House State Affairs Committee advances resolution backing USMCA

The Alaska House State Affairs Committee on May 18, 2026, advanced Senate Joint Resolution 25, a measure expressing the legislature's support for the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement, after adopting a committee substitute and forwarding the resolution with individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes.

Senator Scott Kawasaki, who sponsored SJR 25 in the Senate, told the committee the measure "is very simple" and described the USMCA as "the revised North American Free Trade Agreement," emphasizing that Canada is Alaska's closest trade partner. Kawasaki deferred technical language to his staff, who worked with cross-border leadership organizations while drafting the resolution.

The committee adopted a house committee substitute that incorporated an amendment from Representative Saint Clair. Staff explained the substitute makes two textual changes: it replaces the word "efficient" with "secure" (page 2, line 24) and replaces a phrase about "the creation of a program that would simplify border crossings" with language prioritizing "a secure border" (page 3, lines 5–6). After discussion and withdrawal of an initial objection, members adopted the committee substitute as the working document by no-objection consent.

Representative Holland asked whether the resolution's distribution should be directed not only to Canada's federal delegation but also to provincial leadership in Yukon, British Columbia and Alberta. Maddie Hall, staff to Senator Kawasaki, said the resolution as drafted distributes to Canada's federal leaders (the drafters pointed to the language on page 3, line 11) and that the authors had engaged with cross-border leadership organizations in preparing the text. Through the chair, Senator Kawasaki said the sponsors mainly targeted the federal delegation and noted Mexico was not referenced because it does not border Alaska; chair and members indicated Representative Holland could work with the sponsor on a friendly amendment for later action if desired.

Vice Chair Story moved that the committee pass the house committee substitute for SJR 25 and advance it from the House State Affairs Committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes; the motion passed with no objection and the measure was advanced from committee.

Several members offered remarks in support. Representative Hemphill said the resolution would support longstanding relationships between Alaska border communities and neighboring jurisdictions, citing cross-border fishing access in places such as Haines and Skagway. Vice Chair Story thanked the senator and staff and noted related transboundary water issues are important but not part of the resolution.

The measure will proceed with the committee's recommendations and attached fiscal notes to the next stage of the legislative process.