Legislature(1999 - 2000)
05/13/1999 05:10 PM House MLV
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON
MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS
May 13, 1999
5:10 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Lisa Murkowski, Chair
Representative John Coghill, Vice Chair
Representative Jeannette James
Representative Pete Kott
Representative Sharon Cissna
Representative Richard Foster
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Gail Phillips
Representative Eric Croft
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFIRMATION HEARING:
Alaska Army National Guard
David E. Glines, Colonel, Army National Guard of the United
States (ARNGUS)
- CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
CS FOR SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 24(STA) am
Relating to the Kosovo conflict and to Alaskans serving in the
military forces in the area of the conflict.
- MOVED CSSJR 24(STA) am OUT OF COMMITTEE
(* First public hearing)
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: SJR 24
SHORT TITLE: KOSOVO CONFLICT
SPONSOR(S): SENATOR(S) TAYLOR
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
4/21/99 991 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)
4/21/99 991 (S) STA
5/04/99 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 211
5/04/99 (S) MOVED CS (STA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
5/05/99 1247 (S) STA RPT CS 2DP 2NR SAME TITLE
5/05/99 1247 (S) DP: WARD, WILKEN; NR: GREEN, ELTON
5/05/99 1248 (S) ZERO FISCAL NOTE (S.STA)
5/06/99 (S) RLS AT 2:15 PM FAHRENKAMP 203
5/06/99 (S) MINUTE(RLS)
5/10/99 1324 (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/10/99
5/10/99 1328 (S) READ THE SECOND TIME
5/10/99 1328 (S) STA CS ADOPTED UNAN CONSENT
5/10/99 1328 (S) AM NO 1 ADOPTED UNAN CONSENT
5/10/99 1328 (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
UNAN CONSENT
5/10/99 1328 (S) READ THE THIRD TIME CSSJR 24(STA) AM
5/10/99 1329 (S) PASSED Y19 N- E1
5/10/99 1355 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
5/11/99 1311 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)
5/11/99 1311 (H) MLV
5/13/99 (H) MLV AT 5:00 PM CAPITOL 120
WITNESS REGISTER
DAVID E. GLINES, Colonel
Army National Guard of the United States
Appointee as Brigadier General
Alaska Army National Guard
17712 Toakoana Way
Eagle River, Alaska 99577
Telephone: (907) 694-9425
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as Appointee as Brigadier General
Alaska Army National Guard.
MEL KROGSENG, Legislative Assistant
to Senator Robin Taylor
Alaska State Legislature
Capitol Building, Room 30
Juneau, Alaska 99801
Telephone: (907) 465-3717
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented CSSJR 24(STA) am on behalf of
sponsor.
CAROL CARROLL, Director
Administrative Services Division
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
400 Willoughby Avenue, Suite 500
Juneau, Alaska 99811
Telephone: (907) 465-4730
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered procedural questions relating to
CSSJR 24(STA) am.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 99-10, SIDE A
Number 0001
CHAIR LISA MURKOWSKI called the House Special Committee on Military
and Veterans' Affairs meeting to order at 5:10 p.m. Members
present at the call to order were Representatives Murkowski,
Coghill, James and Cissna. Representatives Kott and Foster arrived
at 5:11 p.m. and 5:14 p.m., respectively.
CONFIRMATION HEARING
CHAIR MURKOWSKI announced that the committee would consider Colonel
David E. Glines to be appointed as Brigadier General for the Alaska
Army National Guard. They would not vote for the nominee but would
pass his name out of committee for full consideration of the House
and Senate. (A resume was provided.)
Brigadier General - Alaska Army National Guard
Number 0145
DAVID E. GLINES, Colonel, Army National Guard of the United States,
Appointee as Brigadier General, Alaska Army National Guard,
testified via teleconference from San Francisco, California. He
stated that his record should speak for itself. He has had four
and a half years of regular army experience and 25 years in the
Alaska Army National Guard. He believes all his past assignments
have qualified him for the level of Brigadier General.
CHAIR MURKOWSKI asked if he said he had been in Alaska since 1966.
COLONEL GLINES answered yes.
CHAIR MURKOWSKI asked whether he had been in the National Guard in
other areas outside and around Anchorage.
COLONEL GLINES answered that he had been assigned to the Alaska
Army National Guard for about 25 years. Most of his assignments
have been in Anchorage, except for a three-year assignment in
Bethel as the commander out there.
