00Enrolled HJR 23                                                                                                         
01 Supporting the reuse of facilities at the Galena Air Base to provide regional educational                               
02 services.                                                                                                               
03                                         _______________                                                                 
04 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                             
05      WHEREAS, in 2005, the Defense Base Realignment and Closure Commission                                            
06 demonstrated a willingness to close the Galena Air Base in place of Eielson Air Force Base,                             
07 thereby eliminating one important forward operating location and severing ties with the                                 
08 community; and                                                                                                          
09      WHEREAS the Galena Air Base constitutes a critical aspect of Galena's economy and                                
10 culture; and                                                                                                            
11      WHEREAS the economic vitality of Galena is also important to the economic health                                 
12 of the Fairbanks North Star Borough and adjacent communities; and                                                       
13      WHEREAS the Defense Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommended a                                        
14 deadline for the community to achieve economic viability, but the United States Air                                     
15 Force set a new, earlier closure date of October 2008; and                                                              
16      WHEREAS the United States Air Force will be leaving facilities with a value greater                              
17 than $150,000,000 for reuse or mandatory demolition; and                                                                

01      WHEREAS the Galena Economic Development Council, which includes the City of                                      
02 Galena, the Louden Village Council, and the Galena City School District, have proposed that                             
03 the United States Air Force facilities left behind when the Galena Air Base is closed be used                           
04 for regional educational services; and                                                                                  
05      WHEREAS the state has contributed resources and property in support of Galena's                                  
06 reuse plan; and                                                                                                         
07      WHEREAS, in 2005, the State Board of Education and Early Development asked the                                 
08 legislature, the governor, and the education community to collaborate on a system of                                    
09 statewide boarding schools that meet the needs of Alaska's students; and                                                
10      WHEREAS the Association of Alaska School Boards has resolved to support school                                   
11 districts operating regional boarding high schools; and                                                                 
12      WHEREAS, because of increased enrollment demands, the Department of Military                                     
13 and Veterans' Affairs is seeking a location for an interior military youth academy; and                                 
14      WHEREAS the community operates a successful vocational high school boarding                                      
15 program and the Galena City School District operates a statewide correspondence school                                  
16 serving more than 3,800 children; and                                                                                   
17      WHEREAS Galena has demonstrated a record of success in education and the ability                                 
18 to reuse Air Force facilities; and                                                                                      
19      WHEREAS, under AS 24.20.675, the Joint Armed Services Committee has a duty to                                    
20 review the effect on communities of and work on specific realignment activities;                                        
21      BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature supports Galena's reuse of                                      
22 United States Air Force facilities for regional educational services and urges the governor, the                        
23 United States Air Force, and the Alaska Congressional delegation to join with the Alaska                                
24 State Legislature in assisting the City of Galena in its effort to implement a viable and long-                         
25 lasting reuse of the Galena Air Base.                                                                                   
26      COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Michael W. Wynne,                                       
27 Secretary of the Air Force; and the Honorable Ted Stevens and the Honorable Lisa                                        
28 Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative, members of                                  
29 the Alaska delegation in Congress.