02/04/2014 10:15 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SJR14 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SJR 14 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
February 4, 2014
10:04 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Fred Dyson, Chair
Senator Cathy Giessel, Vice Chair
Senator John Coghill
Senator Bill Wielechowski
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Bert Stedman
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 14
Urging the Secretary of the United States Air Force, the Chief
of Staff of the United States Air Force, and the Commander of
the Pacific Air Forces to base F-35 aircraft assigned to the
Pacific Air Forces at Eielson Air Force Base.
- MOVED SJR 14 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SJR 14
SHORT TITLE: BASE F-35 AIRCRAFT AT EIELSON AFB
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) COGHILL
01/22/14 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/22/14 (S) STA
02/04/14 (S) STA AT 10:15 AM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
CHAD HUTCHINSON, Staff for Senator Coghill
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Reviewed SJR 14 that requests basing for the
F-35 at Eielson AFB in Fairbanks.
LUKE HOPKINS, Mayor
Fairbanks North Star Borough
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports F-35 Lightning II deployment at
Eielson Air Force Base in Fairbanks.
BARBARAH JOHNSON, Assistant to the Mayor's Office
Fairbanks North Star Borough
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided supportive information for F-35
Lightning II deployment at Eielson Air Force Base in Fairbanks.
ACTION NARRATIVE
10:04:11 AM
CHAIR FRED DYSON called the Senate State Affairs Standing
Committee meeting to order at 10:04 a.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Coghill, Wielechowski, Vice-Chair Giessel,
and Chair Dyson.
SJR 14-BASE F-35 AIRCRAFT AT EIELSON AFB
CHAIR DYSON announced that the consideration of SJR 14 by
Senator Coghill is before the committee. He said SJR 14
addresses the basing of F-35 aircraft at Eielson Air Force Base
(AFB). He announced his intention with the committee members'
concurrence that SJR 14 be passed out of committee today.
SENATOR COGHILL, bill sponsor, provided a brief opening for SJR
14. He noted that discussions recently occurred with the Arctic
Policy that Alaska is obviously an international and Pacific Rim
state. He detailed that with the Asia Pacific comes some very
interesting dynamic and specified North Korea as the main one.
He asserted that Alaska becomes one of the posts that the U.S.
will us to become the monitor of the northern Asian Pacific and
beyond. He set forth that SJR 14 recommends the F-35s, which are
one of the new "fifth generation" fighter jets, to be stationed
in Fairbanks' Eielson AFB. He noted a list of reasons to station
the F-35s at Eielson AFB and highlighted Alaska's reach to the
Asia Pacific in addition to the training capacity. He extended
his deepest gratitude for those in the Anchorage area that have
supported the Eielson issue. He said SJR 14 is one other way of
saying Eielson AFB can be a partner with the base in the
Anchorage area with the F-22 Raptors. He said basing the F-35 at
Eielson AFB will put Alaska on the map as one of the best
defense stations for the U.S. in the northern Arctic, the
northern Pacific and beyond. He noted that Eielson AFB was on
the shortlist for F-35 basing consideration.
10:06:41 AM
CHAD HUTCHINSON, Staff for Senator John Coghill, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska; addressed SJR 14 and the reasons
for basing the F-35 at Eielson AFB. He noted in addition to
Senator Coghill's overview, there is increased influence from
China due to their intent in aggressively developing their own
fifth generation fighter and the reason why there is a pivot by
the Obama Administration to make sure China's regional influence
is counteracted.
MR. HUTCHINSON set forth that it is not a secret that Fairbanks
and North Pole is definitely a military town. He noted that out
of the 50,000 jobs in Alaska's interior, 20,749 jobs are
directly or indirectly related to the military.
