05/02/1995 03:36 PM Senate STA

 SSTA - 5/2/95                                                                 
                                                                               
 TAPE 95-22, SIDE A                                                            
                                                                               
 Number 001                                                                    
                                                                               
     HJR  9 SUIT RE POWS & MIAS AGAINST U.S. & OTHERS                      
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN SHARP calls the Senate State Affairs Committee to order at           
 3:36 p.m. and brings up HJR 9 as the first order of business before           
 the committee.  The chairman calls the first witness.                         
                                                                               
 Number 017                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE JEANNETTE JAMES, prime sponsor of HJR 9, relays                
 information contained in the sponsor statement.  HJR 9 requests the           
 governor to file suit in the U.S. Supreme Court against the United            
 States Government, alleging violations of the civil rights of                 
 Americans listed as prisoners of war or missing in action in                  
 Southeast Asia.  Representative James urges the committee to take             
 action on HJR 9.                                                              
                                                                               
 Number 055                                                                    
                                                                               
 DON NELSON, WWII POW, testifying from Fairbanks, gives testimony              
 favorable to HJR 9.                                                           
                                                                               
 Number 085                                                                    
                                                                               
 LADD MCBRIDE, Chairman, Interior Alaska Veterans' Committee,                  
 testifying from Fairbanks, states the veteran's committee                     
 unanimously supports HJR 9.                                                   
                                                                               
 Number 100                                                                    
                                                                               
 GARY TYNDALL, testifying from Fairbanks, states he supports HJR 9             
 and asks for the committee's endorsement.  He thinks there are                
 still American prisoners in Southeast Asia who were left behind at            
 the end of the war.                                                           
                                                                               
 Number 160                                                                    
                                                                               
 NANCY GOURLEY, testifying from Soldotna, states her brother is mia            
 in Laos.  Ms. Gourley states that for family members of mia's, all            
 other courses of action have been exhausted.                                  
                                                                               
 SENATOR LEMAN notes that the legislature is moving fairly quickly             
 in acting on HJR 9.  He does not see any reason for holding action            
 on HJR 9.                                                                     
                                                                               
 Number 217                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS asks Ms. Gourley what her brother's name is.           
                                                                               
 MS. GOURLEY responds her brother's name is Gregory Steven Crandall.           
 His home state is Washington.                                                 
                                                                               
 Number 230                                                                    
                                                                               
 JACK HETHERTON, Commander, VFW Post 10,046 - Soldotna, testifying             
 from Soldotna, states he is a combat veteran with two tours duty in           
 Vietnam.  Mr. Hetherton states he supports HJR 9.                             
                                                                               
 Number 273                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS makes a motion to discharge HJR 9 from the             
 Senate State Affairs Committee with individual recommendations.               
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN SHARP, hearing no objection, orders HJR 9 released from              
 committee with individual recommendations.