News from the Senate Majority
Alaska State Legislature

Wendy Lindskoog, Senate Majority Press Secretary
716 West 4th Avenue, Suite 510
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
Phone: 907/258-8184
http://www.akrepublicans.org
Broadcast Actualities: 800/478-6540

Senator Ward to Champion Alaska Issues at NCSL Conference

For Immediate Release: October 1, 1998 Contact: Senator Jerry Ward (907) 258-8183.

Anchorage – Calling it an excellent opportunity to represent the state of Alaska and the National Council of Native American Legislators, Senator Jerry Ward will attend the National Conference of State Legislatures’ (NCSL) Executive Committee meeting October 2-3 in Denver, Colorado.

As a member of the Executive Committee’s Program, Planning and Oversight Subcommittee, Senator Ward will be asked to share new policy and program concepts that are working in Alaska.

"I look forward to sharing information about Alaska’s new pilot program in Nome aimed at reducing the number of Alaska Natives who return to prison," said Ward. "This culturally relevant program, suggested by native elders, honors sobriety as a lifestyle. By helping Alaska Natives battle their abuse of alcohol, we can greatly reduce their numbers in prison."

Ward will also share a resolution recently adopted by the Council of State Governments–West (CSG-West) that reafirms the founding documents of sovereign states. The resolution urges Congress to respect state constitutions and statehood compacts as inviolate instruments not to be abridged, nor offended by federal statute, regulation or policy. CSG-West adopted this resolution at its 1998 annual meeting in Alaska, September 19-22.

The Executive Committee is charged with setting policy for the NCSL. It is comprised of forty legislative members chosen from the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the United States territories and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

"Through my participation on this committee, I will help ensure that Alaska issues will have a strong voice within NCSL," said Ward.

NCSL was founded in 1975 to advance the effectiveness, independence and integrity of the legislatures as equal coordinate branches of government. The organization fosters interstate cooperation and represents states and their legislatures at the federal level. Finally, NCSL works for the improvement of the processes and operations of the state legislatures; the knowledge and effectiveness of individual legislators and staffs; and the encouragement of the practice of high standards of personal and professional conduct by legislators and staffs.

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Broadcast Note: Radio actualities from Senator Ward are available by calling (800) 478-6540.
 = Jerry Ward, 51 K