Legislature(2021 - 2022)BARNES 124
04/14/2022 01:00 PM House TRANSPORTATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB357 | |
| SB203 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 357 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 203 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
April 14, 2022
1:07 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Grier Hopkins, Chair
Representative Sara Hannan, Vice Chair
Representative Louise Stutes
Representative Harriet Drummond
Representative Tom McKay (via teleconference)
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Kevin McCabe
Representative Mike Cronk
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 357
"An Act naming the Bragaw Street overcrossing of the Glenn
Highway the Insook Baik Bridge."
- MOVED HB 357 OUT OF COMMITTEE
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 203(FIN)
"An Act designating the Alaska marine highway system and
portions of the Parks, Glenn, Seward, and Sterling Highways as a
part of the State's Purple Heart Trail and relating to signage
and informational displays for the trail."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 357
SHORT TITLE: NAMING THE INSOOK BAIK BRIDGE
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) TARR
02/22/22 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/22/22 (H) TRA, FIN
03/15/22 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
03/15/22 (H) Heard & Held
03/15/22 (H) MINUTE(TRA)
04/12/22 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
04/12/22 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
04/14/22 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
BILL: SB 203
SHORT TITLE: PURPLE HEART TRAIL
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) REVAK
02/22/22 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/22/22 (S) TRA, FIN
03/03/22 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/03/22 (S) Moved SB 203 Out of Committee
03/03/22 (S) MINUTE(TRA)
03/04/22 (S) TRA RPT 2DP 1NR
03/04/22 (S) DP: MYERS, KIEHL
03/04/22 (S) NR: SHOWER
03/21/22 (S) FIN AT 1:00 PM SENATE FINANCE 532
03/21/22 (S) Heard & Held
03/21/22 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
03/23/22 (S) FIN AT 1:00 PM SENATE FINANCE 532
03/23/22 (S) Moved CSSB 203(FIN) Out of Committee
03/23/22 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
03/25/22 (S) FIN RPT CS 4DP 1NR NEW TITLE
03/25/22 (S) DP: BISHOP, HOFFMAN, WIELECHOWSKI, VON
IMHOF
03/25/22 (S) NR: OLSON
04/11/22 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
04/11/22 (S) VERSION: CSSB 203(FIN)
04/12/22 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
04/12/22 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
04/13/22 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/13/22 (H) TRA, FIN
04/14/22 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
PHILLIP MOON, representing self
Seattle, Washington
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the hearing on HB 357.
PETER BAIK, representing self
Seattle, Washington
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 357.
JOHN PHARR, representing self
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the hearing on HB 357
JACKIE KEMP, representing self
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the hearing on HB 357.
JOSHUA KIM, representing self
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the hearing on HB 357
SUN OH, representing self
Wasilla, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 357.
JUDY KIM, representing self
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 357.
LISA RUSH
Alaska Black Caucus
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on behalf of the Alaska Black
Caucus in support of HB 357.
KEY GETTY, President
Korean American Community of Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the hearing on HB 357.
ROWENA ELLIS, representing self
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the hearing on HB 357.
REPRESENTATIVE GARAN TARR
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, gave closing comments on
HB 357.
EMMA TORKELSON, Staff
Senator Josh Revak
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during the hearing on SB
203 on behalf of Senator Revak, prime sponsor.
THUNDER ATCHLEY, Staff
Senator Josh Revak
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Introduced SB 203 on behalf of Senator
Revak, prime sponsor.
ANDY MILLS, Legislative Liaison
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony during the hearing
on SB 203.
JOHN KNOTT, State Commander
Military Order of the Purple Heart
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony during the hearing
on SB 203.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:07:03 PM
CHAIR GRIER HOPKINS called the House Transportation Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:07 p.m. Representatives
Hopkins, Hannan, Drummond, McKay (via teleconference) and Stutes
were present at the call to order.
HB 357-NAMING THE INSOOK BAIK BRIDGE
1:07:43 PM
CHAIR HOPKINS announced that the first order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO 357, "An Act naming the Bragaw Street
overcrossing of the Glenn Highway the Insook Baik Bridge; naming
the Congressman Don Young Bridge; and relating to signage and
informational displays for the bridges."
1:07:53 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS opened public testimony on HB 357.
1:08:24 PM
PHILLIP MOON, representing self, stated that he had been a
family friend of Insook Baik's family for over a decade. He
said that she is a loving family member and has a high level of
integrity and work ethic. He said that she is heavily involved
in charitable activities, including a Thanksgiving food drive in
Anchorage, Alaska, and overseas disaster relief.
