FEBRUARY 6, 2013

Fighting Frankenfish in Alaska

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Supporting the next generation of innovators through STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education. The Juneau Lego Robotics team visited us to demonstrate their robots.

      The past week has been exciting. We had the first group of house bills make it through committee and scheduled for a floor vote. If you want to know what bills are passing through committees, please check out the Alaska Legislature’s website.

NO FRANKENFISH!

      I introduced a resolution this week that would urge congress and the federal government to ban the sale of GMO salmon, you can read about it or read the resolution. If you want to show your support, send us an email and we’ll share it with the Fisheries Committee. Meanwhile, Sen. Begich is fighting against the sale of genetically modified salmon too. Contact him and let him know that you support his efforts. The comment period is closing in a couple of weeks, and we hope that you’ll voice your opinion. Your voice can be the difference that protects our Alaskan livelihood against frankenfish.

Apply for your PFD & Pick. Click. Give

Members of the Alaska Chamber stopped by for a visit to advocate for a strong business climate, something I am working to achieve. See my new bill on business development in Alaska.

      The “Pick. Click. Give.” Program makes it easy for Alaskans to find and support worthwhile charities by donating a portion of their PFDs to support programs for those in need. In 2012, Alaskans generously gave over $2.2 million dollars to over 400 nonprofit organizations through Pick. Click Give. When you apply or this year’s PFD, please consider setting aside a portion of it to be automatically donated to one or more of the hundreds of education and charitable organizations that participate in Pick. Click Give. Don’t forget to ask your employer if they will match your contribution.

      And don’t forget to apply for your PFD!

Congratulations!

We were excited to find out this week that Russian Jack residents Natalya Sailaga and Paradise Iona Pearson, two students at Chester Valley Elementary School named the new giant polar bear at the northern end of Russian Jack Park. Natalya and Paradise named the bear Nola. Read about it here.

Philip Lindquist and Bronson Frye visited to talk about workforce development in the state. I serve on the Department of Labor and Workforce Development finance subcommittee and am planning on using their insight to help our state.

Community Events

• Monday, February 11 - Mountain View Community Council, 7 PM at the Mountain View Community Center (Mountain View Boys & Girls Club)

• Wednesday, February 13 - Airport Heights Community Council, 7 PM at Airport Heights Elementary School

• Saturday, February 23 - Anchorage Caucus, 9:30 AM - 1 PM at the Assembly Chambers, Loussac Library. We will be taking public testimony and hearing from Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan, Special Assistant to the Centennial Commission Susan Duck, and Anchorage School Board President Jeannie Mackie. Please contact my office with any questions.

Sincerely,

Representative Geran Tarr

To unsubscribe from Tarr's Times click here