Legislature(2019 - 2020)GRUENBERG 120
03/19/2019 02:00 PM House MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB71 | |
| HJR12 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HJR 12 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 71 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS
March 19, 2019
2:02 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Gabrielle LeDoux, Chair
Representative Geran Tarr
Representative Sharon Jackson
Representative George Rauscher
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Chris Tuck, Vice Chair
Representative Chuck Kopp
Representative Steve Thompson
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 71
"An Act relating to hiring for positions in state service based
on substitution of military work experience or training for
required civilian work experience or training."
- RESCINDED ACTION OF 3/14/19; MOVED HB 71 OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 12
Supporting the completion of the Northern Rail Extension;
supporting the increase in defensive capabilities at Fort
Greely, Alaska; and encouraging the development of critical
Arctic infrastructure.
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 71
SHORT TITLE: STATE PERSONNEL ACT: VETERANS' EXPERIENCE
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) STORY
02/25/19 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/25/19 (H) MLV, STA
03/12/19 (H) MLV AT 2:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
03/12/19 (H) Heard & Held
03/12/19 (H) MINUTE(MLV)
03/14/19 (H) MLV AT 2:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
03/14/19 (H) Moved HB 71 Out of Committee
03/14/19 (H) MINUTE(MLV)
03/19/19 (H) MLV AT 2:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
BILL: HJR 12
SHORT TITLE: NORTHERN RAIL EXTENSION
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) TALERICO
03/13/19 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/13/19 (H) MLV, TRA
03/19/19 (H) MLV AT 2:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE DAVE TALERICO
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HJR 12 as the sponsor of the
resolution.
THOMAS STUDLER, Staff
Representative Dave Talerico
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions on HJR 12 on behalf of
the resolution sponsor, Representative Talerico.
ACTION NARRATIVE
2:02:59 PM
CHAIR GABRIELLE LEDOUX called the House Special Committee on
Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting to order at 2:02 p.m.
Representatives LeDoux, Tarr, Rauscher, and Jackson were present
at the call to order.
HB 71-STATE PERSONNEL ACT: VETERANS' EXPERIENCE
2:04:02 PM
CHAIR LEDOUX announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 71, "An Act relating to hiring for positions in
state service based on substitution of military work experience
or training for required civilian work experience or training."
2:04:54 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TARR made a motion to rescind the committee's
action on 3/14/19 in reporting HB 71 from committee. There
being no objection, it was so ordered.
CHAIR LEDOUX asked if there were any questions regarding the
fiscal note for HB 71.
2:05:31 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TARR moved to report HB 71 from committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note.
There being no objection, HB 71 was moved from the House Special
Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs.
HJR 12-NORTHERN RAIL EXTENSION
2:05:58 PM
CHAIR LEDOUX announced that the next order of business would be
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 12, Supporting the completion of the
Northern Rail Extension; supporting the increase in defensive
capabilities at Fort Greely, Alaska; and encouraging the
development of critical Arctic infrastructure.
2:06:22 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DAVE TALERICO, Alaska State Legislature,
paraphrased from the Sponsor Statement, which read [original
punctuation provided]:
Completing the Northern Rail Extension to Fort Greely
and Delta Junction would support Military operations,
mining, and agricultural in the Interior of Alaska.
In the Act of 1914, the United States Congress
authorized the construction of a railroad in Alaska.
The railroad was to connect one or more open harbors
in Alaska, with the Interior of Alaska, to develop
agricultural and mineral resources of Alaska, and the
settlement of people on public lands therein, to
provide transportation of fuels for the Military,
transporting troops, arms, munitions, the mail, and
other governmental and public uses. Unfortunately,
that dream was never realized.
The Alaska Railroad Transfer Act (ARTA) of 1983, the
U.S. Congress again recognized the importance of the
railroad in providing freight and passenger rail
service to Alaska. Congress also found that
continuation of services and the expansion of those
services are necessary to achieve Federal, State, and
private objectives. The State's continued operation
together with expansion of the railroad constitutes an
appropriate public use of the rail system. Once
again, the dream of expansion was unrealized.
