Perhaps itâs locally grown barley flour pancakes for breakfast with farm raised chicken eggs scrambled on the side, fresh garden-greens salad for lunch, or wild harvested salmon for dinner. Alaskaâs long growing season, coupled with hard working farmers and fishermen, means our state can offer your appetite an array of choices locally grown from farm or sea to plate.
Anchorage â The U.S. Senate passed legislation Thursday that that would create a mandatory national system for disclosing genetically modified ingredients in food products. The bill passed by a vote of 63-30. Representative Geran Tarr (D-Anchorage) has been a vocal advocate for a strong labeling system in Alaska. She is concerned the federal legislation would limit the ability for individual states to implement stricter labeling requirements than the proposed national system.
After an âextra-helpingâ of a special session, Iâm glad to be back home in Fairbanks, where there is no shortage of things to do. Over the next few weeks,Governor Bill Walker will unveil his budget details, portions of a fiscal plan and set the tone for the next legislative session that begins in January. The Finance Committee, of which I am a member, will be focused on the fiscal gap and a fiscal solution. It wonât be easy, but it will be necessary.
ANCHORAGE â Today, the Food and Drug Administration, for the first time ever, approved the human consumption of a genetically modified animal. The FDA approved AquaBounty Technologies application to raise a genetically modified fast growing Atlantic salmon despite widespread concerns about the health risks to humans and negative impacts to wild salmon populations.
The session should have adjourned on April 19th, but we have gone into overtime to make sure we have a budget that reflects the priorities of Alaskans, including education funding, Medicaid expansion, Erinâs Law, and cutting wasteful spending. This session Iâve received thousands of emails and calls of support for these priorities. When we held budget hearings thousands of Alaskans called in to support these priorities. The support has been overwhelming while the oppositional is minimal. Also, in the case of Medicaid expansion most opposing are asking for reform. Iâm proud to have supported House Bill 148, that includes both expansion and reform that will result in hundreds of millions of dollars of savings.
Well, another week has come and gone here in Juneau. While the Senate is dealing with the Operating Budget and Senate Bill 30 (Marijuana Criminal bill) the House continues to work on its own legislation. This week I heard proposals to: raise hunting and fishing licenses for residents and non-residents; create a Marijuana Control Board; require labeling of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOâs), among other different issues. There is seldom a moment to spare now that session is almost over, but I want to make sure that I mention to you a couple of events that might peak your interests.
First, a reminder: The Mountain View Street Fair is tomorrow from 12-4 pm at Clark Middle School. Senator Ellis and I will have a booth, with Otter pops for the kids. See the flyer below for more information!
House Bill 215, by Rep. Tarr, supports Alaskansâ right to know whatâs in their food by requiring labeling on products consisting of or made with genetically modified ingredients. 76% of corn crops and 93% of soybean crops grown in the U.S. have been genetically modified. These crops are main ingredients in the vast majority of processed food products distributed in the United States. As individuals, everyone should have the right to choose whether or not they consume these products. However, in order to make such a decision, they must have the information necessary to make the choice. Labeling ensures that Alaskans maintain the right to know what is in their food.
