February 10, 2023

Dear Friends and Neighbors:

We put out the call for suggestions for our newsletter name and Kóot Xheech, Jasmine Mattson-Wolff of Xaay Tá.aan/Pelican sent us "Southeast Swell," and the team and I liked it. This name was just one of several great ideas, thanks for the many excellent suggestions!

It has been a busy week in the Capitol. I have been reviewing budgets for the Departments of Education and Early Development, Corrections, Public Safety and Fish and Game as a member of Budget Subcommittees. I especially enjoyed meeting with constituents, students, teachers, firefighters and administrators from across Alaska, some executive branch officials, and others this week.

As always, if you have a question, concern or suggestion, please feel free to email me at rep.himschoot@akleg.gov or call my office at (907) 465-3732 at any time. It is exciting to serve you as your representative and I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Representative Rebecca Himschoot

Alaska House of Representatives

Visit with me in Petersburg this weekend!

House Special Committee on Fisheries and the House Fish and Game Budget Subcommittee

On February 8, 2023, the Committee on Committees met and I was placed on the House Special Committee on Fisheries, which includes the Fish and Game Budget Subcommittee. I take my role on these committees very seriously. If you have input on the Fish and Game budget and/or topics considered by the special committee, I welcome your input.

Wild Fish Conservancy Lawsuit

It has been heartening to see Southeast Alaskans, who know and rely on commercial, sport and subsistence fishing, work together for the trollers as they face down a major threat to their livelihoods. In the last week I worked with stakeholders and my colleagues on a resolution that addresses the Wild Fish Conservancy lawsuit that could potentially close the troll fishery. The resolution was formally read across today and has been referred to the House Special Committee on Fisheries. We will have the first hearing on the resolution next Tuesday, February 14th at 10:00 am.

Meeting with Educators and Students

It was an honor to meet with so many educators and students this week from the Southeast Island, Chatham, Kake and Sitka school districts as well as several others from around the State. It was especially meaningful to hear from students who are feeling the direct impact to their education of flat funding the Base Student Allocation for so many years. Alaskans have testified with passion about the importance of adequately funding education. You can see a sample in Monday’s Senate Education Committee meeting.

Submit Questions or Comments on the Proposed Regulation Changes dealing with the Alaska Reads Act

The Department of Education and Early Development is accepting comments on the Proposed Regulation Changes dealing with the Alaska Reads Act, until March 3, 2023 at 4:30 pm. This package of proposed regulatory changes is being proposed because of the passage of the Alaska Reads Act last session. We had a presentation on the act in the House Education and Early Development Subcommittee this week and I will continue to monitor the implementation of the act. Please consider reviewing the proposed regulatory changes and submitting questions or comments to the Department of Education and Early Development.

Follow the Legislature & Comment

· In addition to contacting my office, you can monitor the legislative calendar for hearings that might interest you. If there is a bill you care about, you can submit written testimony to members of the committee hearing the bill,or contact the Juneau Legislative Information Office or the legislative information office

in your community to give

verbal testimony.