2024 Legislative Session Roundup

Representative Kevin McCabe continues to focus on several issues that directly impact the Upper Susitna Valley. Though it did not pass in the 2024 session, McCabe says increasing the threshold for village population from 1,000 to 1,500 will help communities like Talkeetna. Currently at about 1,100 people, Talkeetna can’t participate in the Village Safe Water program, which helps bring safe drinking water to rural communities.

McCabe says there is still substantial funding available in the program and most of the communities it was designed to help are now equipped with safe drinking water. 

“So now with 594 million dollars left in the pot of money it’s maybe time to address some of the villages that still need safe water and sewer, such as Talkeetna, Sutton, and a couple of other villages whose name escapes me right now. Maybe now it’s time to address those villages as well and make sure that every single Alaskan, not just Native Alaskans in off-road villages, or Alaska bush folks. Every single Alaskan has access to clean water.” 

Discretionary funds will help pay for the crosswalk at the Talkeetna Public Library and the start of the new Willow Fire and EMS station. McCabe says the projects he selects for discretionary funds are based on community input.

Other issues McCabe is focusing on are fisheries, in particular the low numbers in the Mat-Su rivers. The legislature included funding in the budget for enhancing fisheries in the Mat-Su Borough, but that 2.5 million dollars was vetoed by the Governor. McCabe says the funding for those projects will likely come from other sources. 

Transportation of all kinds remains a top priority for McCabe. The Port MacKenzie rail connection and the West Susitna Access projects are two examples. Important for commerce, recreation, and access to minerals, he says development needs to be balanced with protecting natural resources.    

“I’ve talked to many of the mining companies that have come into my office. And the first thing I always tell them is that if you want to sell this project to Alaskans, before you ever talk about turning a shovel full of dirt, you have to be able to tell us how you are going to remediate the mine once you’re done.”

This being an election year, much of the focus this fall will be on the primaries August 20th and election day November 5th.