1:10:04 PM
PETER BAIK, representing self, stated that he is the son of
Insook Baik and fully supports HB 357. He said that renaming
the bridge would provide a symbol of hope to the community for
what it means to be a good neighbor. He said that she
sacrificed her time and spent long hours running her store and
caring for her children as a single mother. She has served the
community of Mountain View for decades.
1:12:47 PM
JOHN PHARR, representing self, stated that he has known Insook
Baik for 30 years and described her as an astute businesswoman.
He said that she has used the money gained from her business to
support her community and help charitable causes. She has set
up Thanksgiving food drives and undertaken missionary trips to
areas in which her own safety was at risk in order to help the
people of those areas.
1:14:54 PM
JACKIE KEMP, representing self, stated that she is the daughter
of Insook Baik. She said that her mother immigrated to the
United States from South Korea in the 1980s to provide a better
life for her children. She said that Insook Baik chose to stay
in Alaska due to the sense of community she felt. Insook Baik
raised her three children to be proud of their Korean heritage
and of their place as Alaskans. She said that Insook Baik
taught her children to be thankful to God for what they have and
uses that belief as the basis for her charitable contributions.
She provides meals to those in need at Thanksgiving as a sign of
thankfulness for where she is now and where she came from, and
to inspire the community to give back to those in need. She
said that Insook Baik is a picture of what it means to live the
American Dream.
1:18:42 PM
JOSHUA KIM, representing self, stated that he is the former
pastor of First Korean Presbyterian Church which is attended by
Insook Baik. He said that during his time as her pastor, he saw
her as a dedicated woman to her children and her community. He
said that her service stemmed from her thankfulness that
although she came to the United States with nothing, she was
blessed and became successful. He said that she has served the
people of Mountain View during Thanksgiving every year since
2008 or 2009.
1:22:42 PM
SUN OH, representing self, stated that she has known Insook Baik
for 35 years as a fellow member of her church. She said that
Insook Baik has a heart that overflows with love for her
children and her community. She posited that Insook Baik
deserves to have the bridge named after her for her service to
the community.
1:25:12 PM
JUDY KIM, representing self, stated that she is the wife of the
First Korean Presbyterian Church's pastor and has known Insook
Baik for 25 years. She described Insook Baik as a perfect
mother and a perfect worker. She said that Insook Baik is the
leader of the church's woman's group and is well respected
within it. She is a woman of prayer that always goes to God
with her troubles. She stated that naming the bridge after
Insook Baik would be a great encouragement to the Korean
community in Anchorage.
1:27:56 PM
LISA RUSH, Alaska Black Caucus, stated that she was representing
the Alaska Black Caucus, which supports naming the bridge after
Insook Baik. She said that the mission of the Alaska Black
Caucus is to support education and political and economic well-
being for the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
community. She said that Insook Baik is an example to the
community of Mountain View of what it means to be a good
citizen.
1:29:50 PM
KEY GETTY, President, Korean American Community of Anchorage,
stated that the Korean American Community of Anchorage was
founded in 1973. She said that many Korean Americans give their
time, talents, and money in order to help make the community a
better place. She said that Korean American involvement in the
community in Anchorage has helped lessen its experience with
Asian and Pacific Islander (API) discrimination. She said that
Insook Baik is a key part of the Korean American community in
what it means to give back, and naming the bridge after her
would give hope to the community.
1:34:22 PM
ROWENA ELLIS, representing self, stated that she has known
Insook Baik for 14 years and described her as a loving and
caring person. She said that naming the bridge after her would
be a great way to honor her contributions for the community.
1:34:59 PM
CHAIR HOPKINS closed public testimony on HB 357 after
ascertaining nobody else wished to testify.
1:35:14 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GARAN TARR, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor of HB 357, stated her gratefulness for the testifiers in
sharing their experiences with how Insook Baik has contributed
to the community of Mountain View, in Anchorage, Alaska.
1:35:43 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN moved to report HB 357 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, HB 357 was reported out of the
House Transportation Standing Committee.
1:36:06 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 1:36 p.m. to 1:39 p.m.
SB 203-PURPLE HEART TRAIL
1:39:03 PM
CHAIR HOPKINS announced that the final order of business would
be SENATE BILL NO. 203, "An Act designating the Alaska marine
highway system and portions of the Parks, Glenn, Seward, and
Sterling Highways as a part of the State's Purple Heart Trail
and relating to signage and informational displays for the
trail."
