From our Elected Officials

Recent House Bill Activity 03-11-10

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
Bill Activity for Mar. 11, 2010
As of: 04:00:02 pm Alaska Time
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
HB 300 : Appropriation: Operating Budget/ Loans/ Funds
Sponsored by the Hou. Rules by Request of the Governor
An Act making appropriations for the operating and loan program
expenses of state government, for certain programs, and to capitalize
funds; and providing for an effective date.

Version: CSHB 300(FIN)
Status: PASSED (H) >> TRANSMITTED TO (S)

Sponsor Statement: http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_jrn_page.asp?session=26&bill=HB300&jrn=1302&hse=H
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
HB 302 : Appropriation: Mental Health Budget
Sponsored by the Hou. Rules by Request of the Governor
An Act making appropriations for the operating and capital expenses of
the state's integrated comprehensive mental health program; and
providing for an effective date.

Version: CSHB 302(FIN)
Status: PASSED (H) >> TRANSMITTED TO (S)

Sponsor Statement: http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_jrn_page.asp?session=26&bill=HB302&jrn=1305&hse=H
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
HJR 16 : Disabled Veterans Procurement Preference
Sponsored by Rep. Carl Gatto
Relating to federal procurement preferences for small businesses in the
state that are owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans.

Version: CSHJR 16(L&C)
Status: (S) RLS >> (S) CALENDAR 3/12
Contact: Karen Sawyer, 465-5025

Sponsor Statement: http://www.housemajority.org/spon.php?id=26hjr16-76

Rep. Young Attends Public Meeting On Izembek Access Road

Washington, D.C. - Alaskan Congressman Don Young spoke March 11 before a U.S. Fish and Wildlife public meeting concerning the proposed access road for King Cove through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge and issued the following statement:

"The people of King Cove need reliable access to a good airport and quality medical services.  We need to respond to that need.  I have flown in there before, and anyone who has been there would know that something needs to be done; using a hovercraft to get in and out of the area is dangerous.  I have been a supporter of this project from the beginning as have most Alaskans.  It is only Outsiders, with no concept of the area or the people, who are standing in the way of getting this done.  This region is not new to roads, as there are many already in place; we are simply providing a very necessary addition.  We need to support the people of King Cove at this time, and give them the chance that they are due."

Legislation to protect Alaskans' Privacy from Misuse of Technology Moves Forward

(JUNEAU) March 11, 2010  -  Today legislation to outlaw the collection, analysis, or storage of a law-abiding citizen's biometric information without their express written consent moved from the Senate State Affairs Committee. 

Sponsored by Senator Bill Wielechowski (D-Anchorage), Senate Bill 190 updates a state law which currently protects law Alaskans' DNA from misuse by others. This legislation amends the law to include an individual's personal biometric information as private property which cannot be taken without their permission.

The term "biometric information" refers to any information about an individual based on their unique behavioral or physiological characteristics. The most commonly known forms of biometric information are a person's fingerprints and their DNA; but also include such information as iris and retinal patterns, hand geometry, voice patterns, and facial characteristics.

"One potential misuse of biometric information would be through the use of video surveillance enhanced by facial recognition technology to track citizens' movements without their knowledge," said Senator Wielechowski. "Recently, the Federal Real ID Act would have allowed the government to place electronic tracking devices in our driver's licenses, and we as a state have refused to comply with that law. This bill will protect us from other forms of technology that can be used against us in a similar way."

SB 190 goes next to the Senate Judiciary Committee for consideration.


(For more information, contact George Ascott in Senator Wielechowski's office at (907) 465-2435)

Bill to Help Combat Soldiers Reunite with Families Passes Committee

(JUNEAU) -  The Senate State Affairs Committee today passed out of committee legislation allowing spouses of soldiers serving in combat zones to take ten days of job-protected leave without pay when their loved ones visit home from the battlefield. SB 278, sponsored by Senator Bill Wielechowski (D-Anchorage), applies to spouses of military personnel who are on leave from deployment during a period of military conflict in an area that is designated a combat zone by the President.

"Our combat soldiers and their families are making tremendous sacrifices to protect our freedoms and our way of life," said Wielechowski. "The least we can do is to make sure they can spend time together during the short respite from war."

Through passage of this legislation, Alaska will join California, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington in passing similar laws to protect the jobs of military families. 

