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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 19
IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION
BY THE HOUSE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
Introduced: 2/14/24
Referred: Transportation, House Special Committee on Military & Veterans' Affairs
A RESOLUTION
Supporting the completion of the Port MacKenzie Rail Extension and the Northern Rail 1
Extension; supporting the increase in defensive capabilities at Fort Greely, Alaska; 2
encouraging a renewed commitment by the Alaska Railroad to a community-minded 3
approach to future rail expansion; and encouraging the development of critical Arctic 4
infrastructure. 5
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 6
WHEREAS Alaska is the only state in the United States that borders the Arctic 7
Ocean; and 8
WHEREAS the United States Department of Defense has expanded the anti-ballistic 9
missile facility at Fort Greely, Alaska; and 10
WHEREAS the United States Army has developed new training range areas to 11
support the Stryker Brigade; and 12
WHEREAS Fort Greely is the only military base that is not currently connected to the 13
railroad system in the state; and 14
WHEREAS a railroad is well suited to provide the transportation support required to 15 33-LS1344\B
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sustain military operations; and 1
WHEREAS a cost-efficient transportation system would benefit the world-class 2
mining operations located near Delta Junction and projected mining operations near Tetlin; 3
and 4
WHEREAS a cost-efficient transportation system would benefit the agricultural 5
industry in the Delta Junction area, allowing the agricultural industry to become more cost-6
efficient and competitive and increasing its ability to expand; and 7
WHEREAS a railroad would provide a cost-efficient method of transporting goods 8
and services for both mining and agricultural activities in the Delta Junction region; and 9
WHEREAS the Alaska Railroad system has the capacity to provide efficient 10
transportation services for heavy cargo and large quantities of supplies to the Delta Junction 11
region from the ports of Port MacKenzie, Seward, Whittier, and Anchorage and to 12
economically deliver mining and agricultural products from the region to market; and 13
WHEREAS the extension of the Alaska Railroad from Port MacKenzie to Houston, 14
Delta Junction, and Fort Greely is consistent with the long-term goals of the Alaska Railroad 15
Corporation and the State of Alaska to extend rail service to the contiguous United States; and 16
WHEREAS the Alaska Railroad has already completed phase 1 of the Northern Rail 17
Extension project by crossing the Tanana River, which brings the rail line within 70 miles of 18
Delta Junction and Fort Greely; and 19
WHEREAS the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and the Alaska Railroad have already 20
completed nearly two-thirds of the Port MacKenzie Rail Extension, which brings Port 21
MacKenzie within 33 miles of the Alaska Railroad rail line, which is in Houston and extends 22
on to Fairbanks and the Northern Rail Extension project; and 23
WHEREAS the completion of the Port MacKenzie Rail Extension will reduce energy 24
and transportation costs, improve air quality, increase the efficiency of shipping bulk 25
commodities and materials to and from Interior Alaska, and provide direct rail access for 26
shipments of liquefied natural gas from Cook Inlet to Fairbanks, North Pole, and beyond; and
27
WHEREAS the completion of the Port MacKenzie Rail Extension will increase the 28
available supply of natural gas and reduce energy costs for industry and residential customers 29
in many Interior Alaska communities; with increased natural gas supply, that region will 30
realize additional opportunities for natural gas conversion, which will aid in achieving air 31 33-LS1344\B
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quality attainment; and 1
WHEREAS the communities, neighborhoods, and individuals served and affected by 2
rail expansions should have an active role in planning, considering alternatives, and 3
confirming decisions made by the Alaska Railroad regarding rail expansions; 4
BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature supports the completion of the 5
Port MacKenzie Rail Extension and the Northern Rail Extension; and be it 6
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature recognizes the urgency of 7
developing key infrastructure and defense capabilities, considering the investments other 8
nations have committed to the Arctic as well as the increased amount of time needed for those 9
types of projects because of the extreme weather of the region; and be it 10
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature encourages the Alaska 11
Railroad to renew its commitment to a community-minded approach to future rail expansions, 12
including reporting to the legislature regarding the railroad's efforts to improve relations with 13
private landowners, communities, and neighborhoods impacted by past and current 14
operations; and be it 15
FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges the Alaska 16
delegation in Congress to pursue the completion of the Port MacKenzie Rail Extension and 17
the Northern Rail Extension for the purpose of securing the critical infrastructure that is 18
necessary to improve defense capabilities in the state. 19
COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Joseph R. Biden, President 20
of the United States; the Honorable Kamala D. Harris, Vice President of the United States and 21
President of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Mike Johnson, Speaker of the U.S. House of 22
Representatives; the Honorable Patty Murray, President pro tempore of the U.S. Senate; the 23
Honorable Lloyd Austin, United States Secretary of Defense; the Honorable Deb Haaland, 24
United States Secretary of the Interior; the Honorable Pete Buttigieg, United States Secretary 25
of Transportation; and the Honorable Lisa Murkowski and the Honorable Dan Sullivan, U.S. 26
Senators, and the Honorable Mary Peltola, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska 27
delegation in Congress. 28