Legislature(2023 - 2024)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/04/2023 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB141 | |
| HJR3 | |
| HB23 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 141 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HJR 3 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 23 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 26 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 108 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
HB 23-FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH
3:56:10 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI announced the consideration of HOUSE BILL NO. 23
"An Act establishing the month of October as Filipino American
History Month."
3:56:21 PM
At ease
3:57:55 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI reconvened the meeting. He noted that HB 3 was
the companion bill to SB 30, which the committee previously
heard.
3:58:22 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GENEVIEVE MINA, District 19, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of HB 23 stated that she
wanted to speak about Filipinos, their history, their
contributions nationally and to the state, and the reasons for
recognizing Filipino American history month in state statute.
Her family immigrated from the Philippians to Alaska in the '80s
and '90s and she was honored to introduce the bill.
She said Filipinos are one of if not the largest immigrant group
in Alaska. She enjoys history but didn't know too much about her
own origins. She quoted the national hero Jose Rizal who said,
"Know history, know self. No history, no self." She spoke of the
substantial impact that Filipinos have had in Alaska. As the
largest Asian American Pacific Islander group, they have made
contributions working as cannery workers, in healthcare, labor
advocacy, small businesses, community leaders, and much more.
This history isn't reflected when Alaska history and American
history is discussed. She said there's an invisibility that
needs to be brought into the light.
REPRESENTATIVE MINA recognized some Filipino contributions.
Nationally, Filipinos were the first Asian group to set foot in
America. The earliest record was on October 18, 1587. Filipinos
have also made a substantial contribution to the through the
military, community and labor organizing, and the economy. She
highlighted three examples:
First, during WWII 250,000 Filipino soldiers served in the Far
East under the command of General Douglas MacArthur. They became
recognized as US nationals but were not given the same rights,
privileges, and pensions as US veterans. It wasn't until 2010
when Congress officially recognized these Filipino veterans and
accorded them these rights. She shared that her grandfather was
a Filipino guerilla fighter in WWII.
Second, the 1965 Delano Grape Strike was started by Filipino
farmworkers. Many people are familiar with the Latino labor
leader Cesar Chavez, but what many people don't know is that it
was started by Larry Itliong who was a Filipino labor leader in
Delano, California. He was also an "Alaskeros," which is a
Filipino migrant worker who travels to Alaska to work in
canneries seasonally. She shared that her father was one of
these workers 10 years after the grape strike.
Third, Filipinos who were trained in American nursing helped to
fill the US nursing shortage in the 1950s. The 1965 Immigration
Act resulted in a significant increase of Filipino nurses moving
to the US. She shared that her mom is one of these nurses
4:03:20 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MINA discussed the rich history of Filipino
Americans in Alaska. The first recorded contact was in 1788;
American whaling ships brought Filipinos to Alaska; and many
Filipinos have built families with indigenous groups who have
faced similar racial discrimination in this state.
She recounted the reasons for recognizing Filipino American
History Month (FAHM) in state statute. She explained that it
started in October 1992 when the Filipino American Historical
Society chose October because that was the month that Filipinos
were first recorded in the US; it's the birth month of labor
leader Larry Itliong; it's a great way to recognized the many
contributions of Filipinos in the state; and it provides
solidarity among the diverse groups in Alaska. It is similar to
recognizing Black History Month and Alaska Native Heritage Month
in state statute.
4:04:44 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI noted that the committee heard the companion bill
from Senator Gray-Jackson earlier in the session.
4:05:06 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI opened public testimony on HB 23.
4:05:20 PM
JOSH BRANSTETTER, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, stated
that he wanted to reinforce how powerful HB 23 is for the
Filipino community. He has lived in Alaska since the '90s when
his dad was stationed at Adak. His best memories of his Filipino
heritage were during that time. He wasn't very proud of his
culture when he was young because Filipinos weren't in the
spotlight and he didn't know how he fit in. Today, he is very
proud to be a Filipino and a lot of that has to do with people
like Representative Mina. He noted that the committee heard a
bill earlier about honoring the late Congressman Young and he
feels that is very important. He opined that it is also
important to honor the many individuals who are not often in the
spotlight but have added to the nation's history for 235 years.
He urged the committee to pass HB 23.
4:08:38 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI closed public testimony on HB 23.
He thanked the sponsor for bring the bill forward and solicited
a motion.
4:09:11 PM
SENATOR MERRICK moved to report HB 23, work order 33-LS0263\A,
from committee with individual recommendations and attached
fiscal note(s).
4:09:31 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI found no objection and HB 23 was reported from
the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.