02/07/2013 01:00 PM House MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB67 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 67 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS
February 7, 2013
1:02 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Neal Foster, Co-Chair
Representative Gabrielle LeDoux, Co-Chair
Representative Pete Higgins
Representative Shelley Hughes
Representative Lora Reinbold
Representative Dan Saddler
Representative Max Gruenberg
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 67
"An Act establishing March 29 of each year as Vietnam Veterans
Day."
- MOVED CSHB 67(MLV) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 67
SHORT TITLE: VIETNAM VETERANS DAY
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) THOMPSON
01/16/13 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/16/13 (H) MLV
02/07/13 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 120
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE STEVE THOMPSON
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HB 67 as the sponsor.
BRODIE ANDERSON, Staff
Representative Steve Thompson
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: During hearing of HB 67, answered
questions.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:02:27 PM
CO-CHAIR GABRIELLE LEDOUX called the House Special Committee on
Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting to order at 1:02 p.m.
Representatives Foster, Higgins, Hughes, Saddler, Reinbold,
Gruenberg, and LeDoux were present at the call to order.
HB 67-VIETNAM VETERANS DAY
1:03:52 PM
CO-CHAIR LEDOUX announced that the first order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 67, "An Act establishing March 29 of each year
as Vietnam Veterans Day."
1:04:11 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STEVE THOMPSON, Alaska State Legislature,
speaking as the sponsor of HB 67, related that HB 67 would
designate March 29th of each year as Vietnam Veterans Day. In
2012, the U.S. Senate and the President designated March 29th as
Vietnam Veterans Day. March 29, 1973, was when all U.S. troops
withdrew from Vietnam and President Nixon named the day Vietnam
Veterans Day. Representative Thompson informed the committee
that nearly 30 percent of Alaska citizens are military veterans,
with the vast majority being Vietnam veterans. In fact,
Representative Thompson related that he is a veteran of the
Vietnam era, although he spent all of his time at Fort
Wainwright. He then reminded the committee that when Vietnam
veterans returned they were ridiculed. Therefore, it's time to
recognize that the Vietnam War was a 10-year conflict during
which many veterans scarified much. Representative Thompson
emphasized that naming March 29th Vietnam Veterans Day is the
right thing to do.
1:06:19 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked whether there have been other
informal observances or customs associated with March 29 in
Alaska or the nation.
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON reiterated that in 2012 the President
and the U.S. Senate named March 29 Vietnam Veterans Day. He
said he didn't have any history with regard to what other states
are doing. In further response, Representative Thompson related
his assumption that the VFW's, American Legion Posts, and
various organizations might have special ceremonies or even
parades on the designated date. However, it would be left up to
the individual communities and groups to decide whether to
observe it or not.
1:07:37 PM
CO-CHAIR FOSTER asked whether there have been efforts to
designate a Vietnam Veterans Day in the past.
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON replied yes. In fact, last year similar
legislation passed in the House but didn't make it through the
entire process.
1:08:30 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HUGHES, noting that her husband is a Vietnam
veteran, thanked the sponsor for introducing HB 67. She noted
her husband related stories of how he was not welcomed home when
he returned. She then asked the sponsor to repeat the
percentage of veterans in the state.
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON specified that nearly 30 percent of
Alaska's population is a military veteran. In terms of the per
capita number of veterans, Alaska is the highest in nation. He
said that he didn't know the number of veterans specifically
from the Vietnam War.
1:09:31 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HUGHES expressed interest in the number of
Vietnam veterans in the state. She then pointed out that HB 67
doesn't have an effective date, and asked if the sponsor
considered getting the legislation passed so that it would be in
effect in 2013, which is the 40th anniversary of the withdrawal
of U.S. troops from Vietnam.
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON told the committee that the Veterans
Caucus discussed that this morning; the hope is for HB 67 to
move through the process such that the governor can sign it into
law on March 29.
REPRESENTATIVE HUGHES remarked that the aforementioned is a good
idea that she hopes happens.
1:10:43 PM
REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD indicated her support of passing the
legislation in enough time to recognize Vietnam veterans this
year. She then inquired as to the feeling amongst Vietnam
veterans about this proposal.
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON responded that the Vietnam veterans he
has spoken with consider HB 67 to be a great idea.
1:11:33 PM
BRODIE ANDERSON, Staff, Representative Steve Thompson, Alaska
State Legislature, related that he spoke the with Alaska
Veterans Advisory Council (AVAC), which expressed support for HB
67 and indicated it may provide a resolution or letter of
support.
1:12:33 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER pointed out that supporting documents in
the committee packet make a distinction between March 29 and
March 30.
MR. ANDERSON explained that early on, states that passed Vietnam
recognition days did so with a Welcome Home Vietnam Vets
movement designating March 30 as the day of recognition. The
idea was that the veterans left Vietnam on March 29 and would
arrive home on March 30. Unfortunately, it became apparent that
March 30 wasn't the best day to recognize Vietnam veterans
because March 30, 1972, was the first day the North Vietnamese
Army violated the Paris Peace Accords and invaded South Vietnam.
Furthermore, March 30, 1975, Da Nang fell to the North
Vietnamese Army. At that point, there was a shift to recognize
the actual day troops were withdrawn as is the case with other
such days.
1:15:01 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG pointed out that an effective date is
necessary for HB 67 to be effective this year. Therefore, he
expressed the need for the committee to adopt conceptually a
title change and insert a Section 2 with an immediate effective
date.
1:15:29 PM
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON opined that Representative Gruenberg's
proposal is an excellent idea that would ensure that the day
would be recognized this year.
1:15:52 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG moved that the committee adopt
Conceptual Amendment 1, such that an immediate effective date
would be inserted. There being no objection, Conceptual
Amendment 1 was adopted.
1:16:25 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HUGHES asked who are the members of the Veterans
Caucus and asked if they are veterans as well.
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON explained that the Veterans Caucus
consists of House and Senate legislators who are veterans.
1:17:31 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER related his understanding that ceremonies
and traditions of the military are important. Although it has
been a long time since the Vietnam War, the gesture and
sentiments are important and he looks forward to voting for this
legislation.
1:18:04 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER pointed out that this day of recognition
is special for the families as well, particularly in remembering
those lost.
1:18:27 PM
CO-CHAIR LEDOUX commented that this legislation is long overdue.
She then reflected on the wars since the Vietnam War, from which
she opined that people have learned to respect veterans.
1:19:21 PM
CO-CHAIR LEDOUX invited public testimony. Upon determining no
one wished to testify, closed public testimony.
1:20:00 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG moved to report HB 67, as amended, out
of committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHB
67(MLV) was reported from the House Special Committee on
Military and Veterans' Affairs.
1:20:23 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting was
adjourned at 1:20 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB67 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HMLV 2/7/2013 1:00:00 PM |
HB 67 |
| S13.HB67.VerA.pdf |
HMLV 2/7/2013 1:00:00 PM |
HB 67 |
| HB67 Supporting Documents - Date side by side.pdf |
HMLV 2/7/2013 1:00:00 PM |
HB 67 |
| HB67 Supporting Documents - President Nixon Proclamation.pdf |
HMLV 2/7/2013 1:00:00 PM |
HB 67 |
| HB67 Supporting Documents - President Obama Proclamation.pdf |
HMLV 2/7/2013 1:00:00 PM |
HB 67 |
| HB67 Supporting Documents - Senate Resolution.pdf |
HMLV 2/7/2013 1:00:00 PM |
HB 67 |