Number 0257
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES indicated she was impressed with his private
industry accomplishments, adding that she certainly recommends him
for this position.
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL noted that he also read Colonel Glines'
resume and said there is no question in his mind that he will be a
good addition. He asked to hear some of the Colonel's visionary
aspects for the new century. He also asked what changes the
Colonel would like to see.
COLONEL GLINES answered that there are obviously some big things on
the horizon, especially with missile defense. He believes the
National Guard is an asset to the state as well as the nation.
They are connected to so many parts of the state, and must maintain
that connection into the next century. If they don't do that, they
will likely lose touch with the people in Alaska. There are some
challenges in front of them in terms of recruiting and retention,
he said, but he expects to meet those. They train anybody who
joins the guard with a skill, as well as some useful leadership
skills.
Number 0443
REPRESENTATIVE KOTT asked the Colonel if he still had his small
business in Eagle River.
COLONEL GLINES affirmed that. He has some commercial space in
downtown Eagle River, he said, but he lists his home address as the
office address.
REPRESENTATIVE KOTT noted that his resume shows three promotions to
first lieutenant, and he wondered how that came about.
COLONEL GLINES answered that it is right out of his record. He
enlisted in the regular army and went to OCS [Officer Candidate
School] at Fort Benning; for some reason, his record ended up that
particular way. The USAR is U.S. Army Reserve and AUS [Army of the
United States] is the regular army, he said, but there is a fine
distinction there. They are both federal service.
Number 0620
REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER made a motion to advance the confirmation of
Colonel Glines to the joint session of the House and Senate. There
being no objection, the confirmation was advanced.
SJR 24 - KOSOVO CONFLICT
CHAIR MURKOWSKI announced that the final item of business would be
CS for Senate Joint Resolution No. 24(STA) am, relating to the
Kosovo conflict and to Alaskans serving in the military forces in
the area of the conflict.
Number 0689
MEL KROGSENG, Legislative Assistant to Senator Robin Taylor, came
forward on behalf of the sponsor, stating:
SJR 24 has been introduced to send a message to members
of the armed services that we, as Alaskans, support them
in their endeavors to bring a halt to the atrocities
being carried out by Slobodan Milosevic. The resolution
acknowledges the bravery and sacrifices of all military
forces but, in particular, those military men and women
who are Alaskans, or who are serving in Alaska, who have
been called up to go to the Balkans already, or who may
be called in the future. We have a tremendous number of
military men and women who serve our nation here in
Alaska, and we think it's very important that they know
that we, as a state, support their efforts. I can tell
you, as the wife of a 22-year military officer who served
in Vietnam, it wasn't real pleasant when your community
did not support ... what your family was doing.
Number 0771
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES indicated she wants to focus on the
individuals, not the particular Kosovo conflict and the possible
outcome. She expressed pride in individuals' readiness to serve
whenever and wherever they are instructed to serve, over which they
have no control. "Having a resolution like this in front of me is
painful, but it's joyful at the same time," she added.
MS. KROGSENG affirmed that the resolution is strictly to send a
message of support to the troops.
Number 0921
REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER thanked the sponsor for bringing this
forward. [Because of confusion over a bad copy, discussion ensued,
along with a motion and withdrawal of that motion relating to that
copy.]
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA commented that she likes the tone of the
resolution, which gives her a feeling of affirmation that they are
really supporting the spirit in which the troops are there.
Number 1039
CHAIR MURKOWSKI referred to page 2, beginning at line 21, where it
says "the Alaska State Legislature requests the Alaska Legislative
Council to direct the Legislative Affairs Agency to send the
following message". She asked what the procedure is for getting
this message to the men and women.
MS. KROGSENG answered that this same language was used in a nearly
identical resolution during "Desert Storm." She expressed belief
that this message would be sent to the respective service offices,
which would handle it from there. She said she isn't sure how they
handled it last time, but as she understands it, it worked. Ms.
Krogseng suggested that copies be sent as a courtesy to Alaskan
bases, as well, although that isn't included in the resolution.
Number 1128
REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER recounted how on Thanksgiving in 1969, his
mother sent him a pumpkin pie that was green when it arrived three
weeks later. He proposed sending some pins, for example, as it is
hard to walk around with a piece of paper.
Number 1166
REPRESENTATIVE KOTT asked when the Legislative Council meets next.