He revealed that the Pacific Air Command is going to place one
to two F-35 fighter squadrons in one of the Pacific bases. He
noted that a fighter squadron consists of 12 to 24 aircraft. He
revealed that the Pacific Air Force bases that qualify include
Yokota Air Base in Japan, Osan Air Base in Korea, Joint Base
Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) in Anchorage, Joint Base Pearl
Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii (JBPHH), Kadena Air Base in Japan,
Kunsan Air Base in Korea, Andersen Air Base in Guam, and Misawa
Air Base in Japan. He said bases being considered have both
positives and negatives. He revealed elements that the Air Force
will be looking at as follows:
There's a probability that they don't necessarily want
to base F-22s and F-35s together, so some of those
bases you can be eliminated immediately and that
includes JBPHH and JBER. The expected procedure is
that Eielson AFB will be in competition with bases in
Korea and Japan; they are aggressively trying to court
the aircraft too. Why is that important? If you look
at Luke AFB, which is in Arizona and recently got 144
F-35s; it was a statewide effort and the accumulative
effect on the economy for Glendale was an additional
$2.2 billion infused into the economy and 96,000 jobs.
That is 144 aircraft, the expectation is that the max
we would receive is 48 aircraft if we topped out, but
it still creates a stable economy for the surrounding
Interior region and creates jobs for a lot of the
folks living in Fairbanks and North Pole.
10:09:33 AM
MR. HUTCHINSON updated the committee as to what the Interior has
been doing up to this point. He noted the Tiger Team which is a
meeting of the minds that consists of the local mayors,
prominent business men, and government officials, are actively
looking to entice the F-35 placement that includes: tax
exemptions, military facility zones, and expanding Eielson's
mission parameters. He detailed that Eielson's mission expansion
parameters is currently occurring with the expectation that
there is going to be a Gray Eagle Drone Squadron that is
operated by the Army but placed on Eielson AFB. There is also
the expectation that there is going to be increase unmanned
aerial vehicle activity sounding the area because of the recent
FAA decision on drone test sites. He said there are a lot of
efforts to make sure that Eielson AFB is as enticing as possible
to place the F-35s, which will essentially replace the A-10s
that left the base a few years ago. He noted that the F-35 and
A-10 are both air-to-ground support aircraft, but the F-35's
mission is changing.
10:10:57 AM
He presented a video presentation on the F-35 to the committee.
The video specified the advantages of the fifth generation
aircraft.
10:20:35 AM
MR. HUTCHINSON asked if the committee had any questions.
SENATOR COGHILL remarked that the committee now knows more about
the F-35.
10:20:40 AM
CHAIR DYSON added that the F-35 is a very expensive aircraft. He
noted that Alaska could build all of the schools the state has
dreamed of building for one F-35. He revealed that the F-35 is
very high maintenance.
10:20:56 AM
MR. HUTCHINSON stated that Lockheed Martin has notified Alaska
that they expect the comparative margin for each F-35 to come
down as more aircraft are produced.
SENATOR COGHILL noted the timeliness of SJR 14 in that a site-
survey is coming to Alaska pretty soon. He asserted that it is
important for the legislature to speak up and noted it as being
one of those things where if you do not say anything, they
assume you are not interested.
CHAIR DYSON welcomed representatives from Fairbanks to testify
about SJR 14.
LUKE HOPKINS, Mayor, Fairbanks North Star Borough, Fairbanks,
Alaska, supports F-35 Lightning II deployment at Eielson AFB in
Fairbanks. He revealed that he has ended up building a very
strong relationship with Pacific Air Force over the past year.
He asserted that Eielson AFB and is probably the premier Outside
Continental United States (OCONUS) base for being able to have
F-35s at it along with the training spaces that are really
needed. He revealed that he had joined a group that traveled to
Lockheed Martin's to tour their F-35 facility. He added that the
group also toured Luke AFB in Arizona and how the local has
supported the F-35 basing. He reported that the tour was
impressive and informed the committee that Fairbanks is stepping
out from the previously noted Tiger Team efforts to a potential
statewide program to support F-35s coming to Eielson AFB. He
said the Air Force is expected to make an F-35 announcement in
the second half of February. He cited the Secretary of the Air
Force had said that Eielson AFB is in the short-list for an
environmental impact process to commence for basing F-35s.
MAYOR HOPKINS said SJR 14 is extremely important and noted the
economic value of having one or two F-35 squadrons at Eielson
AFB is huge. He pointed out that Fairbanks support for Eielson
AFB can match Arizona's support for Luke AFB. He reiterated that
the F-35 operational basing is OCONUS targeted. He detailed that
an F-35 basing at Eielson AFB will allow for global defense in
the Northern Hemisphere from Alaska. He stated that the
Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly, Mayor's office, community
members, and Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce are all marching
forward in support of F-35s being based at Eielson AFB.
