Fairbanks: Willow, Air Quality and E-Bikes oh my!

February 28, 2023

Dear Neighbors,

I hope you were able to see the Aurora Borealis over the last few nights. While I looked for them down here, in typical Juneau fashion it was too cloudy! Since I last wrote, the House and Senate unanimously passed HJR 6 55-0, a joint resolution that supports the development on the Willow Project in the National Petroleum Reserve Alaska. Air quality in Fairbanks is important to a healthy life and a strong economy and the EPA wants to hear from Fairbanksans about the proposed ‘action’ that could impact both. There is ‘braking’ news about a bill I introduced on the use of E-bikes in the and my bill related to honoring Community Health Aides across Alaska. The Iditarod is starting this weekend in Anchorage and Willow and the Anchorage Delegation of Legislators is hosting a town hall. Check out the week’s edition of the Juneau Note.

The Willow Project Advancing in DC and Juneau

Map of ConocoPhillips Willow Project

HJR6 provides legislative support for the Willow Project. The Project is a 30-year plan by ConocoPhillips to drill for oil in the north slope region of Alaska known as the National Petroleum Reserve Alaska and originally known as the Naval Petroleum Reserve over 100 years ago. Willow would be the farthest west producing field on the north slope. A predicted 180,000 barrels of oil would be produced per day during peak perfection. The project would create close to 3,000 jobs for Alaskans and billions of dollars in revenue to the state and federal government. The greater United States would also be helped as this project expands domestic energy supplies. Overall, I’m excited to see where this goes though, I do want to ensure that indigenous people and the subsistence lifestyle is unharmed by cutting any regulatory corners.

Clean Air = a Stronger Economy

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will host a public meeting in Fairbanks on Tuesday, March 7 to hear opinions and comments concerning its recent proposed actions regarding the local air quality improvement plans. The public hearing will be held at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Wood Center from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM, with a 30-minute dinner break from 5:00 to 5:30 PM. Oral testimony will be subject to a 3-minute time limit or written comments to the rulemaking Docket ID No. EPA-R10-OAR-2022-0115, can be sent to https://www.regulations.gov.

Picture of "Clean Air" written in clouds

Here is the E-Bike Bill ‘Brake-down’

E-Bike being rode in front of the Chugach mountains in Anchorage, AK

SB62 will be heard again in the Senate Transportation committee on Tuesday, March 7 at 1:30pm. The House Companion Bill HB8, sponsored by the Fairbanks Interior Delegation Chair, Rep. Ashley Carrick was heard in committee last week and has gained support. SB62 and HB8 would define electric-assisted bicycles as bicycles in statute, and ensure that the three-class system which represents the industry standard for manufacture and sale of e-bikes is reflected in statute. With the growth of e-bikes around the US, it provides clarity and guidance for riders, pedestrians, local law enforcement and government. To make any comments or direct questions, please contact Matt Longabaugh at 907.456.7423 or email matt.longabaugh@akleg.gov.

Establishing a Community Health Aide Day

A Community Health Aide explaining what they do

Community Health Aides have been an integral part of Alaska history. The Health Aide program dates to before statehood when Dr. Walter Johnson trained local Alaskans to help combat an outbreak of tuberculosis. The Alaska Area Native Health Service began formal Health Aide training efforts in the 1960s which led to the program gaining congressional funding and recognition in 1968.

On Thursday, March 2^nd my bill SB16 will be heard in front of the Senate Community and Regional Affairs committee. SB16 hopes to dedicate September 10^th as Community Health Aide Day. Community Health Aides are incredibly important and unique to Alaska and the health care continuum certainly deserving the day of recognition. To make any comments on the bill, please contact Griffen Sukkaew at 907.456.3466 or email griffen.sukkaew@akleg.gov.

Iditarod dogs running

The Iditarod is Off and Running!

March 5^th marks the beginning of the Iditarod in Willow this year. The Iditarod is an important part of Alaska history. According to Don Bowers, after the advent of the airplane, dog teams continued to be widely used for local transportation and day-to-day work, particularly in Native villages. Mushers and their teams played important yet little-remembered roles in World War II in Alaska, particularly in helping the famous Eskimo Scouts patrol the vast winter wilderness of western Alaska. Sled dog and mushing culture began a steep decline with the introduction of snow machines to Alaska which became more plentiful, faster and more reliable. A livestream of the Iditarod can be found here. The Interior Delegation of Legislators made it up to Fairbanks over the last two weekends and this Sunday, the Anchorage Caucus will meet up with constituents in Anchorage at the University of Alaska Rasmusson Hall from 2-4pm.

Want Help to Attend College? FAFSA Training!

We currently have the lowest rate of students enrolled in FAFSA this year with only 19.8% of Alaskan students having completed the 2023-2024 FAFSA. If you or your student have not applied for federal financial assistance this year, please visit https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. The class of 2021 left nearly $6 Million dollars in unused Pell Grant funding. Students will not receive the Alaska Performance Scholarship, the Alaska Education Grant, and many other Alaska institution based financial aid awards without completing FAFSA.

ACPE's Master the FAFSA Training flyer

I know the FAFSA application can be confusing, but there are resources to help. The Alaska Commission of Postsecondary Education has created a Master the FAFSA training. This training runs every Tuesday and Thursday from 2:00-3:00 pm during January through March. These trainings will be held on zoom and will go over the FAFSA process for Dependent Students. A Dependent Student is defined as high school seniors and perspective college/career training students under 24 with access to parents’ tax information. March 14^th and 23^rd being held specifically for independent students which are defined as foster youth, homeless youth, individuals with dependent children or other dependents, and individuals over 24.

My Staff and I are Here for You

As always, I and my staff are are still working for you. Feel free to contact my office and we will assist you with issues important to you and your family.

Working Hard for Fairbanks Families,