Supporting Students, Voting for Vets, & Cross-Examining Canadians Supporting Students, Voting for Vets, & Cross-Examining Canadians March 10, 2023 Dear Friends and Neighbors, We got unanimity in the Legislature! It's a red letter week. OK, we only passed two bills, but still... One of them was mine! SB 10 is heading to the governor's desk. It's a small token of our appreciation for service-disabled vets: adding a trapping license to their free hunting and fishing licenses. I appreciate all the veteran service organizations and outdoor groups who supported the bill and helped get it through so quickly. Consensus! Flowing Downhill Salmon is king in Southeast. In our Senate district roughly 800 households earn at least a piece of their income from fish. Even more of us fill our freezers with it. Grade-schoolers learn about the salmon lifecycle. It’s a vital part of our culture. So we care about the quality of the water—often in Canada—where Southeast salmon spawn and rear. Water is oddly consistent about flowing downhill. So what happens in British Columbia ends up in Alaska. That means environmental threats from big mines in the headwaters of the Taku, Stikine, and Unuk Rivers are serious business. Mines across the border don’t have to meet the same standards Alaska mines do. That makes us extra nervous. This week, two representatives from the BC government visited Juneau to talk about these transboundary issues. They deserve a lot of credit for being willing to talk and take tough questions. I moderated a panel Tuesday at the Juneau Mining Forum where I was able to ask several myself. I heard a whole lot of “we’re working on it” and not a lot of “we’ve done it.” That's not just about old problems like the Tulsequah Chief mine that shut down in 1957 and still hasn’t been reclaimed. (There's acid rock drainage leaching from it today.) It's also about things like the too-low bonds Canadian miners have to post. The BC folks bragged they recently made progress toward reducing the gap between how much dough companies post to cover future closure costs, and what it's actually expected to cost. Alaska mines don't get to have a gap. How do Alaskans get some say on what's happening across the border where our salmon spawn? The State of Alaska signed a non-binding agreement with BC in 2015. It lets our agency folks figuratively sit at the table when mine permits get considered. I asked for examples of things that got changed because of the agreement, but they couldn't name anything substantive. They talk often, and I'm told the Alaskans are 'always pushing.' That's the strongest voice we've got. But it doesn't have to be. There's an actual treaty between the US and Canada to manage transboundary waters. It can do binding things through the International Joint Commission. This week I signed (yet another) letter calling on the US and Canada to use that so our salmon and clean water are really protected as Canadian mines get considered. Our salmon matter too much for half measures. Speaking with Sen. Stevens about school funding in Education Committee. BSA Bill Back—and Better! This week, the Senate Education Committee adopted a new version of SB 52, the bill to increase the base student allocation (BSA) by $1,000 this coming fiscal year. In its original form, that's everything the bill did. But you can usually count on the legislature to add complexity. There’s no arguing the $1,000 increase is needed. But we heard over and over from parents, teachers, and students that one-time increases don’t let districts plan ahead. So along with a bit requiring the state Department of Education & Early Development to put more info online for parents and the public, SB 52 now increases the BSA another $348 in fiscal year 2025, and inflation-adjusts it in FY 2026. It’s not a permanent solution, but it’s a darn good first step. I look forward to moving it out of committee soon. All my best, Did someone forward you this newsletter? Did you fall into it through the series of tubes? Want more? SUBSCRIBE Events & Happenings Around District B Juneau Hockey Tournament The State Tournament for 12 and under hockey teams runs March 17-20 at Treadwell Arena! Gold Medal Basketball The 74th annual Gold Medal Basketball Tournament begins March 19 and ends on the 25th at Juneau Douglas High School! Juneau 19th Annual 12x12 Art Contemplate art under the theme of “opposites” at the City Museum! The exhibit will be on display until April 15th! Skagway Story Time Remember story time with Ms. Anna! It's perfect for kids up to age 3—a fun romp with songs, books, and more. Each Wednesday at the library, 10:30am. Skagway Late Night Library Friday nights at 6pm, come to the library for a different activity each week! Crafts, games, and more for ages 10-18! Haines The Crafter’s Hall Hone your craft skills and learn new ones with others in this workshop! Every 3rd Saturday at 1pm in Harriett Hall! Haines “Backstage Stories” Seven speakers, seven stories, seven minutes, at 7 o’clock, and for only seven dollars! All these sevens at the Chilkat Center for the Arts on March 16th! Haines Story Time Stories and songs for children and the young-at-heart! Every Monday and Friday in the library at 11:00 am. Haines Trivia Night Trivia night at the library has prizes—and it's free! Be there at 6:30pm. Come with a team or form one on the spot. Gustavus St. Patty’s Day Potluck Come celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a potluck at the Community Center at 6pm! Gustavus “The Incredibles” Watch a family-friendly classic at the Community Center. Now rescheduled for March 15! Is there an event in our district I should know about? Please call or email! Snail Mail? Alaska State Capitol Room 419 Juneau, AK 99801 Call: 800 550 4947 907 465 4947 Email Me! ‌ ‌ ‌ Contact My Staff, the people who power the work: Aurora Hauke 907 465 5051 [email protected] Caleb Yabes 907 465 4947 [email protected] Ella Adkison 907 465 6419 [email protected] Cathy Schlingheyde 907 465 6827 [email protected] Senator Jesse Kiehl | Alaska State Capitol, Rm. 419, 4th Avenue & Main Street, Juneau, AK 99801 Unsubscribe [email protected] Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]