Rural Alaska

Alaska House’s new tribal affairs committee seeks ways to supplement state services

Supporters of a newly created Alaska House committee on tribal affairs say it will seek to enhance services already provided by tribal governments in scores of Alaska villages.

The House Special Committee on Tribal Affairs prompted concerns from some lawmakers, including that it would focus on just one segment of Alaskans. Yet it was approved Monday with 37 supporting votes, and one nay from Rep. David Eastman, R-Wasilla.

Alaska is home to 229 federally recognized tribes, about 40 percent of the nation’s total. They receive federal funding to provide some services in villages, such as for health care, road services, public safety and, increasingly, education.

The state already has benefited from its relationship with tribes and should strengthen it further, especially now as Alaska faces a $1.6 billion budget deficit, supporters of the committee said.

“We have shared goals we can capitalize on,” said Rep. Tiffany Zulkosky, D-Bethel. “In these lean budget times, we must build upon innovative approach that allow us to stretch state dollars further, and this is a great opportunity.”

Zulkosky will serve as chair of the seven-member committee. House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, the vice chair, has long sought the committee’s creation and said it’s the Legislature’s first committee to deal solely with tribal affairs.

Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, R-Anchorage, said on the House floor Monday that creating a tribal committee is no more divisive than the House’s Special Committee on Fisheries, which also addresses a topic critical to Alaskans.

ADVERTISEMENT

Alaska Natives account for about 15 percent of the Alaska population. Special committees are authorized for legislative sessions, so the tribal affairs committee is scheduled to end in January 2021.

Eastman said tribal issues are currently well addressed in other committees. He’s concerned the creation of yet another committee -- the House has 10 standing committees and five special committees -- could slow or stop bills from becoming law.

“One of the ways we express our love of bills is by referring them to committees, and the more love we put on a bill, by referring it to more committees, the more we ensure that bill will never go anywhere and will never see the light of day in law,” Eastman said.

Alex DeMarban

Alex DeMarban is a longtime Alaska journalist who covers business, the oil and gas industries and general assignments. Reach him at 907-257-4317 or alex@adn.com.

ADVERTISEMENT