Lawmakers and the public alike identified the Alaska Marine Highway System as one of the most important issues that need to be addressed during the ongoing legislative session.<\/p>\n
State Reps. Andi Story, Sara Hannan and Sen. Jesse Kiehl, all Juneau Democrats, said during a Native Issues Forum held at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall that maintaining and increasing service of the ferry system that connects coastal Alaska is a top priority for Juneau’s legislative delegation. They were also asked multiple times about what can be done to restore ferry service in the region.<\/p>\n
[Read live coverage from the forum<\/a>]<\/ins><\/p>\n “It’s one of the central issues will work on, and our colleagues from coastal Alaska will work on, during this session,” Kiehl said.<\/p>\n He was responding to a question from Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska 2nd Vice President Jackie Pata.<\/p>\n “We have, I’m pleased to say more allies than we’ve ever had, and that I think is in part an answer to your question,” Kiehl said.<\/p>\n He and Hannan each discussed how public outcry in favor of the AMHS and the Legislature helped make sure ferry service was not totally eliminated from October through June as initially proposed last February by Gov. Mike Dunleavy.<\/p>\n [Ferry emergency: Many ferries are out of service<\/a>]<\/ins><\/p>\n “The Legislature refused to go along with that,” Kiehl said, “but the compromise that had to be forged based on estimates from DOT (Department of Transportation and Public Facilities) based on how much service they could offer with how much money was brutal. We saw when the schedule came out in the fall, Alaskans from across the state step up and realize the magnitude of damage to Alaska families, to the coastal Alaska economy.”<\/p>\n Story said determining short- and long-term solution will be important, and she, Hannan and Kiehl each encouraged those in attendance to continue to voice their support for the ferries.<\/p>\n After the meeting, Kiehl said whether increased support for the AMHS will result to the votes needed to appropriate funds remains to be seen.<\/p>\n “I’m optimistic with really hard work we’ll have the support to start to rebuild the ferry system,” Kiehl said.<\/p>\n Education support needed<\/strong><\/p>\n While ferries took the brunt of the focus, they weren’t all that was discussed.<\/p>\n Story spotlighted a pair of education-related bills, one that she supports and one that has yet to be introduced.<\/p>\n