BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATORS OF THE ANCHORAGE CAUCUS

WHEREAS A strong business environment necessitates an educated population; and

WHEREAS the higher education opportunities are often limited for Alaskan residents; and

WHEREAS to succeed in building a diversified and highly technical working residency we must invest in higher education; and

WHEREAS the University of Alaska, Anchorage (UAA) campus lacks the ability to provide an adequate library for it's students; and

WHEREAS Alaska leads the nation in the number of high school graduates going out-of-state for college; and

WHEREAS students that attend college in-state are more likely to work and live in-state than those that leave the state for college; and

WHEREAS the State of Alaska has an obligation to ensure resident access to higher educational opportunities; and

WHEREAS the State of Alaska has provided $9.6 million for the design, site development and construction for major expansion of the UAA library; and

WHEREAS cooperation with the federal government to consolidate library services within the UA Anchorage library expansion project could provide cost savings and additional revenues; and

WHEREAS an additional appropriation of $30 million is necessary to complete construction of the major expansion of the UAA library;

BE IT RESOLVED the Anchorage Caucus of the Alaska State Legislature supports the continued construction and funding of the UAA library expansion.

This resolution was passed the 30th of March, 1999.