SB 278 will be heard next in the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee.

Representative Pete Petersen (D-Anchorage) has sponsored companion legislation in the State House.

(For more information, please contact George Ascott at (907) 465-2435)

Natural Gas Weekly Update

Overview (For the Week Ending Wednesday, March 10, 2010)

Since Wednesday, March 3, natural gas spot prices fell at most market locations across the lower 48 States, with decreases of as much as 11 percent. Prices at the Henry Hub declined $0.32, or about 7 percent, to $4.44 per million Btu (MMBtu). At the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), the futures contract for April delivery at the Henry Hub settled yesterday, March 10, at $4.56 per MMBtu, falling by $0.20 or about 4 percent since the previous Wednesday. Natural gas in storage was 1,626 billion cubic feet (Bcf) as of March 5, about 1 percent above the 5-year average (2005-2009). The implied net withdrawal for the week was 111 Bcf. The spot price for West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil increased by $1.16 per barrel since Wednesday, March 3, to $82.07 per barrel or $14.15 per MMBtu.

More Summary Data

Prices

Since last Wednesday, March 3, natural gas spot prices posted declines at market locations across the lower 48 States as temperatures moderated. Warmer temperatures throughout most of the lower 48 States and continued strength in natural gas production likely contributed to falling natural gas prices. On the week, price decreases generally ranged between $0.09 and $0.59 per MMBtu, or about 2 to 11 percent, at most markets. However, the largest decline since last Wednesday occurred at the Florida citygate, where prices fell $1.02 per MMBtu on the week. Weekly natural gas consumption fell in all market sectors, decreasing about 12 percent for the lower 48 States overall since last week. Natural gas consumption posted declines on the week in each of the major market sectors, with decreases ranging between 2 to 18 percent, according to BENTEK Energy Services, LLC. The largest declines in natural gas consumption occurred in the residential/commercial and electric power market sectors, which fell 18 percent and 9 percent, respectively. The declines in these sectors likely resulted from the decrease in space heating demand associated with moderating temperatures. Industrial demand fell about 2 percent on the week. Despite these declines, natural gas consumption in the lower 48 States was about 9 percent higher than year-prior levels. Natural gas supplies decreased on the week, despite an increase in natural gas production. Natural gas supplies decreased by almost 2 percent since last week, as Canadian and liquefied natural gas (LNG) sendout posted significant declines, according to BENTEK. However, natural gas production increased by almost 1 percent on the week. The robustness of domestic natural gas production suggests that the natural gas market remains well-supplied overall. In contrast to the rest of the lower 48 States, Canadian imports in the West region increased by 2 percent on the week and were about 4 percent above year-prior levels for the same report week. Compared with last year at this time, current U.S. natural gas production is about 0.2 percent higher, while total pipeline and LNG imports were 7 percent lower and 22 percent higher, respectively. Natural gas price declines since last Wednesday were generally less pronounced in western markets, where significant heating demand for natural gas provided some support for prices. With average temperatures in the West between 2 and 8 degrees below normal for the week ended March 9, 2010, according to the National Weather Service, weather-related demand for natural gas in the region likely contributed to the relative strength of prices in the region despite price declines on the region in the week. These colder temperatures likely account for the relative strength of Canadian imports in the West region exhibited during the week. Prices at most markets in the California, Arizona/Nevada, West Texas, and Rocky Mountains regions fell between 3 and 6 percent, compared with declines ranging between 7 and 17 percent, on average, in eastern markets. With prices in the eastern lower 48 States declining at a more rapid rate than in western markets, the basis differential between these points narrowed considerably. In fact, prices at the Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) Citygate in California were $5.02 per MMBtu yesterday (March 10), exceeding the price of $4.76 per MMBtu at the New York Citygate, in contrast to the more typical pricing pattern of prices in the Northeast exceeding California prices during this time of year. Natural gas spot prices at the Henry Hub are trading above year-ago levels. Prices at market locations across the lower 48 States are trading at a premium to year-ago levels. At $4.44 per MMBtu in trading on March 10, prices at the Henry Hub were 13 percent, or $0.52, above year-ago levels. Elsewhere in the lower 48 States, natural gas spot prices at most markets were trading at about 8 to 61 percent below year-ago levels.

