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Phone: (907) 465-3438
Email: rep.liz.snyder@akleg.gov
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Hello Eastside community and otherwise!
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Last Tuesday marked the start of the second regular session. I’m excited to be back in Juneau and working to Represent our districts diverse interests. I'm also already missing our Eastside community and look forward to scheduling some mid-session in-person neighborhood meetings with you soon.
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We hit the ground running with multiple bill hearings, budget subcommittees, and stakeholder meetings during these first few days.
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I and Rep. Thompson were chosen to tell the Governor that the House was ready to start session
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Here's what we have been up to, and what's coming up next:
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Committees and Finance Budget Subcommittees have started meeting. As with last session, I am co-chairing House Health and Social Services with Representative Zulkosky. I am vice-chair on the House Judiciary Committee and a member of the House Labor and Commerce and Arctic Policy, Economic Development, and Tourism Committees.
I also sit on six out of seventeen budget subcommittees. Each subcommittee works on a particular state department’s budget and submits their recommendation to the full Finance Committee. These recommendations adjust the Governor’s proposed budget!
I am reviewing budgets for the:
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Department of Revenue
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Department of Health and Social Services
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Department of Labor and Workforce Development
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Alaska Court System (called the Judiciary subcommittee)
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Department of Law
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Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development
I am working to ensure the interests of East Anchorage are represented in the budgetary process and taking advantage of opportunities to ensure the state budget supports public safety, education, and public health.
If you have input regarding any aspect of the budget – however big or small – now is the time to let me know!
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Requires the state to add an online application option for its public assistance programs. Alaska is one of the only states without an online application process. HB 168 is a commonsense change that makes it easier for individuals and saves the state money by streamlining the process. It has broad bipartisan support and passed the House unanimously at the end of last session. The next hearing is February 1st in Senate Health and Social Services.
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Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson and I are working on legislation addressing home health care issues. We want to ensure patients and their caretakers get adequate notice when their eligibility to receive care is under review, receive notification of the assessment findings and ensure they can appeal and get those services restored if it’s found that indeed they still qualify. This bill would also make familial caretakers eligible for compensation.
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HB 146 is a mutually beneficial protection for both employers and employees. It protects applicants’ salary history, allows employees to freely discuss wages, and requires salary or salary ranges to be included in job postings. HB 146 prevents wage scarring and increases pay transparency. We are seeking letters of support. If you or an organization/business you are a part of may be interested in expressing support for this bill, please send me an email at rep.liz.snyder@akleg.gov.
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HB 260 balances the importance of sustainably funding high-quality essential government services with the importance of protecting and growing the PFD. The 50/50 contingency plan temporally separates and mitigates the impact of a budget increase or decrease on the PFD by using the 5-year moving average in calculating the baseline budget. In this current fiscal climate, HB 260 serves as both a conservative spending cap and encouragement to find additional revenue.
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Updates statute regulating pharmacists. We have worked with multiple stakeholders to ensure pharmacists can continue providing the health care services they provided during COVID-19 and be properly reimbursed.
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Food Security
Alaska faces significant challenges and opportunities with respect to food systems and food security. We are a large, geographically remote state, but the borders of our large state contain millions of acres of arable land. We rely heavily on food imports, yet have thriving traditions of hunting, fishing, and gathering, as well as a robust seafood industry. We have the greatest rate of agricultural and direct-to-consumer demand growth in the nation.
For this reason, I will be proposing a bill to establish a Food Security Task Force. This Task Force will provide policy, legislation, and implementation strategy recommendations for strengthening Alaska’s food systems and improving food security for the long-term benefit of Alaska’s communities, economy, and environment. In an encouraging recent turn of events, the Governor has also proposed a task force, and I look forward this effort in whatever form best meets the needs of Alaska.
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Allow me to reintroduce Alliana and Ari, whom many of you have met, and we are so fortunate to have such a hard working (and fun!) team at our office....
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James Holzenberg, (new to our office) Staff, is studying Political Science at UAS. He has worked at the Capitol before as a Senate Page and as an intern. In his spare time he loves to hike, listen to music, and spend time with his wife, Melissa.
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Ashlyn Johnson, (new to our office) Intern, is a lifelong Alaskan and current student at UAA in the Environment & Society Program. She joins us from Alaska Public Interest Research Group, where she was working on policy research and community advocacy. She has also worked at the Alaska Center. Her primary goal is to involve stakeholders in the policies that affect them.
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Alliana Salanguit, Chief of Staff, earned her BA in Economics from UAA, was Chief of Staff to former Rep. Guttenberg, and worked at the UAA Institute of Social & Economic Research (ISER) before returning to the Legislature to work for our district. She is the committee aide for House Health & Social Services, works on policy and budget issues, and keeps the office running. She loves tennis, baking, skiing, data-driven policy, and Alaska.
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Arielle Wiggin, Staff, studied Political Science at Seattle University. She has worked on several Alaska political campaigns and in fair housing advocacy. In our office, she works on policy research, constituent relations, and our social media. She is an avid skier and biker.
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It’s time to apply for the PFD. Apply via this link, and please reach out to my office if you run into any issues.
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Traffic Safety Meeting
Thursday, February 3rd
In partnership with the Scenic Foothills Community Council, we will be holding a meeting on traffic safety issues on the Tudor-Muldoon Curve. This area is of significant concern for our community. There are dire risks to safety, resulting in five fatal crashes in the past four years. A representative from the Department of Transportation will be available for questions. If you have concerns about this traffic corridor, or other areas in Eastside, please join us at this meeting.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81040114935?pwd=QkkxQ2orQlh3dXVLZHBJZkJWbHZGQT09
Meeting ID: 810 4011 4935
Passcode: 527578
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Community Challenge Grants
Do you have a vision for our city parks? It’s time to apply for the 2022 Challenge Grants, provided by the Anchorage Park Foundation. The Challenge Grant Program supports community service via Anchorage park improvement, and almost anyone can apply, including individuals, families, neighbor groups, Community Councils, private businesses, organized recreation groups, and non-profits. The cycle is open until Marth 17th, midnight AKST.
Requirements:
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Take place in an Anchorage municipal park, trail, or facility;
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Benefit the public;
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Be completed by October 30, 2023;
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Demonstrate ability to raise 1:1 in community match. For example, a $20,000 dollar project would be awarded $10,000 from APF when a verifiable plan for raising the additional $10,000 in match from cash donations, volunteer time, non federal grants, or donated materials toward the project is presented to APF.
More information is available on the Park Foundation Website: https://anchorageparkfoundation.org/programs/challenge-grants/
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TRIVIA QUESTION:
Are nearly 50% of Alaska's Farmers women?
answer: yes! In 2021 women made up 47% of Alaska's farmers
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Honored as always to serve you,
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Rep. Snyder
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