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On Monday, U.S. Representative Mary Sattler Peltola addressed the legislature in the third and final Congressional address of the year. She shared her priorities and her victories in her second year in Congress.
As an outstanding fisheries and oceans advocate in our delegation, Representative Peltola was instrumental in forming the Bipartisan Seafood Caucus to address issues such as Russian imports of seafood flooding the market. With her help, the U.S. banned importation of Russian seafood last year.
Representative Peltola also addressed the issue of outmigration from Alaska, which is a continuing concern for many of us in light of reports showing that Alaska's population has been on the steady decline. Representative Peltola will be convening an outmigration summit to find solutions to keep Alaskans here.
Peltola highlighted the Federal Trade Commission decision to sue to block the Kroger's-Albertson's merger. Kroger, which operates Fred Meyer in Alaska, and Albertsons, which operates Carrs-Safeway, are the two main grocery chains in many parts of Alaska. A merger between the brands would likely mean an increase in prices. In coordination with Senator Murkowski and Senator Sullivan, Representative Peltola is opposed to the merger.
Finally, Representative Peltola praised the bipartisan work of Alaskan politics. The Alaska Model has become known across the country as a can-do attitude that places collaboration and civility over partisan politics. We see the Alaska Model in our bipartisan majority in the Alaska Senate, our tri-partisan majority in the Alaska House, and our bipartisan Alaska Delegation in Congress. As Representative Peltola said, "the Alaska Model works so well because it's built on relationships and friendships."
To watch Representative Peltola's full address, please click here.
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