At the NYMEX, the prices for natural gas delivery contracts through March 2011 decreased between $0.19 and $0.21 per MMBtu, or about 3 to 4 percent, during the report week. On the week, the price of the April contract decreased 20 cents per MMBtu, or about 4 percent. Overall, prices for the 12-month futures strip averaged $5.14 per MMBtu as of Wednesday, March 10, falling about $0.20 per MMBtu, or about 4 percent on the week. With natural gas futures prices declining at a significantly slower rate than the Henry Hub spot price, the differential between the futures strip and the Henry Hub spot price increased to $0.67 per MMBtu. This pattern suggests that the marginal value of holding natural gas in storage may be rising as current heating demand for gas slackens, which could give natural gas suppliers an incentive to replenish inventory levels of natural gas held in storage.

More Price Data

Storage

Working natural gas in storage decreased to 1,626 Bcf as of Friday, March 5, according to EIA's Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report (see Storage Figure). The implied net withdrawal was 111 Bcf, matching last year's net withdrawal for the report week. This week's implied net withdrawal was 2 Bcf above the 5-year (2005-2009) average withdrawal of 109 Bcf. Warming temperatures in most regions of the lower 48 States likely contributed to the declining rate of storage withdrawals since the preceding report week. Working gas inventories are currently 71 Bcf below year-ago levels and 19 Bcf above the 5-year average level. Working gas in storage continues to exceed historical levels and year-ago levels for this time of year in the East and West storage regions. However, working gas stocks in the Producing region are 39 Bcf below the 5-year average and 145 Bcf below last year's level. Temperatures were generally colder than normal in most Census Divisions in the lower 48 States during the week ended March 5. Based on the National Weather Service's degree-day data, temperatures in the lower 48 States during the week ending March 5 were, on average, about 3 degrees colder than normal and 0.4 degrees warmer than last year (see Temperature Maps and Data). Temperatures were warmest in the West South Central and the Pacific Census Divisions, where the average temperatures were 47 and 51 degrees, respectively. Elsewhere in the lower 48 States, average temperatures ranged between 26 and 40 degrees. In contrast to the rest of the lower 48 States, the New England, Middle Atlantic, and Mountain Census Divisions reported warmer-than-normal temperatures.

More Storage Data

Other Market Trends

EIA Expects Natural Gas Price Increases Through 2011. Natural gas spot prices are expected to rise to an average of $5.17 per MMBtu in 2010 and $5.65 per MMBtu in 2011, according to EIA's Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) released on March 9. So far this winter, prices have not exhibited significant increases that were apparent in years past. One factor likely influencing this reduction in price pressure is the large inventories of working gas remaining in underground storage. At the end of February 2010, working gas stocks were 1,729 Bcf, compared with the 5-year average of 1,665 Bcf. Total annual production in 2010 is expected to decline by 2.7 percent to 58.7 Bcf per day compared with 2009. The EIA estimates that marketed natural gas production will increase by 1.1 percent in 2011 to 59.3 Bcf per day. In addition, EIA expects total natural gas consumption to increase by 0.7 percent to 62.9 Bcf per day in 2010, and decline 0.4 percent in 2011. Cold weather in the first quarter of 2010 is the primary driver of the consumption increase in residential, commercial and electric power sectors, which is expected to result in an annual increase in consumption in these three sectors, more than offsetting declines in industrial consumption. During the first quarter of 2010, natural gas use for electric power generation is expected to increase by about 3 percent compared with the same period last year. Weather is expected to return to near-normal levels, thus resulting in a slight decrease in total consumption in 2011. The latest STEO includes market assessments of natural gas and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) prices exceeding or dropping below specific price levels using the forward curves for futures and option volatilities (see Energy Price Volatility and Forecast Uncertainty). EIA will include this measure in all future STEO publications. Natural Gas Rigs Rise to Highest Level in More Than 1 Year. The number of natural gas rotary rigs in operation totaled 926 as of Friday, March 5, according to Baker Hughes Incorporated. According to Baker Hughes: Rigs have now increased for 10 consecutive weeks, and are at the highest level since February 27, 2009. Year-to-date, natural gas rotary rigs have risen about 22 percent. As of March 5, horizontal rigs (including both oil and natural gas) totaled 695, the highest level in the 19 years for which data are available. Data Baker Hughes released last month indicated that rig counts were at highs (for 2 years for which detailed data are available) in the Louisiana-Mississippi Salt Basins (Haynesville Shale) and Appalachian areas. Vertical rigs (including both oil and natural gas) rose to 471 as of March 5, the highest level in a year. Although the natural gas rig count has increased recently, it remains 42 percent below the 2008 peak of 1,606. Natural gas production has remained relatively stable, likely because of the increase in the horizontal rig count. Horizontal drilling tends to produce more natural gas per well. In addition, operators have been drilling longer laterals (the horizontal lines that permeate gas-bearing rock) for horizontal wells, further increasing production. Additionally, operators have been drilling wells at a faster pace.

