Juneau -- The Anchorage Caucus, the bipartisan organization of members of the State House and Senate from the Anchorage area, passed a resolution today endorsing the dredging of Cook Inlet.

A shoal is building at the entrance to the navigation channel for the Port of Anchorage. This shoal is quickly becoming a hazard to shipping causing delays in the arrival and departure of ships at the port of Anchorage.

The Resolution, authored by Representative Lisa Murkowski (R - Government Hill) recognizes the importance of the Port of Anchorage to the Alaskan economy. "The people of Alaska depend on the Port of Anchorage for their basic needs. Eighty percent of Alaskans receive goods shipped through the Port of Anchorage."

Representative Andrew Halcro, the House Co-Chair of the Anchorage Caucus and cosponsor of the Resolution characterized the matter as a safety issue, "The marine pilots who work in Cook Inlet have indicated this is a safety issue for them. We need to make sure that cargo ships can safely get into the Port of Anchorage. The last thing we want is a cargo ship grounded in Cook Inlet."

Senate Co-Chair Dave Donley (R-Midtown) also supported the resolution. "The Port is vital to the continued economic growth of Alaska. We need to do all we can to ensure that cargo travels smoothly and safely to all of Alaska."

A copy of the Resolution is attached.