NEWS: Senate Majority Announces Committee Chairs for the 35th Alaska State Legislature

Senate Majority Announces Committee Chairs for the 35th Alaska State Legislature

ANCHORAGE – Today, the Alaska Senate Majority announced committee chairs for the 35th Alaska State Legislature. Last week, the Senate Majority announced the leadership structure with Senator Cathy Giessel (R-Anchorage) as Senate President, Senator-elect Louise Stutes (R-Kodiak) as Majority Leader, and Senator Bill Wielechowski (D-Anchorage) as Rules Chair. The Finance Committee will be led by two co-chairs: Senator Jesse Kiehl (D-Juneau), who will oversee the capital budget and bills, and Senator-elect Bryce Edgmon (I-Dillingham), who will oversee the operating budget. The Majority has also chosen Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson (D-Anchorage) as Majority Whip, rounding out the leadership team.

The Senate Majority will continue to work toward long-term solutions for Alaska, focusing on lowering Alaska’s high energy and healthcare costs, election reform, and solving our teacher and public employee recruitment and retention issues. 

“This majority has a vast amount of experience and geographical diversity that will continue to look past political parties, work with the House and our new Governor, and, more specifically, work on behalf of all Alaska. This is what Alaskans want and expect from us,” said Sen. Cathy Giessel, incoming Senate President. “With this team in place, we will get to work on lowering energy costs for Alaskans so they know their heat and their lights will stay on, that their children have access to quality public education, and an election system they trust.”

“I come from a fishing town, where you learn early that everybody on the boat has to work together,” said Sen.-elect Stutes, incoming Senate Majority Leader. “That is how I see this job. We have to work collectively, show each other respect, and work for the people of Alaska. That is the bottom line. That is what Alaskans sent all of us here to do.” 

“When speaking with Alaskans, it is clear that they do not want partisan fights. They want us to work on the problems in front of them and get the job done,” said Sen. Wielechowski, Senate Rules Chair. “Alaskans want the chance to build a future and grow a family in the place they love and call home. That means we need to provide opportunity in every community, urban and rural, and it will take all of us working together to deliver it for Alaskans.”

Committee chairs for the 35th Alaska State Legislature are:

• Community & Regional Affairs: Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson
• Education: Senator Löki Tobin
• Health & Social Services: Co-Chair Senator Forrest Dunbar, Co-Chair Senator Löki Tobin
• Finance: Co-Chair Senator Jesse Kiehl, Co-Chair Senator-elect Bryce Edgmon
• Judiciary: Senator Matt Claman
• Labor & Commerce: Senator Forrest Dunbar
• Resources: Co-Chair Senator Cathy Giessel, Co-Chair Senator-elect Louise Stutes
• State Affairs: Senator Gray-Jackson
• Transportation: Senator-elect Louise Stutes
• Legislative Budget & Audit: Vice-Chair Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson
• Legislative Council: Senator Matt Claman
• Joint Armed Services: Co-Chair Senator Scott Kawasaki

Full committee membership will be released on the first day of the legislative session once the Committee on Committees finalizes the committee report.

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