Dear Friends,

I hope this newsletter finds you well and enjoying your summer! The summer solstice was just under two weeks ago now, on June 21st, marking the longest day of the year across much of the Northern Hemisphere. Here in Alaska, the summer solstice takes on even more significance as it means the sun now sets for only a few hours each night before rising again. Those of us living above the Arctic Circle experienced over 21 hours of continuous daylight on the solstice day itself.

While having nearly endless days of sun is wonderful for maximizing your time for outdoor activities and adventures, it also means that the sunshine and warmth of summer will be fleeting. Daylight will now gradually decrease with each passing day as we head towards the autumnal equinox in late September. The solstice serves as a reminder to savor these long summer evenings, whether you're relaxing on the deck enjoying the lingering light, sitting by a bonfire under the midnight sun, or simply appreciating nature's beauty as the solstice sun paints the sky in vibrant colors at dusk.

I hope you've all found opportunities to slow down and enjoy quiet moments of summer too. Perhaps a picnic in the park watching children play, reading a good book in a hammock or rocking chair, or just breathing in the fresh summer air. Nature's peacefulness can do wonders for recharging our minds and spirits.

I wish you all many more summer days full of rest, recreation, and quality time with loved ones. Enjoy the rest of your sunny season!

Lastly, have a great Fourth of July and please be safe!

Juneteenth

I'm pleased to share that last week, Governor Mike Dunleavy signed Senate Bill 22 into law, establishing Juneteenth as a state holiday here in Alaska. As the bill's sponsor, I want to thank everyone who supported and engaged with this important legislation to recognize June 19th, also known as Juneteenth or Emancipation Day. 

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas and informed the last remaining slaves of their freedom and emancipation from slavery. Although the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued over two years prior, many slaves in Texas were unaware of their legal freedom until that date. Designating Juneteenth as a state holiday allows Alaskans to pause and reflect on the significance of emancipation and the continued efforts towards racial justice and equality.

I'm grateful to my colleagues in the legislature for recognizing the value in this bill and voting it into law. I also want to thank all the community members who contacted my office in support of this initiative. Your voices and engagement made this outcome possible.

Thank you again for your commitment to diversity, inclusion and progress. Wishing you all a meaningful Juneteenth celebration in the years to come.

Governor's Vetoes



This last Friday, the Governor signed the $12.2 billion budget, but not before trimming $225 million with line-item vetoes. Fortunately, the one-time $175 million boost in funding for K-12 education, or the $680 boost to the base student allocation (BSA), was left untouched. The following cuts were made to the budget:

• $5.2 million for young students in low-income schools and $2.6 million for Head Start
• $11.9 million for settling a dispute with the U.S. Department of Education over how funds were distributed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic
• $11 million for faster internet and increased broadband in rural AK communities
• 25%, or $5 million, cut to Research 1 funding for the University of Alaska Fairbanks
• More than $125 million to the planned $3.5 billion for capital projects across the state

Click here if you'd like to see all of the Governor's vetoes!

In the Community

Here I am joined by Consul General Seo Eunji, Consul General of the Republic of Korea alongside Senators Tobin, Kaufman, and Claman. I was also joined by Representatives Gray and Wright.

Here I am with Kemba Smith. Smith is a speaker on the rights of felons and works in the state of Virginia to reinstate their power to vote, serve on a jury and run for public office. In 2024, a film adaptation of Smith Pradia's life was released on BET+, titled Kemba. Smith Pradia was an executive producer for the film.

Director Daniel K.C. Chen and I, Deputy Director for the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office in Seattle (TECO).

On May 23rd, Consul Park Joongsuk, Consulate of the Republic of Korea in Anchorage invited Alaska State Legislators from the Anchorage Delegation for a luncheon meeting, during which he introduced the Korea-Alaska Friendship Day Festival scheduled on June 29, while exchanging opinions on major issues. Legislators who attended (Senators Gray-Jackson, Tobin, Dunbar and Wielechowski) are pictured above.