ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AND  VETERANS' AFFAIRS  March 27, 2003 3:05 p.m.   MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Bob Lynn, Chair Representative Beverly Masek, Vice Chair Representative Nancy Dahlstrom Representative Sharon Cissna Representative Max Gruenberg MEMBERS ABSENT  Representative Hugh Fate Representative Bruce Weyhrauch COMMITTEE CALENDAR CS FOR SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 9(STA) Expressing confidence in and support for all members of the military, their families, and employers of members of the National Guard. - MOVED CSSJR 9(STA) OUT OF COMMITTEE HOUSE BILL NO. 185 "An Act changing the name of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs to the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs and Homeland Security; and providing for an effective date." - HEARD AND HELD HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 16 Expressing confidence in and support for all members of the military, their families, and employers of members of the National Guard. - SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD PREVIOUS ACTION BILL: SJR 9 SHORT TITLE:SUPPORTING MEMBERS OF MILITARY SPONSOR(S): SENATOR(S) BUNDE Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action 03/05/03 0355 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 03/05/03 0355 (S) STA 03/11/03 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 211 03/11/03 (S) Moved CSSJR 9(STA) Out of Committee MINUTE(STA) 03/12/03 0469 (S) STA RPT CS 5DP SAME TITLE 03/12/03 0469 (S) DP: STEVENS G, HOFFMAN, COWDERY, 03/12/03 0469 (S) DYSON, GUESS 03/12/03 0470 (S) FN1: ZERO(S.STA) 03/17/03 0536 (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 3/18/2003 03/18/03 0536 (S) READ THE SECOND TIME 03/18/03 0536 (S) STA CS ADOPTED UNAN CONSENT 03/18/03 0536 (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UNAN CONSENT 03/18/03 0537 (S) READ THE THIRD TIME CSSJR 9(STA) 03/18/03 0537 (S) COSPONSOR(S): WILKEN, COWDERY, DYSON, 03/18/03 0537 (S) ELLIS, ELTON, FRENCH, GREEN, GUESS, 03/18/03 0537 (S) HOFFMAN, LINCOLN, OLSON, SEEKINS, 03/18/03 0537 (S) STEVENS B, STEVENS G, TAYLOR, 03/18/03 0537 (S) THERRIAULT, WAGONER 03/18/03 0537 (S) PASSED Y18 N- E1 A1 03/18/03 0539 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) 03/18/03 0539 (S) VERSION: CSSJR 9(STA) 03/19/03 0575 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 03/19/03 0575 (H) MLV 03/19/03 0575 (H) REFERRED TO MLV 03/19/03 0595 (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): LYNN, WILSON 03/26/03 0655 (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): GRUENBERG 03/27/03 (H) MLV AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 102 BILL: HB 185 SHORT TITLE:RENAMING DEPT. MILITARY/VETERANS AFFAIRS SPONSOR(S): MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action 03/12/03 0511 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 03/12/03 0511 (H) MLV, STA 03/12/03 0511 (H) REFERRED TO MLV 03/27/03 (H) MLV AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 102 WITNESS REGISTER    KAREN McCARTHY, Staff to Senator Con Bunde Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on behalf of the sponsor of SJR 9, Senator Bunde. ACTION NARRATIVE TAPE 03-5, SIDE A  Number 0001 CHAIR BOB LYNN called the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting to order at 3:05 p.m. Representatives Lynn, Dahlstrom, Cissna, and Gruenberg were present at the call to order. Representative Masek arrived as the meeting was in progress. SJR 9-SUPPORTING MEMBERS OF MILITARY CHAIR LYNN announced that the committee would hear CS FOR SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 9(STA), Expressing confidence in and support for all members of the military, their families, and employers of members of the National Guard. Number 0133 KAREN McCARTHY, Staff to Senator Con Bunde, Alaska State Legislature, presented SJR 9 on behalf of the sponsor, Senator Bunde. Ms. McCarthy provided the following comments: Senator Bunde introduced SJR 9 because all members of our nation's military, whether active duty, Guard, or Reserve, deserve our support, especially at this very dangerous time. This resolution is the least we can do for our gallant young men and women in all branches of the military, for their families, and for the civilian employers who help make it possible for members of the Guard to participate in the defense of our country. SJR 9 expresses the Alaska State Legislature's recognition of the commitment of our Guard and active- duty military to the security of our state and country; support for the men and women who defend our freedom; gratitude for the sacrifices of the families and civilian employers of our men and women in uniform; and the hope that all members of the Guard and active-duty members of the military return safely to their families. The language of SJR 9 was approved by the Alaskan Command and the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs. It passed the Senate with all 18 members present signing on as co-sponsors. Senator Bunde appreciates that SJR 9 has been handled expeditiously in the House, due to the timeliness of the issue, and thanks members of the committee and other members of the House for their support for this resolution. REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA offered her appreciation that the National Guard is being recognized. CHAIR LYNN noted his support of SJR 9 and anything that is done to support the military, whether active, reserve, or National Guard. Number 0349 REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG moved to report CSSJR 9(STA) out of committee with individual recommendations [and the accompanying fiscal notes]. There being no objection, CSSJR 9(STA) was reported from the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs. HB 185-RENAMING DEPT. MILITARY/VETERANS AFFAIRS CHAIR LYNN turned the committee's attention to HOUSE BILL NO. 185, "An Act changing the name of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs to the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs and Homeland Security; and providing for an effective date." [The bill was sponsored by the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs.] Number 0428 REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG explained that this legislation wasn't intended just for the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs. Work is being done on the legislation to provide a vehicle for statutory changes necessary to accommodate the homeland security concept. In response to Chair Lynn, Representative Gruenberg related his belief that the work is being done as quickly as possible. [HB 185 was held over.] CHAIR LYNN updated the committee on the rally supporting the troops in Iraq scheduled for tomorrow on the capitol steps. ADJOURNMENT  There being no further business before the committee, the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting was adjourned at 3:20 p.m.