Bill Supports Disaster Relief, Military

March 19, 2012, Juneau, Alaska – Governor Sean Parnell today welcomed passage of an early supplemental bill that will provide relief to communities affected by severe winter storms and also support efforts to sustain Alaska’s military facilities and force structure statewide.

House Bill 307 is an appropriation bill that will provide an additional $5 million for disaster relief and authorize expenditures related to the 2011 West Coast Storm Disaster, the 2011 Kenai Peninsula Windstorm, and the 2012 Prince William Sound Storm.

“The Legislature’s prompt attention to these important funding requests will help many Alaskans who were affected by these storms and also provide resources in anticipation of spring floods and other unpredictable events,” Governor Parnell said. “I want to thank the presiding officers and finance co-chairs for their leadership and support for this early supplemental bill.”

The legislation also includes $300,000 for the Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to immediately contract for specific expertise to counter the U.S. Department of Defense plans to reduce military spending through a Base Realignment and Closure Commission.

House Bill 307 also contains other state agency operating budget supplemental requests and funding for some emergency capital projects.

Source: Office of Governor Parnell