MS. KROGSENG said she'd been informed that the Legislative Council
would meet the next day, Friday, May 14. She expressed hope that
this will go to the House floor in time to be dealt with at that
meeting.
CHAIR MURKOWSKI agreed there is a sense of urgency.
Number 1288
CAROL CARROLL, Director, Administrative Services Division,
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), came forward.
She informed members that the DMVA, through the public information
office at Fort Richardson, can coordinate getting information to
the soldiers. If the Legislative Council wants to contact the
DMVA, they can get the names of the people serving in the guard and
the other military units from Alaska, and they can coordinate with
the other military units. They could start as soon as they receive
the request from the Legislative Council. Ms. Carroll offered to
call the next day to tell the DMVA's public information officer
that this is coming, to get a head start.
CHAIR MURKOWSKI asked whether it is also possible to send Alaska
flag pins or walrus pins, for example, as proposed by
Representative Foster.
MS. CARROLL said she could find out and, if possible, they would do
it. She offered to report back the next day.
Number 1369
REPRESENTATIVE KOTT asked how the message would be conveyed to any
additional personnel sent there after the initial steps were taken.
MS. CARROLL agreed that somehow, the DMVA would have to make sure
that anyone subsequent to the initial recognition would also get
that recognition.
REPRESENTATIVE KOTT suggested it may be an attachment to their
orders.
CHAIR MURKOWSKI added, "Attached with a pin."
Number 1420
REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER recounted how during the Gulf War, there was
legislation to provide each person a medallion. He said it was
like an Act of Congress trying to run that through, because there
was disagreement about what would be on it, how big it would be,
and how many there would be, for example. He said he believes a
pin would be much easier.
MS. CARROLL said she would see what they could do, adding that she
remembers the medallions. In response to a question, she said she
doesn't know how many Alaskan personnel are over there, although
she had called that day.
CHAIR MURKOWSKI asked if anyone else wished to testify; there was
no response.
Number 1523
REPRESENTATIVE KOTT made a motion to move SJR 24 [CSSJR 24(STA) am]
from the committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying zero fiscal note. There being no objection, CSSJR
24(STA) am moved from the House Special Committee on Military and
Veterans' Affairs.
Number 1540
CHAIR MURKOWSKI informed the committee that General Oates had
invited them to tour the armory in Anchorage, visit with the youth
corps, and possibly take a helicopter tour of the area. A time had
not yet been scheduled, but committee members would be contacted
over the interim to find out who is available.
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA inquired about committee work over the
interim.
CHAIR MURKOWSKI replied that there is no committee work, so far as
she knows. She has spoken with persons involved with the youth
corps, as well as the drug demand reduction coordinator, who would
like to have committee members and other legislators go through
that facility and see their operations. There has also been
discussion about visiting some other armories.
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA indicated she would welcome opportunities for
activities of longer duration than just an hour visit, perhaps
helping the youth corps in some way, for instance.
CHAIR MURKOWSKI responded that she would certainly be working to
set things up, and members would be notified. She suggested the
importance of having other legislators see what is going on with
military matters, as well.
Number 1653
REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER pointed out the budget cuts that the military
has suffered over the years. In the air guard, the only state
monies are for the general's salary, he noted. Expressing concern
over future cuts, he proposed meeting prior to the next legislative
session to investigate that. He asked what the general fund amount
is.
MS. CARROLL said about $8 million. The total combined budget is
some $30 million dollars.
CHAIR MURKOWSKI suggested there would be no opposition from the
department if the committee wanted to set up an informational
briefing. She recounted how she was privileged to sit through an
all-day briefing in January, along with an abbreviated tour of both
the youth corps program and drug demand reduction program. She
encouraged setting up something like that.
Number 1773
REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER emphasized changes over time in the guard,
noting that in the 1960s and 1970s the guard was mostly composed of
rural people. Now, they are closing down armories right and left,
and the trend is toward veterans' services, youth corps programs,
search-and-rescue operations, and so forth, which would never have
been associated with the guard previously.
Number 1837
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES mentioned that her district has an air
national guard, which does refueling and active military exercises.
There is a potential of their taking over Clear Air Force Station
and the radar there, which will be a change for the guard. "And
we're really excited about that," she added.
CHAIR MURKOWSKI agreed that there is a lot happening, and that
things are changing for the guard.
ADJOURNMENT
Number 1913
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting was
adjourned at 5:40 p.m.
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