Tag: Gov. Bill Walker

One Alaska Update: Keeping up with Gov. Bill Walker


 
 
 
 
Fellow Alaskan –

Vice President Pence and Mrs. Karen Pence stopped in Alaska at Joint Base Elmendorf and Richardson (JBER) on their way to South Korea for the opening of the 2018 Olympics. Vice President Pence and I met with Major General Laurie Hummel and General Lori Robinson, NORTHCOM Commander for a security briefing about missile defense and Alaska’s strategic location.

This week, Lt. Governor Mallott along with Senator Dan Sullivan met with Senior Canadian Government officials on transboundary mine issues, water quality, and climate change. The joint meetings conveyed unity and action from the state government and federal government.

The Governor’s Office recognizes February as Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, and First Lady Donna Walker shared her insights as a parent about an issue which impacts too many of Alaska’s youth.

First Lady Donna Walker, Lt. Governor Mallott and Mrs. Toni Mallott and I hosted China People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, officials from Sichuan Province as well as a delegate from Hainan Airlines at the People’s House in Juneau. China is Alaska’s biggest trade partner and trade with China directly benefits thousands of Alaskans, including fisherman and miners.

My administration continues to explore efficiencies and streamlining of services including, PFD Automatic Voter Registration Opt-Out Legislation, which would allow applicants the opportunity to opt-out of voter registration during the PFD application process rather than having to send an “opt-out” notice to each applicant. This legislation would allow the Department of Elections to more effectively manage the new program without costing the additional state funds by sending out expensive mailers and would register voters immediately, eliminating the 30-day requirement under current law. Office of Information Technology estimates that this would save the state $210,000 each year beginning in 2019.

Lt. Governor Byron Mallott and I look forward to addressing members of the Southeast Conference this week. We will discuss the challenges facing the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS), an integral part of life in Southeast Alaska and the valuable work of the AMHS Steering Committee.

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Gov. Bill Walker – One Alaska Update February 05, 2018

Fellow Alaskan –

This week we announced the results from a year of hard work as part of Alaska’s Education Challenge, which began efforts in February of 2017.
Alaska Education Challenge formed five committees with students, parents, educators, legislators, business leaders and policymakers to develop recommendations for reform in Alaska’s education system. These committees addressed the five priorities:
1. Student Learning
2. Educator Excellence
3. Modernization and Finance
4. Community and Tribal Ownership
5. Safety and Well-Being
 
 
 
 


Meeting with Cindy and Butch Moore
Governor Walker met with Cindy and Butch Moore to recognize February as Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Cindy and Butch worked with the Alaska Legislature to pass the Alaska Safe Children’s Act, which includes teen dating violence and awareness prevention education, known as Bree’s Law after their daughter was murdered by her boyfriend in 2014. Governor Walker presented a signed copy of the Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month Proclamation, and they gave Governor Walker a photo of Bree and thanked him for his assistance with Bree’s Law.
 
 
 
 
On your mark, get set … NOMINATE!
Last Thursday, Governor Walker launched the 30-day nomination period for the Governor’s Denali Peak Performance Awards. This annual awards program recognizes the valuable contributions and hard work of state employees throughout Alaska.

Please consider nominating an individual employee or a group of employees who demonstrate what it means to be an exceptional public servant. Nomination forms and other information available at http://doa.alaska.gov/dop/denaliawards/announcement/.

Nominations are due by the close of business on Thursday, March 1, 2018.
 
 
 
 
Read more -> One Alaska Update: Keeping up with Gov. Bill Walker

One Alaska Update: Keeping up with Gov. Bill Walker

A Note From Gov. Walker…
Fellow Alaskan –

This week, I joined Senator Lisa Murkowski, Senator Dan Sullivan and Congressman Don Young at the Department of Interior to witness the signing of the King Cove land transfer, by Secretary Ryan Zinke and Della Trumble of King Cove Native Corporation. This land transfer will allow a single-lane gravel road to be built and connect King Cove residents to nearby Cold Bay and have reliable access to the medivac capabilities there.

While in Washington D.C., I attended the swearing in of former Alaska Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Joe Balash as Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management of the Department of Interior.

Forward momentum continues on the Alaska LNG project and this week was no exception. Bank of China, one of the signers on the Joint Development Agreement, was in Alaska this week and reconfirmed serious interest in the project. Additionally, Alaska Gasline Development Corporation responded to the 801 questions requested by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) within six months. Completion of the response will allow FERC to complete analysis and soon publish a schedule for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. Finally, AGDC appeared before House Resources this week, and committee members stated they remain “cautiously optimistic” about the project.
 
 
 
 
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