End of session and the start of the first special session SUBSCRIBE ‌ ‌ Dear Friends and Neighbors, As we enter into this first special session of the year, please allow me to take a moment to review and reflect on these past few days. Clearly, it’s not been a smooth ride. After years of dialogue and collaborations, the Alaska Reads Act again did not make it through either body. I’ve heard that the House Education Committee will continue to work through their amendments during interim and I am hopeful that we’ll enter into the 2nd Session of the 32nd Legislature with an early education and reading bill that will be transformational. I’m assured that my free tuition for frontliners legislation will go the distance as the second special session will focus on how we best use COVID relief funds to help our communities’ recover from this unprecedented pandemic. I’m also optimistic that my office’s work on promoting renewable energy for Alaska will continue to be considered in the coming year. And yes, I am bolstered by our recent and very significant successes. Through our negotiations, I was able to successful advocate for at least an additional $2.5 million in grants for statewide pre-K programs, continued support of our libraries – including the Alaska HistoryMakers project, money for a potentially landmark pilot program for mapping utility and energy burdens in our limited income communities, resources for clean water and access to needed and necessary resources for communities not on the road system, significant funding for the Long Trail project and the Muktuk Marston Trail, and I held the line on full funding for our schools. Although we didn’t gain everything we fought for, we did well and we will continue to have conversations about economic recovery projects with community partners like the Alaska Black Caucus and Anchorage Community Land Trust. Our commitment to constitutionalizing the Dividend and a use of fund earnings based on a percent of market value (POMV) basis is unwavering and our passion for directing resources to communities because they are best equipped to direct how their local recovery happens is resolute. Yes, it’s not been an easy ride, but I wholeheartedly believe and know we are on the path for recovery and we are on the path for resolving our state’s fiscal instability. Although the first session of the 32nd Legislature has come to an end, my office is open and here for questions or concerns you might have. Staff is transitioning, so please be patient with us – we will get back to you. Thank you for all your support and kind words this session. All my best, Senator Tom Begich Senate District J Contact Me! (907) 465-3704 (Juneau / session) (907) 269-0169 (Anchorage / interim) [email protected] ‌ ‌ Sen. Tom Begich | State Capitol Building, 120 4th St, Room 11, Juneau, AK 99801 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]