Natural Gas Per-Customer Consumption Declines. After adjusting for weather, the typical household using natural gas consumed 22 percent less natural gas in 2009 compared with 1990. Weather-adjusted per-customer consumption decreased from 95 thousand cubic feet (Mcf) in 1990 to 74 Mcf in 2009, according to the February 2010 Natural Gas Monthly and Natural Gas Annual 2008, released March 2. The main reasons for the decrease are: Efficiency gains in space-heating equipment and other natural gas appliances. The American Gas Association attributes more than half of the per-customer reduction since 1990 to efficiency increases in natural gas appliances and heating equipment. Improvements in housing construction. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that the number of ENERGY STAR®-qualified homes in the United States has increased significantly since the 1990s, totaling nearly one million homes in 2009. Demographic changes. Migration from the Northeast and the Midwest to warmer areas in the South and West also decreased average use per customer.

Natural Gas Transportation Update

On March 8, Rockies Express Pipeline (REX) issued a force majeure as a result of a transformer failure at its Cheyenne compressor station in Weld County, Colorado. REX initially estimated that repairs would be complete on or about March 11. However, as a result of inclement weather that occurred this week in the area, repairs will resume on March 14. REX did not post a new expected completion date for the repair work. REX scheduled volumes through the segment have been reduced to 1,550 million cubic feet (MMcf) per day, affecting interruptible service, as well as primary and secondary firm service. Southern California Gas Company reported a loss of 750 MMcf per day in withdrawal capacity at its Aliso Canyon storage facility as a result of maintenance on two dehydration heat exchangers. The maintenance is expected to last through March 19. Colorado Interstate Gas Company completed the repairs and commissioning operations to its Totem storage field dehydration facility in Colorado on Sunday, March 7. Effective Monday, March 8, the pipeline lifted a force majeure and the dehydration facility returned to service by cycle 1 of Monday's gas day. The failure of the dehydration facility resulted in the pipeline's inability to withdraw gas from the field. Questar Pipeline announced that it has completed maintenance to one of the compressors at the Clay Basin storage facility in Utah, increasing the injection capacity to 240,000 decatherms (Dth) per day effective March 9. Furthermore, the pipeline reported that about 60,000 Dth per day of withdrawal nominations will be in place through the beginning of the reservoir maintenance, scheduled to commence on March 24. See Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report for additional Natural Gas Storage Data. See Natural Gas Analysis for additional Natural Gas Reports and Articles. See Short-Term Energy Outlook for additional Natural Gas Prices, Supply, and Demand.

Spring Ahead To Prepare For Disasters

SEATTLE, Wash. -- Daylight Savings Time in the United States starts on the second Sunday in March of each year and the Federal Emergency Management Agency encourages all Americans to use the change to daylight savings time to update emergency preparedness plans. For years, firefighters and safety professionals at every level have asked the public to change smoke alarm batteries throughout their homes, as they move their clocks ahead. According to FEMA Acting Regional Administrator Dennis Hunsinger, the March ritual of making homes safer from fire is also a great opportunity to review disaster response plans and restock disaster kits.

"Here in the Pacific Northwest, spring signals increased risks for flash flooding, thunderstorms and wildfires. Daylight Savings Time is a great time to inventory and restock emergency kits and rehearse disaster plans," said Hunsinger. "No matter how busy or hectic our daily routine, we all need to take the time to think about what to do in the event of severe weather, earthquake - or any other major disaster. Our 'Are You Ready? In-depth guide to Citizens' is a great resource for those interested in building or enhancing their readiness."

The Are You Ready citizens' guide is available at www.fema.gov and www.ready.gov and is also available from FEMA's publications warehouse by calling (800) 480-2520.

