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Senate Majority Announces Committee Chairs and Priorities for the 34th Alaska State Legislature
ANCHORAGE – Today, the Alaska Senate Majority announced committee chairs for the 34th Alaska State Legislature. In November, the Senate Majority announced their leadership structure with Senator Gary Stevens (R-Kodiak) as Senate President, Senator Cathy Giessel (R-Anchorage) as Majority Leader, Senator Bill Wielechowski (D-Anchorage) as Rules Chair, Senator Kelly Merrick (R-Eagle River) as Majority Whip, Sen. Bert Stedman (R-Sitka), Sen. Lyman Hoffman (D-Bethel), and Sen. Donny Olson (D-Golovin) as chairs of the Finance Committee, and Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson (D-Anchorage) as Legislative Budget & Audit Chair.
The Senate Majority will continue to build upon priorities from the 34th Alaska Legislature which will focus on finding long-term solutions to lower Alaska’s high energy and healthcare costs, provide adequate funding for public education, election reform, and address teachers and public employee recruitment and retention.
“Alaskans expect us to roll up our sleeves, work together, and focus on what really matters - tackling challenges in affordable and reliable energy, high healthcare costs, quality and dependable public education resources, and keeping the best teachers and public employees in our state,” said Senate President Gary Stevens. “This Senate Majority is built on bipartisanship, with an equal number of Republican and Democrat chairs, and is committed to crafting practical, balanced budgets that serve all Alaskans. At the end of the day, it’s about finding common ground and doing what’s right for our communities.”
Committee chairs for the 34th Alaska State Legislature are:
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Community & Regional Affairs: Sen. Kelly Merrick (R-Eagle River)
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Education: Sen. Löki Tobin (D-Anchorage)
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Health & Social Services: Sen. Forrest Dunbar (D-Anchorage)
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Judiciary: Sen. Matt Claman (D-Anchorage)
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Labor & Commerce: Sen. Jesse Bjorkman (R-Nikiski)
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Resources: Sen. Cathy Giessel (R-Anchorage)
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State Affairs: Sen. Scott Kawasaki (D-Fairbanks)
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Transportation: Sen. Jesse Bjorkman (R-Nikiski)
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Legislative Budget & Audit: Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson (D-Anchorage)
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Legislative Council: Vice-Chair, Sen. Gary Stevens (R-Kodiak)
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Joint Armed Services: Co-Chair - Sen. Scott Kawasaki (D-Fairbanks)
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Special Committee on World Trade: Sen. Gary Stevens (R-Kodiak), Sen. Cathy Giessel (R-Anchorage)
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Special Committee on Arctic Affairs: Sen. Gary Stevens (R-Kodiak), Sen. Cathy Giessel (R-Anchorage)
Full committee membership will be released on the first day of the legislative session once the Committee on Committees finalizes the committee report.
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