05/01/1994 01:10 PM Senate FIN

  HCR 32:             Establishing  the  Joint  Task Force  on                 
                      Military Bases in Alaska.                                
                                                                               
                      Representative  Mulder,  sponsor  of HCR
, testified  in support  of the  bill.                 
                      HCR  32 was  REPORTED  out of  committee                 
                      with a "do pass," and a zero fiscal note                 
                      for Legislative Affairs Agency.                          
                                                                               
  HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 32:                                          
                                                                               
       Establishing the Joint Task Force  on Military Bases in                 
       Alaska.                                                                 
                                                                               
  Co-chair  Pearce  announced  that  HCR  32  was  before  the                 
  committee and  invited Representative Eldon  Mulder to speak                 
  to the bill.                                                                 
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE MULDER  said this was  the final year  of the                 
  Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) evaluation of                 
  military bases around the United States.  The  Department of                 
  Defense  would  visit  each  facility  to reduce  the  least                 
  important  or valuable ones in an  effort to save money.  He                 
  said  the  military  annually contributes  $2.7  billion  to                 
  Alaska's economy,  and  the reduction  of any  of our  bases                 
  would have a devastating effect on the state.                                
                                                                               
  Representative  Mulder  went  on  to say  that  HCR  32  was                 
  introduced  to  establish  the Joint  Task  Force  to better                 
  inform the members of the BRAC Commission of  the importance                 
  of Alaska bases.                                                             
                                                                               
                                                                               
  Senator Kelly  pointed out  the BRAC  Commission would  have                 
  seventeen new members by September  1994 who would have  had                 
  no exposure at all to  base issues nationwide.  He  felt the                 
  sooner the state could lobby for the strategic importance of                 
  Alaska, the better off the state  would be in the final 1995                 
  review of bases.                                                             
                                                                               
  Senator Kelly  MOVED for  passage of HCR  32 from  committee                 
  with individual recommendations.   No objection being heard,                 
  HCR 32 was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass," and a                 
  zero  fiscal note for  the Legislative Affairs  Agency.  Co-                 
  chairs Pearce and Frank, Senators  Sharp, Rieger, Jacko, and                 
  Kelly signed "do pass."