Legislature(1997 - 1998)

04/15/1998 01:04 PM House TRA

Audio Topic
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
txt
HJR 67 - AIR FLIGHTS RUSSIAN FAR EAST                                          
                                                                               
Number 2155                                                                    
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS announced the next order of business would be HJR
67, Relating to renewal of the bilateral aviation agreement                    
concerning the mandatory Anchorage stopover for Russian carriers on            
transpacific routes between the Russian Far East and the United                
States.                                                                        
                                                                               
PETER ECKLUND, Legislative Assistant to Representative William K.              
(Bill) Williams, Alaska State Legislature, provided the sponsor                
statement for HJR 67.  He read the following into the record:                  
                                                                               
"HJR 67 urges the U.S. Department of Transportation to negotiate               
renewal of the bilateral agreement to retain the mandatory stopover            
in Anchorage for transpacific flights between the Russian Far East             
and the United States.  The current bilateral agreement is due to              
expire in May of 1998.                                                         
                                                                               
"It is important to continue mandatory stopovers of Russian air                
carriers to preserve the position of Anchorage as the American                 
gateway to the Russian Far East.                                               
                                                                               
"In addition to close historical and cultural ties between the                 
people of Alaska and the people of the Russian Far East, the state             
has established agreements with many Russian cities and territories            
to help with their transition into a market-based economy.                     
Discontinuation of direct Alaskan air service would severely hamper            
these efforts.                                                                 
                                                                               
"Further, absent the agreement, Anchorage International Airport                
could see additional decline in international air traffic and local            
jobs.                                                                          
                                                                               
"In short, continuation of mandatory Russian stopovers in Anchorage            
is good for the state and good for the developing economies of the             
Russian Far East.  To that end, I urge your swift passage of HJR
67."                                                                           
                                                                               
MR. ECKLUND advised the committee members that there a person on               
line from Anchorage who can answer specific questions concerning               
HJR 67 and what the mandatory stopover is and what it means.  He               
said it's his understanding that after the breakup of the communist            
Soviet Union, the United States entered into an agreement with                 
Russia to have stopovers in Anchorage of all of their flights,                 
which was renegotiated in 1983 and 1985, and the mandatory stopover            
was included in the renegotiation.  He pointed out that some people            
in Russia are pushing to not have that mandatory stopover anymore.             
They want to fly directly from the West Coast of the United States             
to Russia.  He said that would hurt Alaska's carries such as Alaska            
Airlines because they don't have the capability to make those long             
flights.                                                                       
                                                                               
Number 2256                                                                    
                                                                               
RICH WILSON, Development Manager, Anchorage International Airport,             
testified via teleconference from the Anchorage Legislative                    
Information Office (LIO).  He said the thrust of the effort is to              
retain as much economic activity in the state as we can.  This is              
one of the things that we can do to maintain our position and to               
enhance our future opportunities and make business between Alaskans            
and Russians in the Far East.  He said many jobs will be directly              
affected, and rates and fees to the Anchorage airport will be                  
directly affected if the mandatory stop is lifted.                             
                                                                               
Number 2346                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON moved and asked unanimous consent to move HJR
67 out of committee with individual recommendations and with the               
attached zero fiscal note.  There being no objection, HJR 67 moved             
out of the House Transportation Standing Committee.                            
                                                                               

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