Will Allow Children and Elders to Eat Healthy, Traditional Wild Foods
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 1, 2015
JUNEAU—Today, eight legislators in the Alaska House of Representatives introduced HB 179 to allow Alaskans to donate sport- and subsistence-harvested fish and game to nonprofit meal programs, such as those in schools or senior centers. The bill allows schools and senior centers (and other nonprofit meal programs) to serve the fish and game – such as moose, caribou, venison, and salmon – in their meal programs to elders, school children, and other Alaskans. The sponsors believe that schools and senior centers should be legally allowed to have the option of serving Alaskans caribou instead of corn dogs.
HB 179 is sponsored by the following legislators: Reps. Cathy Muñoz (R-Juneau), Charisse Millett (R-Anchorage), Dan Ortiz (I-Ketchikan), Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (D-Sitka, prime sponsor), Louise Stutes (R-Kodiak), Neal Foster (D-Nome), Sam Kito III (D-Juneau), and Tammie Wilson (R-North Pole).
Alaska law presently bars the sale of subsistence- and sport-harvested fish and game and thereby prevents food service programs from serving subsistence- and sport-harvested fish and game in meals funded by federal or state meal programs, even if the foods are donated. Instead, food service programs serve imported food, which is often heavily processed. HB 179 will change state law to allow children and elders to eat healthy, traditional wild foods that celebrate Alaska’s way of life.
HB 179 was referred to the Fisheries and Resources committees.
For more information, contact Miguel Rohrbacher (907) 465-3732.
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