Monday doesn’t appear to be an unusually productive day in Alaska’s Capitol. The Senate has a technical session planned for the day, which means it gavels in and out in a few seconds, while over in the House, just two items are on the Senate floor for consideration: An anti-gig economy bill that will start the taxing car rentals like Turo, and Senate Joint Resolution 16, which asks President Joe Biden to ask Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the Russian embargo on Alaska seafood. If Putin doesn’t, the resolution requests an embargo on Russian seafood.
SJR 16, passed by the Senate unanimously in January, comes to the House at a time when Biden is imposing few sanctions on Russia, as Russia attacks neighboring Ukraine and threatens to start an all-out world war.
Biden has put modest sanctions on certain Russians and financial institutions close to the Kremlin, Russian technology, Russian banks and “corrupt billionaires.” But he has not sanctioned Russian oil, and many are quick to point out that the 700,000 barrels of Russian oil that is imported to the United States daily is the U.S. equivalent of funding Russians war on Ukraine. Biden knows America needs Russian oil as he shuts down domestic production.
The seafood bill summary says “Calling on President Biden to immediately seek and secure an end to the embargo imposed by Russia on seafood imports from abroad, or place a reciprocal embargo on Russian seafood entering the United States, until a reasonable trade agreement restoring Alaska seafood producers’ full access to Russia’s domestic seafood market is secured.” It may be the kind of bill that is sent back to the Rules committee for work, considering the global crisis over Ukraine.
In Washington, it appears Sen. Dan Sullivan and Sen. Lisa Murkowski are considering introducing a bill to place sanctions on Russia seafood imports.
Several committees will also meet on Monday:
HOUSE EDUCATION 8 am, Presentation on understanding culturally responsive education, by Lance (X_’unei) A Twitchell, M.F.A., Ph.D., University of Alaska Southeast. Schedule
SENATE EDUCATION 9 am, Update on teacher recruitment Schedule Documents
SENATE FINANCE 9 am, SB 81, Village Public Safety Officer grants, and governor’s appointment of Kevin Fimon to Mental Health Trust Authority Board of Trustees. Schedule Documents
HOUSE JUDICIARY 1 pm, HB 372, eliminating minimum wage exemptions for disabled working in nonprofits. Schedule
HOUSE GOVERNOR FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE 1:30 pm, Governor’s office budget closeout. Schedule
SENATE JUDICIARY 1:30 pm, SB 31, prohibiting binding caucus. Schedule Documents
SENATE LABOR & COMMERCE 1:30 pm, no prohibition allowed against natural black hair styles, Schedule Documents
HOUSE LEGISLATURE 2 pm, Legislature’s budget closeout. Schedule
HOUSE FINANCE 2:30 pm, HB 64 and HB 30. Schedule
HOUSE LABOR & COMMERCE 3:15 pm, HB 58, contraception coverage by insurance. Schedule
HOUSE REVENUE 3:30 pm, budget amendments. Schedule
SENATE RESOURCES 3:30 pm, mining industry updates. Schedule
