Providing both written and oral testimony is vital in Alaska's legislative process. Written testimony creates a permanent record containing detailed evidence and data specific to the Alaska regions, accessible to legislators and staff throughout the short legislative session. Oral testimony humanizes issues by allowing speakers to convey passion and urgency while enabling legislators to ask direct questions about how proposed legislation might impact different Alaskan communities. Testimony, written and oral, ensures that citizen input is communicated to decision-makers despite the logistical challenges many Alaskans face in participating in the legislative process.