04/19/2018 03:15 PM House STATE AFFAIRS

              HJR 30-URGE U.S. SUPPORT OF REFUGEES                                                                          
3:20:41 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS  announced that the first  order of business                                                               
would be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION  NO. 30, Urging the United States                                                               
Congress  to reaffirm  the  commitment of  the  United States  to                                                               
promote  the  safety,  health, and  well-being  of  refugees  and                                                               
displaced persons; urging the United  States government to uphold                                                               
its international  leadership role in responding  to displacement                                                               
crises  with  humanitarian  assistance   and  to  work  with  the                                                               
international community and the  United Nations High Commissioner                                                               
for  Refugees   to  find  solutions  to   conflicts  and  protect                                                               
refugees;  and  urging the  President  of  the United  States  to                                                               
continue to mitigate the burden  placed on frontline refugee host                                                               
countries.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:20:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  JOSEPHSON explained  that  the  resolution is  an                                                               
expression of concern for refugees  worldwide, it is sympathy for                                                               
their plight, and a belief  that the national government, as well                                                               
as the people  of Alaska, are concerned and  that Alaskans should                                                               
intervene  wherever and  whenever  possible.   He described  that                                                               
refugees  "have  been  a  thing"   spanning  all  time  and  this                                                               
resolution is an important reflection  on this historic moment of                                                               
crisis, and  the legislature should  offer this  positive comment                                                               
of concern.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:22:19 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL commented that he  agreed with the numbers of                                                               
refugees  and noted  that Alaska  is  not geographically  located                                                               
well to  handle millions  of people  coming across  state borders                                                               
due to  the oceans  on both sides  of the state.   He  asked what                                                               
steps  Representative Josephson  was proposing  Alaskans take  to                                                               
try to make  the world better so there are  not so many refugees.                                                               
He then referred to page 2, lines 14-16, which read as follows:                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     WHEREAS, according  to the National Bureau  of Economic                                                                  
     Research,  during a  refugee's  first 20  years in  the                                                                    
     United  States,  the  refugee  contributes  on  average                                                                    
     $21,000  more in  taxes than  the  refugee receives  in                                                                    
     benefits; and                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL noted  that there was no  evidence of linking                                                               
it to  crime.   He opined that  Representative Josephson  was not                                                               
suggesting accepting  "X number"  of refugees because  they would                                                               
add to  the economy  and they  do not commit  crime.   He further                                                               
opined that  if refugees  come to Alaska,  Alaska will  take them                                                               
in,  but the  resolution is  not trying  to bring  in 65  million                                                               
people.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPHSON  responded that Representative  Wool was                                                               
correct,  the  resolution  reflects  a  belief  that  the  Alaska                                                               
legislature shares  the concerns  of the  international community                                                               
and supports the efforts of  the United Nations High Commissioner                                                               
for Refugees to work with non-profits.   He remarked, "We want to                                                               
do our  share, we  can define  what that is,  and we've  had that                                                               
debate, but that  we play a role as well."   Nothing would change                                                               
in terms of vetting individuals  who might seek refugee status in                                                               
the United  States, he said,  nothing in the  resolution reflects                                                               
any change in that sort of protocol.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:24:51 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL moved to report  HJR 30, labeled 30-LS1177\D,                                                               
out  of   committee  with  individual  recommendations   and  the                                                               
accompanying  fiscal notes.   There  being no  objection, HJR  30                                                               
moved from the House State Affairs Standing Committee.