmanned Aircrafts at University of Alaska Fairbanks. They are starting a vast array of different projects such as counting sea lions and seals, scouting fires and volcanoes, simulating search and rescue missions, counting fish in streams, researching the arctic, etc.  They believe that they get an even more accurate count on wildlife then planes and helicopters because the small unmanned aircrafts are much more quiet and less visible.  They are also able to fly in areas with high risk levels to manned aircraft without putting peoples lives in danger.

My sister Heather came to visit this week!  She came during her spring break to visit family and hang out with me in the Capitol.  I got her introduced on the Senate floor and brought her with me to Judiciary committee and then sent her off the Health and Social Services committee.  We also attended a couple of interesting Lunch and Learns. 

I ended the week by attending the last day of the Native Studies Conference.  I got to learn a lot about different Native programs/ideas/concepts around Alaska that I can possibly use in the future.  I also watched a Tlingit/Haida dance performance.  At the end the host called all the men in the audience to learn how to dance and amazingly ALL of the twenty-five or so men from the audience participated!  It shows how great the Juneau community is and that they get involved.

March 7, 2013

I made it to Cordova!

Senator Olson's office gave me Thursday and Friday off of this week, so I decided to come and see where my boyfriend grew up and meet his family.  It's a gorgeous place so far, lots of water and mountains.  We camped last night on Eyak lake in a bare minimum cabin and near froze to death.

This work week was eventful even though it was short.  What may be the highlight of my experience was getting to witness the Governor sign the first piece of legislation this year.  I got to research HJR 15/SJR 12 which is a resolution that gets legislation support for ANCSA contaminated lands given by the federal government.  It's a resolution important to me and one that I thoroughly enjoyed working on.  Representative Millett and two of her staffers, and Senator Olson and I were invited to watch the official signing.  Proceeding the signing, Representative Millett insisted we get a "selfie" picture with the Governor and he agreed.  She sent it to Ellen Degeneres in hopes of getting it on tv.

I also went to a couple of events in which Senator Begich spoke about issues in Alaska.  I admire him for his work on behalf of Alaska Natives and everything he's accomplished.  I want to look into working for him in Washington DC so I can learn more about processes and procedures on a national level.

Since I've gotten to Juneau my eyes have really opened and I feel like if I want to serve the Native community, that this might make the biggest difference during my career path.  I'm so thankful for First Alaskans giving me the opportunity and for placing me in a rural office so I can focus on issues that Natives face now and in the future.  Without going through this experience I never would have learned as much about the political process in Alaska and ways I can get involved in the future.

Thank you First Alaskans staff and board members!!!

March 3, 2014

I have successfully presented two bills to the legislature this week for Senator Olson!  On Tuesday I presented SB133 Katie John Day and Friday SB136 Unmanned Aircraft Systems.  I survived but will definitely look into joining Toastmasters International and work on my speech skills! 

Reading about Katie John taught me a lot about subsistence rights in Alaska and the struggle Alaska Natives have had with the government in obtaining rights to live out their way of life.  It is saddening to know that subsistence takes roughly 2%-3% of Alaska’s fish resources and that it is even a struggle to get that when downstream commercial fisherman have a lot more rights to catching the fish (I need to check facts if this is still current).  It is going to be an uphill battle for subsistence rights, but the more people that are aware of the issue, the more chance it has to make stride.

 Today, Friday February 28^th, I presented to the Judiciary committee on unmanned aircraft systems and creating laws to protect Alaska.  University of Alaska was selected as one of six in the entire nation to develop an unmanned aircraft systems training program.  It would also be able to be used to law enforcement uses within limitations.  The main focus was on protection of the citizens of Alaska, economic development, and public safety issues.  I think this will bring great things to Alaska and we may be able to develop alternative uses for these systems that would benefit Alaska commercially and scientifically for Alaskans.

This week I leave for Cordova on Thursday because it's Energy Week so many senators and representatives will be flying to Washington DC.