Anchorage -- Alaska state Senator Jerry Ward (R-Kenai/Anchorage) announced today that he has been elected to the Executive Committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures for a second year. As part of the sixty member governing board, Senator Ward will help set policy for the bipartisan national lobbying organization. NCSL represents the 50 states and U.S. commonwealths and territories before Congress and the Administration. Additionally, as a member of the NCSL Executive Committee, Senator Ward will be asked to share new policy and program concepts that are working in Alaska.

"I believe an organization like the National Conference of State Legislatures is essential. It's a resource for information and research, publications, meetings and it's the states' strongest voice in Congress. It's the organization through which we as state legislators can share ideas, successes and, at times, even failures. It's an organization committed to training legislators and staff to be as effective as possible, and to taking the states' case on every state-federal issue to Congress and the Administration. I'm proud to be a part of it," said Senator Ward.

NCSL was founded in 1975 to advance the effectiveness, independence, and integrity of the 50 state 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 improvement of the processes and operations of 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.

"It is important to have another Alaskan serve on the NCSL Executive Committee because Alaska has a unique perspective among the 50 states," said Representative Ramona Barnes. "Senator Ward's participation on the NCSL Executive Committee ensures Alaska's interests are well represented on the federal level."

Representative Barnes is the only other Alaskan who has served as an "at large" member on the NCSL Executive Committee. Rep. Barnes is now the representative for the Council of State Governments-West on the NCSL Executive Committee. CSG-West represents the interests of the 13 western states and the U.S. territories, on the NCSL Executive Committee.

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