Finally, in 2013, almost one hundred years later, the
Northern rail expansion was proposed by Alaska
Railroad in conjunction with the Department of
Defense, the four phased plan was completed. Phase
one, Crossing the Tanana River, was completed. The
remaining three phases need to be accomplished before
we can realize completion of the Northern rail
expansion.
With the expansion of the Fort Greely missile complex
and expanded training ranges, increased agriculture in
Delta Junction, and increased mining operations in the
area. This resolution supports critical
infrastructure development, national security,
economic development, and natural resource development
in the State of Alaska. The Northern Rail Extension
project would provide essential freight and passenger
service to support transportation and mobility needs
of the region.
This is a project long overdue for Alaska and I ask
for your support for this resolution.
2:11:07 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JACKSON asked why this project was never
completed and whether there were any objections for completion.
2:11:26 PM
THOMAS STUDLER, Staff, Representative Dave Talerico, Alaska
State Legislature, explained that the initial funding by the
Department of Defense had been for completion of the bridge so
the military could access the training areas in the Tanana
Flats. He reported that the second phase was intended to lay
rail across the bridge, the third phase was intended to lay rail
to Delta, and the fourth phase was intended to come across the
river into Delta Junction and Fort Greely.
REPRESENTATIVE JACKSON asked if, after the initial funding,
there had been an intention for completion of the project.
MR. STUDLER replied that he was not aware for the reasons to the
lack of follow through by the Department of Defense. He added
that this was the reason for the proposed resolution asking the
Department of Defense to provide the funding.
2:13:03 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TARR asked if Phase one and Phase two had been
completed.
MR. STUDLER, in response, explained that Phase one had been
completed with the construction of the access route and the
bridge, and that the yet to be completed Phase two was to lay
the rail on that access route from Eielson Air Force Base
through Salcha, across the river, to a staging area on the
training grounds. He added that Phase 3 was intended to
complete the 38 miles of rail from the staging area to Delta and
that Phase 4 was to go back across the river into Delta Junction
and Fort Greely.
REPRESENTATIVE TARR shared her understanding that the Feed and
Fertilizer Coop in Delta Junction had been built where the
railway had been intended to allow for rail shipments.
2:14:58 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER asked if the right of way had already
been purchased for the project.
MR. STUDLER explained that, as the right of way was military
land, the access had already been granted to the railroad.
2:15:34 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JACKSON asked if this project would affect
private property owners.
MR. STUDLER offered his belief that this would not be the case
as the access across the river was directly into Fort Greely and
there was not any private property affected.
2:16:22 PM
The committee took a brief at-ease.
2:17:52 PM
CHAIR LEDOUX opened public testimony.
2:18:10 PM
CHAIR LEDOUX closed public testimony.
2:18:31 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO thanked the committee for hearing the
resolution.
2:18:47 PM
CHAIR LEDOUX said that HJR 12 would be held over.
2:19:10 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting was
adjourned at 2:19 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HJR12 verA.pdf |
HMLV 3/19/2019 2:00:00 PM HMLV 3/21/2019 2:00:00 PM STRA 5/8/2019 5:00:00 PM |
HJR 12 |
| HJR 12 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HMLV 3/19/2019 2:00:00 PM STRA 5/8/2019 5:00:00 PM |
HJR 12 |
| HJR 12 Supporting Document ARCA_October_2012.pdf |
HMLV 3/19/2019 2:00:00 PM HMLV 3/21/2019 2:00:00 PM STRA 5/8/2019 5:00:00 PM |
HJR 12 |
| HJR12 Additional Documents Alaska Rail Act of 1914.pdf |
HMLV 3/19/2019 2:00:00 PM HMLV 3/21/2019 2:00:00 PM STRA 5/8/2019 5:00:00 PM |
HJR 12 |
| HJR 12 Supporting Document ARTA_2005.pdf |
HMLV 3/19/2019 2:00:00 PM HMLV 3/21/2019 2:00:00 PM STRA 5/8/2019 5:00:00 PM |
HJR 12 |
| HJR 12 RR Northern Rail Extension Project Scope.pdf |
HMLV 3/19/2019 2:00:00 PM HMLV 3/21/2019 2:00:00 PM STRA 5/8/2019 5:00:00 PM |
HJR 12 |