HARRIET DRUMMOND

This week the House Finance Committee has been reviewing the subcommittee recommendations to the Governor’s Amended Budget Allocation for FY22.

Today, after weeks of incremental progress, 21 members of the Alaska State House voted to form a diverse leadership coalition of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans, led by new Speaker of the House Representatives, Louise Stutes of Kodiak. Historically, Rep. Stutes is only the third woman to serve as Speaker of Alaska’s House.

This Sunday, October 4, is the last day to REGISTER TO VOTE or to UPDATE YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION if you have moved since you last voted. Registering online is easy and takes a few minutes. All that is required is a valid state identification and a computer.

Summer is rapidly coming to an end and our K-12 children start returning to school this week. I wanted to give you a quick update on the Anchorage School District’s back-to-school plan, the latest on unemployment benefits in Alaska, a friendly reminder to respond to the U.S. Census, an update on the AK CARES small business grants program, and some information on voting in this year’s General Election.

On Tuesday the Alaska House convened in Juneau and swiftly approved the release of emergency federal CARES Act funding through the passage of House Bill 313.