Legislature(2001 - 2002)
02/12/2002 04:05 PM House RLS
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ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE RULES STANDING COMMITTEE
February 12, 2002
4:05 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Pete Kott, Chair
Representative Brian Porter
Representative Vic Kohring
Representative Lesil McGuire
Representative Ethan Berkowitz
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Carl Morgan
Representative Reggie Joule
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 37
Congratulating Alaska Airlines on its 70th Anniversary.
- MOVED HJR 37 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: HJR 37
SHORT TITLE:ALASKA AIRLINES 70TH ANNIVERSARY
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S)KOTT
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
02/08/02 2181 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME -
REFERRALS
02/08/02 2181 (H) RLS
02/12/02 (H) RLS AT 4:00 PM FAHRENKAMP 203
WITNESS REGISTER
JUDY OHMER, Staff
to Representative Kott
Alaska State Legislature
Capitol Building, Room 204
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HJR 37.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 02-2, SIDE A
Number 0001
CHAIR PETE KOTT called the House Rules Standing Committee
meeting to order at 4:05 p.m. Representatives Kott, Porter,
Kohring, McGuire, and Berkowitz were present at the call to
order. Representative Fate was also in attendance.
HJR 37-ALASKA AIRLINES 70TH ANNIVERSARY
CHAIR KOTT announced that the only order of business before the
committee would be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 37, Congratulating
Alaska Airlines on its 70th Anniversary.
Number 0011
JUDY OHMER, Staff to Representative Kott, Alaska State
Legislature, testified on behalf of the sponsor, Representative
Kott. She explained that HJR 37 is a congratulatory resolution
to honor Alaska Airlines on its 70th year of service. Alaska
Airlines has been a vital part of the state's development.
[Much of Alaska Airlines' importance] is related to the fact
that it connects people and communities of remote and rural
Alaska to other parts of the state as well as the Lower 48 and
some international destinations.
MS. OHMER pointed out that Alaska Airlines has an impressive
history in both Alaska and other parts of the world. The
airline began with a single-engined, three-passenger Stinson
from which they have developed into a fleet of airplanes that
serve over 80 different airports. Alaska Airlines says that it
will serve 84 airports by April. Ms. Ohmer noted that Alaska
Airlines was crucial in the construction of the pipeline.
Furthermore, Alaska Airlines was part of the Berlin Airlift at
the close of World War II. The airline took part in Operation
Magic Carpet, during which 40,000 Yemenite Jews were airlifted
into Israel after World War II. This was a very dangerous
operation.
MS. OHMER noted that history illustrates that Alaska Airlines is
a pioneer in the area of superior customer service and emerging
technology. Some of the [cutting edge] technology that Alaska
Airlines is using is the Global Positioning System (GPS) and the
Head-Up Guidance System (HGS), as well as the use of the
Internet to book travel and sell tickets. Alaska Airlines was
the first airline to use the Internet in the aforementioned
manner. Alaska Airlines was also the first airline to use
electronic ticketing and check-in. Moreover, Alaska Airlines is
the first airline authorized to land jets on gravel runways.
With their current equipment, Alaska Airlines can take off
runways that are [only] 600 feet.
MS. OHMER informed the committee that commercial aviation
history always includes a section on an airline in Alaska's
hinterland that continued to survive and thrive when the giant
[airlines] disappeared. Ms. Ohmer related her belief that the
spirit of Alaska Airlines mirrors that of Alaska in that the
"can do" attitude and "neighbors helping neighbors" attitude is
a fact of life. Ms. Ohmer related a few stories about Alaska
Airlines, and noted that Alaska Airlines' colorful history can
be pulled up on their website. She highlighted the skill of
Alaska Airlines by pointing out that recently Delta Airlines
asked Alaska Airlines to carry in the Olympic flame.
Number 0116
MS. OHMER pointed out that HJR 37 carries no fiscal impact. In
regard to why this isn't a citation, she related [the sponsor's]
belief that this is the most symbolic way to acknowledge Alaska
Airlines and illustrate appreciation for it.
REPRESENTATIVES PORTER and KOTT noted that their daughters work
for Alaska Airlines.
Number 0132
REPRESENTATIVE McGUIRE moved to report HJR 37 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal
note. There being no objection, HJR 37 was reported from the
House Rules Standing Committee.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Rules Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 4:12 p.m.
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