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

U.S. Northern Commander Backs Begich on Law of the Sea Treaty

Gen. Renuart says ratification would not compromise U.S. sovereignty

March 11, 2010 -- The Commander of the U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee today, agreed with Sen. Mark Begich that the Senate should move forward on ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

In a question and answer exchange between Sen. Begich, a member of the committee, and Air Force Gen. Victor Renuart, Jr., Begich asked whether, given the growing importance of and attention to the Arctic, the General supported the ratification of the Law of the Sea Treaty.

"Law of the Sea Treaty is something that is critical to - to give us a seat at the table - to be involved in these discussions. And we very much support ratification of that treaty as soon as we can," Gen. Renuart said.

Sen. Begich further asked whether the General believes having the United States ratify the Law of the Sea would result in giving up any of the country's sovereignty, a concern occasionally voiced by some.

"No, Sir, I don't," Gen. Renuart said. "I think United States sovereignty is something we hold very dearly, and I don't believe we would give that up."

"It's important to know the military's stance on the Law of the Sea and whether it would put us strategically at any disadvantage," Begich said after the hearing. "I was reassured to hear General Renuart say it would not put us at risk from a national defense point of view."

The United States has signed the Law of the Sea Treaty and abides by most of its terms but is among a handful of nations - including Libya, North Korea and Iran - that have not ratified the Law of the Sea.  Failure to do so would prohibit the nation from making claims to areas of continental shelf beyond our 200-mile limit.

Survey work last summer found the continental shelf above Alaska extends much further than previously thought.  The United States may be able to claim even greater areas of potentially resource rich outer continental shelf but only if we ratify the Law of the Sea, Begich said.

The discussion with Gen. Renuart came as part of the testimony on the Department of Defense Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Request. Sen. Begich also pointed out that currently the Arctic is under the jurisdiction of three regional combatant commands: PACOM, NORTHCOM AND EUCOM. Pointing out the countries of Africa were recently consolidated under one unified command to ensure a cohesive and dedicated approach to the area, Begich said he believes a unified approach by the Department of Defense will be required for the future in the Arctic as the area grows in importance. Gen. Renuart indicated in his answers there is a continual effort to streamline command.

Calling Alaska "ground zero" for climate change, Begich has taken the lead on Arctic issues and sponsored several bills that address the needs of residents of the region from the impacts from warming temperatures, a melting polar ice pack and thawing permafrost.

To deal with these challenges and opportunities, Begich introduced seven bills dealing with Arctic issues before the U.S. Congress.  Called the Inuvikput package - after the Inupiaq word for "the place where we live" - Begich's bills are intended to address local concerns and better position our nation for the opportunities in the region.   They call for:

• • Better coordination of scientific research in the Arctic;
  • Addressing the health needs of Arctic residents and meeting the needs of communities to adapt to the affects of climate change;
  • Sharing revenues from oil and gas development with local communities;
  • Research into oil spill response in broken ice conditions;
  • A heightened diplomatic presence in the Arctic;
  • And increased investment in basic Arctic infrastructure: forward operating bases for the Coast Guard; navigation aids, communications capability, and icebreakers.

Begich's legislation to better coordinate Arctic research is moving forward in Congress and work continues on other bills in the Inuvikput package.

House Passes HB 300 and HB 302

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
Bill Activity for Mar. 11, 2010
As of: 01:00:01 pm Alaska Time
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
HB 300 : Appropriation: Operating Budget/ Loans/ Funds
Sponsored by the Hou. Rules by Request of the Governor
An Act making appropriations for the operating and loan program
expenses of state government, for certain programs, and to capitalize
funds; and providing for an effective date.

Version: CSHB 300(FIN)
Status: FIN CS ADOPTED (H) >> PASSED (H)

Sponsor Statement: http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_jrn_page.asp?session=26&bill=HB300&jrn=1302&hse=H
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
HB 302 : Appropriation: Mental Health Budget
Sponsored by the Hou. Rules by Request of the Governor
An Act making appropriations for the operating and capital expenses of
the state's integrated comprehensive mental health program; and
providing for an effective date.