BARBARAH JOHNSON, Assistant to the Mayor's Office, Fairbanks
North Star Borough, Fairbanks, Alaska; provided supportive
information to support F-35 Lightning II deployment in
Fairbanks. She pointed out that the Luke AFB F-35 deployment
meant $2.2 billion is going into their local economy. She noted
that Luke AFB has eight squadrons where Eielson AFB has the
potential to have two squadrons. She reiterated that an F-35
basing has a significant economic impact.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked if there has been any analysis as to
whether or not F-35s can be based at JBER. He noted that JBER is
located in his district.
MR. HUTCHINSON replied that there has been an analysis and the
general consensus of the Air Force is that they do not like to
put their "eggs in one basket." JBER and JBPHH have F-22s and
that is why the Air Force will not place F-35s at the same
military installation. He said the Air Force's top three
candidates are likely out of Japan, Korea, and Eielson AFB. He
added that the Air Force's analysis is complex with training
space, asset allocation, and he noted that international
politics come into play. He cited Pacific Air Forces' Commander
General Carlisle saying Eielson AFB is likely one of the top
candidates.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI stated that he would note no recommendation
on SJR 14's form today and he asked for additional documentation
prior to voting on the Senate Floor so that he can at least
explain to his constituents why he is voting the way he is
voting.
SENATOR GIESSEL commented that it is breathtaking what humans
have been able to construct with mined minerals out of the
earth, which exist in Alaska: copper, gold, silver, molybdenum,
zinc, as well as rare earth elements.
CHAIR DYSON recommended that the presentation include the
mention of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD)
and the U.S.'s cooperation with Canada through Alaska. He noted
that Alaska based Air Force flyers top-cover for the North
American continent and that mission has come back to being more
important. He remarked that the Russians have returned over the
past four and a half years with sending Bear Bombers on the
edges of Alaska's airspace. He said most of the Canadian Air
Force officers are in Alaska and live in his district. He added
that Eielson Air Force Base has been a place the Air Force has
gone to test aircraft operating in Arctic conditions.
He remarked that basing decisions should be made by the Air
Force only on a strategic placement basis for the U.S.'s defense
efforts. He conceded that the basing process ends up being a
political process because everybody weighs in and wants the
economic benefit in their jurisdiction. He set forth that other
places who would want the F-35s in their jurisdiction are
playing public-policy political games as well and it is very
valid for the legislature to at least meet those political
processes trying to influence it. He said when he was at
hearings with Senator Coghill in Fairbanks, the military
officers said "Yes, but remember that community support for the
military is very important." He added that he and Senator
Wielechowski represent the districts in Anchorage that are
closest to JBER and probably the most welcoming of the military
of anywhere in the world and certainly Fairbanks mirrors that.
He mentioned that the other comment made is the economics of
operating and the energy supplies that are available to the
military in the Fairbanks area are very competitive with
anywhere in the world and it is just a significant part of the
process.
CHAIR DYSON announced that the Chair will entertain a motion.
SENATOR GIESSEL moved to report Senate Joint Resolution No. 14,
version 28-LS1050\N from committee with individual
recommendations.
CHAIR DYSON announced that without objection, SJR 14 passes
committee.
10:31:08 AM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Dyson adjourned the Senate State Affairs Committee at
10:31 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SJR 14 - Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SSTA 2/4/2014 10:15:00 AM |
SJR 14 |
| SJR 14 - Legislation - Version 28-LS1050N.pdf |
SSTA 2/4/2014 10:15:00 AM |
SJR 14 |
| SJR 14 - Support Document re Employment - FEDCO.pdf |
SSTA 2/4/2014 10:15:00 AM |
SJR 14 |
| SJR 14 - Letter of Support - FEDCO.pdf |
SSTA 2/4/2014 10:15:00 AM |
SJR 14 |
| SJR 14 - 1-30-14 Letter in Support of SJR No 14.pdf |
SSTA 2/4/2014 10:15:00 AM |
SJR 14 |