Legislature(2025 - 2026)BARNES 124
03/04/2025 10:15 AM House MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HJR8 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HJR 8 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS
March 4, 2025
10:56 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Ted Eischeid, Chair
Representative Andrew Gray
Representative Carolyn Hall
Representative Zack Fields
Representative Dan Saddler
Representative Jamie Allard
Representative David Nelson
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 8
Encouraging the United States Congress to award the Hmong
veterans of the Vietnam War the Congressional Gold Medal.
- MOVED CSHJR 8(MLV) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HJR 8
SHORT TITLE: AWARD HMONG VETERANS CONGRES. GOLD MEDAL
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) NELSON
02/03/25 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/03/25 (H) MLV
03/04/25 (H) MLV AT 10:15 AM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE DAVID NELSON
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, presented HJR 8 to the
committee.
MAI XIONT
Unalaska Community Inc
Unalaska, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony in support of HJR 8,
Version I.
LADDIE SHAW
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony in support of HJR 8,
Version I.
ACTION NARRATIVE
10:56:43 AM
CHAIR EISCHEID called the House Special Committee on Military
and Veterans' Affairs meeting to order at 10:56 a.m.
Representatives Gray, Nelson, Hall, Saddler, and Eischeid were
present at the call to order. Representatives Allard and Fields
arrived as the meeting was in progress.
HJR 8-AWARD HMONG VETERANS CONGRES. GOLD MEDAL
10:57:33 AM
CHAIR EISCHEID announced that the only order of business would
be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 8, "Encouraging the United States
Congress to award the Hmong veterans of the Vietnam War the
Congressional Gold Medal."
10:58:08 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GRAY moved to adopt the proposed committee
substitute (CS) for HJR 8, Version 34-LS0482\I, Radford,
2/27/23, as the working document.
CHAIR EISCHEID objected.
10:58:34 AM
REPRESENTATIVE NELSON explained that the proposed CS would
correct a drafting error in the language of the original
resolution.
10:59:11 AM
The committee took a brief at ease at 10:59 a.m.
10:59:21 AM
CHAIR EISCHEID removed his objection to the motion to adopt the
proposed CS for HJR 8, Version 34-LS0482\I, Radford, 2/27/23.
There being no further objection, Version I was before the
committee.
10:59:58 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DAVID NELSON, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, presented HJR 8, Version I, to the committee. He
paraphrased the sponsor statement for HJR 8 [included in the
committee file], which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]
House joint resolution 8 urges the United States
Congress to recognize the sacrifices and contributions
of Hmong soldiers during the Vietnam war by awarding
them the Congressional gold medal. This long overdue
honor would acknowledge their bravery loyalty and
invaluable service and support of the United States
armed forces.
During the 1960s over 100,000 Hmong soldiers were
recruited by the United States Central intelligence
agency. These warriors played a critical role in
intercepting enemy forces and disrupting the flow of
troops and supplies along the Ho chi min trail.
Despite being heavily outnumbered the Hmong soldiers
fought with unwavering courage gathered vital
intelligence and conducted rescue message to save down
American pilots. Approximately 40,000 Hmong soldiers
were killed while defending and protecting US military
operations.
Following the war long veterans faced severe
persecuted forcing many to flee their homeland and
seek refuge in Thailand and the United States.
It is time for our nation to honor their service and
fulfill the commitments made to them The Congressional
gold medal represents not just a symbol of recognition
but an affirmation of their legacy in American
history.
We must acknowledge and honor the Hmong veterans who
stood alongside US forces to ensure their sacrifices
are never forgotten. We urge Congress to award the
Congressional gold medal to these courageous warriors.
11:03:00 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GRAY thanked Representative Nelson for bringing
forward HJR 8.
11:03:11 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER commented that the Hmong have been one of
the "best friends" of the U.S.A. in among its many military
conflicts.
11:04:28 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 11:04 a.m. to 11:05 a.m.
11:05:58 AM
MAI XIONT, Unalaska Community Inc, gave invited testimony in
support of HJR 8, Version I. She explained a history of the
Hmong people's role in assisting the U.S. military in the
Vietnam War and emphasized the importance of honoring them for
their service to the country. She urged the committee's support
for the proposed resolution.
11:08:56 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 11:08 a.m. to 11:09 a.m.
11:09:23 AM
LADDIE SHAW, a former Alaska State Representative, gave invited
testimony in support of HJR 8 Version I. He briefly explained
his time serving in the Vietnam War and said that he
"absolutely" wanted to honor the Hmong. He said that the Hmong
were "our lifeline" during the Vietnam War and emphasized the
value of honoring an unwavering ally like the Hmong people. He
urged the committee's support of HJR 8 Version I.
11:10:29 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked Mr. Shaw if he could share any
personal anecdotes of the Hmong helping him during his time in
Vietnam. He asked Mr. Shaw how the Congressional Gold Medal
would be effective in proving the United States' appreciation
for the Hmong.
MR. SHAW shared his experience in fighting alongside the Hmong
people and said that they were "never recognized for the value
of what they did." He said that the Hmong community lost over
300,000 people, while the U.S. military lost only 58,000 people
during its time in the Vietnam War. He emphasized the outsized
impact and importance of awarding the Congressional Gold Medal
to the Hmong people to honor their service to the U.S. military.
11:13:29 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GRAY thanked Mr. Shaw for his service in Vietnam.
11:14:06 AM
CHAIR EISCHEID opened public testimony on HJR 8, Version I.
After ascertaining that there was no one who wished to testify,
he closed public testimony on HJR 8, Version I.
11:14:54 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GRAY moved to report CSHJR 8, Version 34-
LS0482\I, Radford, 2/27/23, out of committee with individual
recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being
no objection, CSHJR 8(MLV) was reported from the House Special
Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs.
11:15:29 AM
The committee took a brief at-ease at 11:15 a.m.
11:15:43 AM
CHAIR EISCHEID thanked the invited testifiers and delivered
committee announcements.
11:16:19 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting was
adjourned at 11:16 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| 3.04.25 AK Aerospace Overview.pdf |
HMLV 3/4/2025 10:15:00 AM |
|
| HJR008A.pdf |
HMLV 3/4/2025 10:15:00 AM |
HJR 8 |
| HJR 8 Sponsor Statement Version A.pdf |
HMLV 3/4/2025 10:15:00 AM |
HJR 8 |
| CS for HJR 8 - Version I.pdf |
HMLV 3/4/2025 10:15:00 AM |
HJR 8 |
| HJR 8 Zero Fiscal Note.pdf |
HMLV 3/4/2025 10:15:00 AM |
HJR 8 |
| CS HJR 8 Summary of Changes.pdf |
HMLV 3/4/2025 10:15:00 AM |
HJR 8 |
| HJR 8 Letter in Support- Mai Xiong.pdf |
HMLV 3/4/2025 10:15:00 AM |
HJR 8 |