1:39:32 PM
EMMA TORKELSON, Staff, Senator Josh Revak, Alaska State
Legislature, gave information and answered questions regarding
SB 203 on behalf of Senator Revak, prime sponsor. She stated
that work has been ongoing for 15 years to rename different
areas of the state to honor those who have served in the
military.
1:40:14 PM
THUNDER ATCHLEY, Staff, Senator Josh Revak, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of Senator Revak, prime sponsor of SB
203, stated that the Purple Heart Trail designations of highways
have extended across the U.S. since 1992 honoring those who have
been wounded or killed in service to our nation. He said that
SB 203 would extend the designation from Fairbanks, Alaska, to
Homer, Alaska, and along the entirety of the Alaska Marine
Highway System (AMHS). Alaska has a strong presence of military
service members and veterans, and appropriate signage would be
placed along the route in order to provoke the thoughtfulness of
those driving past.
1:42:14 PM
MS. TORKELSON gave the sectional analysis of SB 203. She stated
that Section 1 would extend the Purple Heart Trail designation
along over 4,000 miles of highway from Fairbanks to Homer and
the Alaska Marine Highway System [routes]. Section 2 would
require the Department of Transportation & Public Facilities
(DOT&PF) to erect appropriate signage along the designated path.
She said that Section 3 would require DOT&PF to place
informational signs at pullouts along the highway, and Section 4
would allow the department to accept gifts and donations for the
purpose of placing the appropriate signage. Section 5 would
give DOT&PF discretion over funding in the event of a large
number of donations.
1:44:32 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN asked what size the signs would be and how
they would look on AMHS vessels.
MS. TORKELSON answered that the signs shown in the committee
packet would be adapted for use on the vessels. In response to
a follow-up question, she said that the process for becoming a
Purple Heart City is different from that of having the Purple
Heart Trail go through a city. She said that the extension of
the trail gives an additional reason for a city to become a
Purple Heart city, but Skagway, Alaska, is able to be one
without being connected to the Purple Heart Trail.
1:48:28 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES asked how adding AMHS would affect its
federal funding.
MS. TORKELSON answered that it would not affect the federal
funding of any highways that are part of the Purple Heart Trail.
She added that it would also not change the names of any of the
highways. In response to a follow-up question, she said that
there is a $255,000 fiscal note.
1:49:54 PM
CHAIR HOPKINS asked whether that figure included the cost of
adding signage to vessels.
MS. TORKELSON answered yes.
1:50:29 PM
ANDY MILLS, Legislative Liaison, Department of Transportation &
Public Facilities, added that it would be possible to secure
more federal funding for highways designated as part of the
Purple Heart Trail.
1:51:31 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN asked whether new appropriations would be
necessary to add new signs on new vessels being added to AMHS.
MR. MILLS answered that new vessels being added would have the
signage included as part of their capital costs.
1:53:00 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND commented that Alaska scenic byway-style
signs seem more appropriate for this type of honor than the
typical design of most highway signs. She called the design
"ugly" and requested that DOT&PF come up with a new design.
MR. MILLS responded that engineers, not graphic designers, came
up with the original designs, and they placed functionality
first in the design. He said that the intention is to come up
with more appropriate signage for use on the vessels.
1:57:01 PM
JOHN KNOTT, State Commander, Military Order of the Purple Heart,
stated that he is honored to support the extension of the Purple
Heart Trail on behalf of the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
He said that it acknowledges the sacrifices and valor of those
who have been wounded or killed and awarded the Purple Heart.
He said that he is a recipient of the Purple Heart and supports
the efforts being made to honor Purple Heart recipients. He
returned to a previous question and said that he has worked with
cities in the past to become Purple Heart cities, including
Skagway.
2:00:32 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN asked why Mr. Knott reached out to
specific communities for potential Purple heart designation.
MR. KNOTT answered that a veteran's group from Skagway reached
out to him. In response to a follow-up question, he clarified
that there is no connection between the number of Purple Heart
recipients in a city and its status as a Purple Heart city.
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN commented that an entire age group from
Hoonah, Alaska, served in the Vietnam War and is very active in
veterans' groups.
2:04:38 PM
CHAIR HOPKINS thanked Mr. Knott and all recipients of the Purple
Heart for their service.
2:05:07 PM
CHAIR HOPKINS opened public testimony on SB 203. After
ascertaining that no one wished to testify, he closed public
testimony.
[SB 203 was held over.]
2:05:48 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Transportation Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 2:06
p.m.