Legislature(2011 - 2012)CAPITOL 120
03/10/2011 01:00 PM House MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HCR7 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HCR 7 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS
March 10, 2011
1:34 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Dan Saddler, Co-Chair
Representative Steve Thompson, Co-Chair
Representative Carl Gatto, Vice Chair
Representative Bob Miller
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Alan Austerman
Representative Bob Lynn
Representative Sharon Cissna
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 7
Relating to awarding the Alaska Decoration of Honor to certain
members of the military.
- MOVED HCR 7 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HCR 7
SHORT TITLE: DECORATION OF HONOR
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) SADDLER
02/23/11 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/23/11 (H) MLV
03/10/11 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 120
WITNESS REGISTER
No witnesses to record
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:34:11 PM
CO-CHAIR STEVE THOMPSON called the House Special Committee on
Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting to order at 1:34 p.m.
Representatives Thompson, Gatto, Miller, and Saddler were
present at the call to order.
HCR 7-DECORATION OF HONOR
1:34:34 PM
CO-CHAIR THOMPSON announced that the only order of business
would be HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 7, Relating to awarding
the Alaska Decoration of Honor to certain members of the
military.
1:34:45 PM
CO-CHAIR SADDLER, sponsor, presented HCR 7, paraphrasing from
the following written sponsor statement [original punctuation
provided]:
This resolution awards the Alaska Decoration of Honor
to thirty individuals who were killed in the line of
duty while honorably serving our state and country,
between January 1, 2009 and February 15, 2011.
Established in 2007 in House Bill 244, the Alaska
Decoration of Honor is awarded to military service
members from Alaska, or those service members deployed
while stationed in Alaska, who were killed in action
or in support of combat action.
The Legislature must authorize the award by
resolution, so the decoration can be presented to the
recipients' survivors. In 2008, the Legislature
awarded the medal to 171 individuals dating back to
statehood. In 2009, it authorized the award for
another six individuals.
Passage of HCR 7 will allow the families of these
thirty individuals to receive the decoration in honor
of their loved ones' sacrifice. While it is our
fervent hope that all those in uniform will return
home from their service safely, the reality is that a
few will not. It is our obligation, and our privilege,
to authorize this decoration in their honor.
I respectfully request favorable support of House
Concurrent Resolution 7.
1:36:42 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MILLER asked whether there is a strict definition
of the language "killed in action."
CO-CHAIR SADDLER advised the language also applies to those
killed while in service - not in combat per se - such as those
killed during training or maintenance accidents.
1:37:12 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO questioned the need for the language "or in
support of combat," and asked whether anyone serving is not in
support of combat.
REPRESENTATIVE MILLER explained that there are a number of
former military troops who are now civilians employed by the
U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), and who are deployed with
military contingents in harm's way.
CO-CHAIR THOMPSON stated the civilians are called Alaska's
Expeditionary Forces.
1:38:26 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO pointed out the Merchant Marines in World
War II were civilians.
CO-CHAIR SADDLER relayed that House Bill 244, which originally
authorized the Alaska Decoration of Honor, includes "individuals
who have been killed in action, who are engaged in action
against an enemy, engaged in military operations involving
conflict with an opposing foreign force, serving with friendly
forces, friendly foreign forces engaging in armed conflict,
serving in or deployed to or from a combat zone designated by
presidential order."
REPRESENTATIVE MILLER clarified that he did not want a strict
definition requiring death occurring in a firefight, but that a
recipient may have been in support or behind the lines. He said
he was satisfied.
1:39:38 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO asked if the language should be "killed in
the line of duty."
CO-CHAIR SADDLER said "I don't think so."
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO observed it is members' responsibility to
challenge the language and ensure it reflects the legislature's
intent.
1:40:23 PM
CO-CHAIR THOMPSON asked for assurance that the zero fiscal note
is accurate.
CO-CHAIR SADDLER advised there is a zero fiscal note because the
Joint Armed Services Committee has already appropriately
expended funds for an inventory of 200 medals, which is
sufficient to meet the present need.
CO-CHAIR SADDLER, in response to Representative Gatto, said the
medal is approximately 2-3 inches in diameter. The medal was
designed by Alaskan artist Jon Van Zyle, who is a Vietnam era
veteran.
1:41:35 PM
CO-CHAIR THOMPSON, upon determining no one else wished to
testify, closed public testimony.
1:41:52 PM
CO-CHAIR SADDLER moved to report HCR 7 out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note.
There being no objection, HCR 7 was reported out of the House
Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs.
1:42:45 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting was
adjourned at 1:42 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HCR 7 - Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HMLV 3/10/2011 1:00:00 PM |
|
| HCR 7 version A.pdf |
HMLV 3/10/2011 1:00:00 PM |
|
| Fiscal Note. LAA.pdf |
HMLV 3/10/2011 1:00:00 PM |