Alaska environmental youths announce lawmakers of the year

Twenty-one members of Alaska Youth for Environmental Action braved rain, sleet and wind to entice legislators, aides and press to a salmon barbecue across the street from the Capitol. (Photo by Skip Gray/360 North)
Alaska Youth for Environmental Action delegates gathered in Juneau to lobby Gov. Bill Walker and legislators on Arctic policy, energy efficiency and for the creation of a climate change task force. (Photo by Skip Gray/360 North)
Alaska Youth for Environmental Action delegates gathered in Juneau to lobby Gov. Bill Walker and legislators on Arctic policy, energy efficiency and for the creation of a climate change task force. (Photo by Skip Gray/360 North)
The organization serves salmon at its annual barbecue in Juneau. (Photo by Skip Gray/360 North)
The organization serves salmon at its annual barbecue in Juneau. (Photo by Skip Gray/360 North)

A youth environmental group on Thursday named four lawmakers its legislators of the year.

The Alaska Youth for Environmental Action awards go to Reps. Andy Josephson, Charisse Millett, Les Gara and Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins.

Colony High School freshman Kaytlyn Kelly from Palmer is one of many youths with the group lobbying policymakers in Juneau this week. She says the awards were based on the legislators’ leadership on four pieces of legislation the group is studying.

House Bill 1, a state Arctic policy,
House Bill 19 to outlaw discrimination based on gender and sexual identity,
House Bill 58 to make energy efficiency loans available to tribes, and
House Joint Resolution 6, addressing toxic contamination on Native lands.

Kelly and about 20 other youths announced their legislators of the year during a rainy, windy salmon barbecue outside the Capitol on Thursday.

Environmental youths announce lawmakers of the year

Jeremy Hsieh

Local News Reporter, KTOO

Sign up for The Signal

KTOO Links

Social media

Resources

Public Media