03/21/2000 08:10 AM House STA

HB 330-POW/MIA DAY & WOMEN VETERANS DAY                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Number 0086                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR JAMES  announced the first  order of business is  HOUSE BILL                                                              
NO. 330,  "An Act  establishing Prisoners  of  War and Missing  in                                                              
Action Recognition Days and Women  Veterans Day; and providing for                                                              
an effective date."                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CAROL   CARROLL,  Director,   Administrative  Services   Division,                                                              
Department of  Military and Veterans  Affairs, deferred  to Laddie                                                              
Shaw, Coordinator for Veterans Affairs.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Number 0215                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
LADDIE  SHAW,   Coordinator,  Veterans   Affairs,  Department   of                                                              
Military and  Veterans Affairs, testified via  teleconference from                                                              
Anchorage.    He said  the  Department  of Military  and  Veterans                                                              
Affairs supports HB 330.  He has  met with former prisoners of war                                                              
and  has attended  meetings with  women veterans  from around  the                                                              
state, and  HB 330  is supported  by those two  groups.   He asked                                                              
that the committee move HB 330 forward.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Number 0331                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CLEM BOUCHER  testified  via teleconference  from Glennallen.   He                                                              
said he fully  supports HB 330  except for the Women  Veterans Day                                                              
part.   He  commented that  he felt  that women  are being  doubly                                                              
recognized  for Veterans  Day, and  he feels that  one day  should                                                              
take care of  all veterans.  He  explained that he is  not opposed                                                              
to women having a day [but not two days].                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Number 0411                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR JAMES mentioned  that she tended to agree  with Mr. Boucher;                                                              
however, she does support HB 330.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CLEM BOUCHER acknowledged that a  Veterans Day already exists, but                                                              
having another  Women Veterans Day gives women  double recognition                                                              
for their work.   He indicated he is not disputing  their work but                                                              
he  is just  pointing  out  that women  are  getting  two days  of                                                              
recognition.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Number 0491                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HUDSON  made  a  motion  to move  HB  330  out  of                                                              
committee with  individual recommendations  and the  attached zero                                                              
fiscal  note; he  asked for  unanimous  consent.   There being  no                                                              
objection,  HB 330  moved from  the House  State Affairs  Standing                                                              
Committee.