03/21/2017 03:00 PM House STATE AFFAIRS

                                                                                                                                
        HB 94-AF AMER SOLDIERS CONT TO BUILD AK HWY DAY                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:09:01 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS  announced that the first  order of business                                                               
would be  HOUSE BILL NO. 94,  "An Act establishing October  25 of                                                               
each year as African American  Soldiers' Contribution to Building                                                               
the Alaska Highway Day."                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:09:32 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GERAN TARR,  Alaska State  Legislature, presented                                                               
HB  94,  as  prime  sponsor.   She  stressed  the  importance  of                                                               
remembering  important points  in Alaska  history.   She asserted                                                               
that the  proposed legislation  would recognize  the contribution                                                               
of  the African  American soldiers  who helped  build the  Alaska                                                               
Highway,  and it  would celebrate  their service  under difficult                                                               
conditions.   She reminded the  committee that the U.S.  Army was                                                               
still  segregated at  this point  in  time, and  there was  great                                                               
disparity  between  the  two groups  of  soldiers  regarding  the                                                               
supplies they  received.  She  added that the  [African American]                                                               
soldiers contributed to connecting Alaska  to the Lower 48, which                                                               
was an important and vital link for national security.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE TARR stated that she  began working on this effort                                                               
as  staff person  with  the Anchorage  Park  Foundation in  2012,                                                               
which was  prior to her  being elected  to the legislature.   She                                                               
relayed that at  that time, community volunteers  worked to bring                                                               
to this  "hidden history"  the attention that  it deserved.   She                                                               
related  that  the  first  effort  involved  dedicating  memorial                                                               
benches  in Cuddy  Park [in  Anchorage] to  the African  American                                                               
soldiers.  She said that  to do something more substantial before                                                               
the  "living"  history is  gone,  many  other activities  are  in                                                               
progress including:  a documentary;  a school district curriculum                                                               
for Black History  Month; and a commemorative  event to celebrate                                                               
the 75th anniversary  of the completion of the  Alaska Highway on                                                               
October  25th of  this year.    She concluded  that the  proposed                                                               
legislation   would   memorialize   that  day   and   honor   the                                                               
contribution and commitment of these soldiers.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:13:05 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS announced that HB 94 would be held over.