Legislature(2009 - 2010)BARNES 124
02/17/2009 01:00 PM House MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS
Audio | Topic |
---|---|
Start | |
HB99 | |
SJR5 | |
HB97 | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ | SJR 5 | TELECONFERENCED | |
*+ | HB 99 | TELECONFERENCED | |
*+ | HB 97 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SJR 5 - AK TERRITORIAL GUARD RETIREMENT BENEFITS 1:08:24 PM CHAIR GATTO announced that the next order of business would be CS FOR SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 5(FIN), Urging the United States Department of Defense to continue to provide retirement benefits for members of the Alaska Territorial Guard who served during World War II. 1:09:20 PM KAREN SAWYER, Staff, Senator Charlie Huggins, Alaska State Legislature, in presenting SJR 5 on behalf of the sponsor - the Senate Rules Standing Committee, which is chaired by Senator Huggins - began by explaining that members of the Alaska Territorial Guard ("ATG") defended the Alaska coastline from the Japanese during WWII, and that most of the 6,368 ATG members were Alaska Natives ranging in age from 12 to 80. The contribution of these guard members to the U.S. military was not acknowledged until 2000, when they were finally granted U.S. veteran status by law, though by that time there were only a few hundred such guard members still alive. However, in January 2009, because of a legal interpretation regarding whether ATG service qualified towards military retirement benefits, the U.S. Army decided to stop paying retirement benefits to the 26 ATG members who were receiving them. Most of these 26 veterans are in their 80s and are living in rural communities, where winter is bitterly cold, resources are scarce, and the cost of heating oil is extremely high. MS. SAWYER said that when news of the Army's decision to stop paying retirement benefits to ATG members reached [the public], it engendered a critical response towards both the Army and Congress, and Alaska's congressional delegation immediately brought the situation to the attention of the President and the rest of Congress. A few weeks later, the Army decided that it would pay 60-days' worth of retirement benefits to the 26 ATG members out of an emergency fund until the matter could be investigated further. Senate Joint Resolution 5 urges the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to continue to provide retirement benefits to ATG members; supports federal legislation on this matter recently introduced by Alaska's congressional delegation; and urges the DOD to continue paying the aforementioned benefits out of the emergency fund until the Army either reverses its initial decision to stop payments or the federal legislation passes. In conclusion, she asked that the resolution be passed from committee. 1:12:05 PM CHAIR GATTO asked whether there is any reason to believe that the Army will reverse its initial decision, given that it was made based on a legal interpretation. MS. SAWYER relayed that there are those who say there is a chance the Army will reverse its decision; however, the likelihood that such would happen during the current 60-day extension is slim. Furthermore, should the aforementioned federal legislation pass, it wouldn't take effect until after the 26 ATG members are no longer receiving the temporary payments unless the Army continues to make such payments beyond the current 60-day extension. REPRESENTATIVE BUCH expressed favor with SJR 5. CHAIR GATTO, after ascertaining that no one else wished to testify, closed public testimony on SJR 5. MS. SAWYER, in response to a question, said that the 26 ATG members are all living in Alaska, though there are an additional 30 ATG members who are going through the application process. It has taken a long time for the members of the ATG to be found, so there might also be others who could be affected by the current situation. 1:14:56 PM REPRESENTATIVE LYNN moved to report CSSJR 5(FIN) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal note. There being no objection, CSSJR 5(FIN) was reported from the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs.
Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
---|---|---|
CS HB 99.pdf |
HMLV 2/17/2009 1:00:00 PM |
HB 99 |
CS HB 99 Changes.pdf |
HMLV 2/17/2009 1:00:00 PM |
HB 99 |
HB 97 Fact sheet.pdf |
HMLV 2/17/2009 1:00:00 PM |
HB 97 |
HB 97 Letter of Support AARP.pdf |
HMLV 2/17/2009 1:00:00 PM |
HB 97 |
HB 97 Letter of Support American Legion.pdf |
HMLV 2/17/2009 1:00:00 PM |
HB 97 |
HB 97 Letter of Support Alaska Veterans Foundation.pdf |
HMLV 2/17/2009 1:00:00 PM |
HB 97 |
HB 97 Letter of Support Disabled American Veterans.pdf |
HMLV 2/17/2009 1:00:00 PM |
HB 97 |
HB 97 Veteran cemetary Eligability.pdf |
HMLV 2/17/2009 1:00:00 PM |
HB 97 |
HB 99 Sample deather certificate.pdf |
HMLV 2/17/2009 1:00:00 PM |
HB 99 |
Sectional Analysis of HB 97.pdf |
HMLV 2/17/2009 1:00:00 PM |
HB 97 |
SJR 5 Delegation work on ATG benefits.pdf |
HMLV 2/17/2009 1:00:00 PM |
SJR 5 |
SJR 5 Info on the ATG.pdf |
HMLV 2/17/2009 1:00:00 PM |
SJR 5 |
SJR 5 U.S. House bill.pdf |
HMLV 2/17/2009 1:00:00 PM |
SJR 5 |
SJR 5 U.S. senate bill.pdf |
HMLV 2/17/2009 1:00:00 PM |
SJR 5 |