Version: CSHB 302(FIN)
Status: (H) RLS >> PASSED (H)

Sponsor Statement: http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_jrn_page.asp?session=26&bill=HB302&jrn=1305&hse=H

Compass Piece by Sen. Gary Stevens

COMPASS: Other points of view

By SEN. GARY STEVENS

There is a disconnect in our education system. Other countries are steadily pulling further ahead of us in terms of having an educated population. By the year 2025, it's estimated that 50 percent of all jobs in this country will require a college degree. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, America and Germany are the only two OECD countries where the younger generation is actually less educated than the older generation.

Something has happened to our young people and our education system to produce this sad fact.

I introduced Senate Bill 221 in part after reading "Crossing the Finish Line," co-authored by Michael McPherson, a former president of Macalester College in St. Paul with a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Chicago.

"Crossing the Finish Line" addresses a problem in education that is especially chronic in Alaska: Many young Alaskans go to college, but they just don't finish. Something like 60 percent graduate, but 40 percent don't, which to me is unacceptable.

It's a complex question to figure out why this is happening, but it's generally felt that part of the issue stems from preparedness. Students arriving at college are often not ready to do college-level math and writing. They're then moved into remedial level courses which don't count toward a degree. The time and money spent on their remediation might thus become demoralizing, and statistics show that those who take remedial classes often don't complete a college degree.

It's not just enrolling in college that's the issue, but actually finishing. We have to address the issue of student retention. It seems the first two years are the most defining ones in terms of educational attainment. What happens during that time frame to affect student success?

If enrollment in and completion of some form of higher education is the goal, then we must clearly identify why our students are failing to perform and devise a means to help them succeed. There are several challenges that must be faced. We have the resources to improve the situation, and Senate Bill 221 calls for the stakeholders to assemble and devise a plan to do so.

This task force will serve to identify ways to strengthen the education pipeline, improve student preparation for college, decrease the need for remediation in college, improve access to financial aid, increase retention and graduation rates in postsecondary education, provide enhanced funding and governance for our education system, address data and tracking needs, and ultimately support economic development vis-Ã -vis a better trained, better educated citizenry.

The task force would include the governor, representatives from the Senate and the House Education Committees, the Student Loan Corporation, the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development, representatives from vocational training institutions in the state, the president of the university, the president of the Alaska Federation of Natives, faculty from around the state specializing in remediation, a representative from the state school boards association, as well as school district superintendants, the NEA, and students representing both secondary and post-secondary perspectives.

The task force would go to work immediately after this year's legislative session identifying focus areas in remedial education, counseling and financial need. And frankly, the needs and conditions identified should be no big surprise.

The fiscal note for SB 221 is modest, costing up to about $14,000 for legislative travel. All other task force member organizations pay their own way to participate.

There are always going to be reasons for students to drop out of college. Life happens. Nor should every student necessarily go to college. For some it's just not their thing, which is fine.

However, I think we should make sure the reasons for underachievement are not due to a student's lack of preparedness for college study, a lack of career readiness to enter the workforce upon graduating from high school, or for financial hardship.

Sen. Gary Stevens is president of the Alaska State Senate, a Republican representing Kodiak, Homer, Seward and the Illiamna area, and a retired 25-year professor at the University of Alaska.

Murkowski: Three Alaska Female Aviators Recognized for their World War II Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, announced that three women from Alaska who flew planes during World War II have been honored with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor bestowed by the United States Congress.

About 200 Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASPs, including Ellen Campbell of Juneau, were at the United States Capitol on Wednesday for the medal presentation ceremony. The other two Alaskan WASPs, Virginia Wood and Nancy Baker, both of Fairbanks, were unable to attend the event.

"More than 60 years ago, these pioneering women flew fighter, bomber, transport and training aircraft in defense of America's freedom and led the way in the integration of female pilots into the military," said Murkowski, who attended the Gold Medal ceremony and later taped an upcoming edition of the senator's half-hour public affairs TV program, The Alaska Report, with Ellen Campbell as her guest. The WASP Alaska Report is scheduled to air in May on select Alaska TV stations. The program will also be available on Murkowski's Web site www.murkowski.senate.gov.

WASP survivors and families of deceased WASPs receive a bronze replica of the Gold Medal, which will go on display at one of the Smithsonian museums in Washington. Murkowski plans to present bronze medal replicas to both Virginia Wood and Nancy Baker when she is in Fairbanks in early April.