[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Pages 2078-2079]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     ALASKA LEGISLATURE CENTENNIAL

 Ms. MURKOWSKI. Madam President, I rise today to mark a 
significant event in Alaska's history as we commemorate the 100th 
anniversary of the convening of the Alaska State Legislature.
  Compared to the States that my colleagues represent, Alaska is a 
relatively young State, so it is remarkable that our legislature has 
existed for only 100 years. However, creating our State's legislative 
body was not an easy process. Secretary of State William H. Seward 
acquired Alaska from Russia for $7,200,000 on March 30, 1867. The First 
Organic Act of 1884 established the District of Alaska and provided us 
with a Governor and judicial branch but no legislative body to be the 
people's voice. It was not until after several petitions by Alaskans of 
all backgrounds that Congress passed the Second Organic Act giving 
Alaska territorial status and a legislative body. Our first elections 
were held November 12, 1912. They produced the first of many civil 
servants who would have the honor to serve in the Alaska Legislature. 
We did not yet have a capitol building, so eight senators and 16 
representatives convened at the Elk's Lodge in Juneau, AK. That year, 
the first territorial legislature passed 83 laws--laws that began 
building our State and uniting us as Alaskans.
  While Alaska may have been just a territory and seen by many as a 
vast wilderness separated from the rest of the country, our territorial 
legislature led the Nation in passing the first law in the Nation 
giving women the right

[[Page 2079]]

to vote. This was 1913. The 19th amendment wouldn't be ratified for 
another 7 long years. The great Nell Scott was the first woman to serve 
in the first territorial legislature, way before other daughters of 
this country would. The territorial legislature also led the nation in 
the civil rights movement as it passed an antidiscrimination bill 
providing for full and equal enjoyment of public accommodations for all 
Alaskans. It is noteworthy that before statehood, Alaska's Legislature 
acted in response to the passionate advocacy of Roy and Elizabeth 
Peratrovich long before Congress would on Dr. Martin Luther King and 
Rosa Parks' advocacy. Before a territorial referendum in 1946 that 
began the legal quest for statehood, the Alaska Legislature had been 
advocating admission as early as 1913.
  This past January, the 28th Session of the Alaska State Legislature 
convened, consisting of 20 senators and 40 representatives. Under house 
speaker Mike Chenault, and senate president Charlie Huggins, they 
continue to provide representation to an estimated 731,449 residents of 
Alaska. The Alaska Legislature has worked for the past 100 years to 
give Alaskans the opportunity to enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit 
of happiness, and they will continue to do so for the many years to 
come. I extend my congratulations and heartfelt appreciation to the 
senators and representatives as well as all support staff to our 
legislature on this special anniversary.

                          ____________________