Legislature(2003 - 2004)
03/25/2003 03:12 PM House MLV
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AND
VETERANS' AFFAIRS
March 25, 2003
3:12 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Bob Lynn, Chair
Representative Beverly Masek, Vice Chair
Representative Nancy Dahlstrom
Representative Hugh Fate
Representative Bruce Weyhrauch
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Sharon Cissna
Representative Max Gruenberg
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 18
Supporting the men and women of the United States armed forces
in the military action to free Iraq and to protect the world
from Saddam Hussein.
- MOVED CSHJR 18(MLV) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: HJR 18
SHORT TITLE:SUPPORTING MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S)LYNN
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
03/24/03 0617 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME -
REFERRALS
03/24/03 0617 (H) MLV
03/24/03 0617 (H) REFERRED TO MLV
03/25/03 (H) MLV AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 102
WITNESS REGISTER
No witnesses to record
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 03-4, SIDE A
Number 0001
CHAIR BOB LYNN called the House Special Committee on Military
and Veterans' Affairs meeting to order at 3:12 p.m.
Representatives Lynn, Masek, Weyhrauch, Dahlstrom, and Fate were
present at the call to order.
HJR 18-SUPPORTING MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ
Number 0066
CHAIR LYNN announced that the committee would hear HOUSE JOINT
RESOLUTION NO. 18, Supporting the men and women of the United
States armed forces in the military action to free Iraq and to
protect the world from Saddam Hussein.
Number 0101
CHAIR LYNN, sponsor of HJR 18, in response to a question from
Representative Masek, pointed out that President Bush is
referenced on page 2, lines 8-10, and noted that the President
is the Commander in Chief for the armed forces. He also
expressed the desire to have this resolution read at a rally on
Friday, March 28, at 4:30 p.m. [at which the governor and
possibly the lieutenant governor would speak].
Number 0262
REPRESENTATIVE MASEK moved to report HJR 18 out of committee;
she requested unanimous consent.
Number 0290
REPRESENTATIVE FATE objected, requesting discussion.
REPRESENTATIVE MASEK withdrew her motion.
Number 0332
REPRESENTATIVE FATE expressed reservations not about the subject
matter, but about some of the resolution's language. For
example, he said, he doesn't think the intent is to free Iraq.
He suggested the issue of national security was omitted from the
statement of intent at the beginning, and that this war isn't
just to protect the world from Saddam Hussein. He voiced
concern that it could be taken wrong by others, both citizens
and people in other countries. Rather than hurry it through, he
requested discussion of those issues.
Number 0450
CHAIR LYNN pointed out that Representative Dahlstrom had
potential substitute language, which he hadn't seen yet.
[No at-ease was called, but several minutes passed while copies
were made.]
REPRESENTATIVE MASEK suggested adopting as a proposed committee
substitute (CS) the language provided by Representative
Dahlstrom.
Number 0788
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM read her proposed CS in its entirety.
An undated and unnumbered document, it read [original
punctuation provided]:
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION No. 18
A RESOLUTION
Supporting the men and women of the United States
Armed Forces.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF
ALASKA:
WHEREAS, the men and women of the United States Armed
Forces are currently engaged in military action in
Iraq; and
WHEREAS, the government of Saddam Hussein has posed a
threat to national security and world peace for many
years, attacking other nations and breaching
international laws and understandings; and
WHEREAS, Iraq has not only attacked other nations, it
has used chemical weapons of mass destruction against
its own Kurdish population; and
WHEREAS, Iraq has failed to comply with the United
Nation's Security Council unanimously adopted
Resolution 1441 calling for it to declare any weapons
of mass destruction programs within its borders; and
WHEREAS, Iraq has attempted to shoot down surveillance
planes patrolling the no-fly zone; and
WHEREAS, the United States and coalition Armed Forces
are now engaged in military action to protect the
world and to enforce the demands of the United Nations
resolutions involving Iraq; and
WHEREAS, the men and women of the United States and
Coalition Armed Forces are sacrificing their personal
safety for freedom for Iraqi people and peace in the
region; and
WHEREAS, some United States and Coalition Armed Forces
have already made the ultimate sacrifice; and
WHEREAS, the United States and Coalition Forces are
leaving their families to travel halfway around the
world to assist in bringing peace to a country that
has for many years only known tyranny;
BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature
expresses its support for President George W. Bush's
decision in taking military action against the regime
of Saddam Hussein in Iraq; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Alaska State Legislature
expresses its support to the men and women of the
United States and Coalition Armed Forces who are
currently involved in Operation Iraq Freedom and other
such operations around the world.
COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the
Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United
States; the Honorable Richard B. Cheney, Vice
President of the United States and President of the
U.S. Senate; the Honorable Bill Frist, Majority Leader
of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Thomas Daschle,
Minority Leader of the U.S. Senate, the Honorable J.
Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House of
Representatives; and to the Honorable Ted Stevens and
the Honorable Lisa Murkowski, U.S. Senators; and to
the Honorable Don Young, U.S. Congressman.
CHAIR LYNN suggested adding General Tommy Franks to the list of
recipients, wherever he would fit according to rank.
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM concurred.
Number 0985
CHAIR LYNN announced that he had no problem with this version.
He then pointed out that the penultimate paragraph should say
"Iraqi Freedom", whereas now it reads "Iraq Freedom".
Number 1083
REPRESENTATIVE FATE proposed adding [to the fifth "WHEREAS"
clause"], where it says "no-fly zone", that the no-fly zone was
imposed by the United Nations.
CHAIR LYNN concurred.
Number 1145
REPRESENTATIVE WEYHRAUCH moved [to adopt Representative
Dahlstrom's version] as a proposed committee substitute (CS).
[No objection was stated, and it was treated as adopted with the
foregoing suggestions incorporated.]
REPRESENTATIVE WEYHRAUCH began discussion of an amendment. He
referred to the [fourth-from-last] "WHEREAS" clause in the
proposed CS, which read:
WHEREAS, the United States and coalition Armed Forces
are now engaged in military action to protect the
world and to enforce the demands of the United Nations
resolutions involving Iraq; and
REPRESENTATIVE WEYHRAUCH pointed out that it almost repeats the
first "WHEREAS" clause. He questioned whether the engagement is
to protect the world and whether this legislature can speak for
the world. He also suggested that a fair number of people might
disagree that the purpose is to protect the world. He suggested
that the U.S. is there to enforce the demands [of the United
Nations] and to make sure there are no weapons of mass
destruction.
CHAIR LYNN mentioned protecting the United States of America.
REPRESENTATIVE FATE pointed out that the resolution says "has
posed a threat to national security". He concurred with
Representative Weyhrauch about deleting [the fourth-from-last
"WHEREAS" clause].
Number 1276
CHAIR LYNN announced that without objection, the [fourth-from-
last "WHEREAS" clause] was deleted.
Number 1279
REPRESENTATIVE MASEK moved to report CSHJR 18 [the unofficial
version adopted earlier], as amended, out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes.
There being no objection, CSHJR 18(MLV) was reported from the
House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs.
CHAIR LYNN respectfully requested that future proposed
amendments be brought to his attention in a more timely manner.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting was
adjourned at 3:32 p.m.
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