Legislature(2017 - 2018)GRUENBERG 120
04/04/2017 01:00 PM House MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB152 | |
| HB178 | |
| HB125 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 178 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 125 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 152 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 125-LAO/HMONG VETERAN DRIVER'S LIC. & ID CAR
1:51:50 PM
CHAIR TUCK announced that the final order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 125, "An Act relating to a veteran's designation
on an identification card or a driver's license for Hmong
veterans and Lao veterans."
1:52:21 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GERAN TARR, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor,
said HB 125 would recognize Hmong veterans in Alaska for their
service to the U.S. by authorizing a designation on their
driver's licenses. She informed the committee Hmong veterans
served during the time of the Vietnam War in what is now known
as the secret war, when intensified war actions were taken in
Laos. She noted many Hmong individuals who were recruited to
serve the U.S. military were very young, yet more than 50 years
later, Hmong veterans have not received the benefits promised to
them. Representative Tarr stressed the bill is an opportunity
to recognize service by Hmong veterans before it is too late
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER urged for the photos provided in the
committee packet to be made available to the public.
REPRESENTATIVE TARR, in response to Chair Tuck's question about
the ages of the recruits, said some were as young as 10 years of
age.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked what evidence is required to prove
one's status as a Hmong or Laos veteran.
REPRESENTATIVE TARR said federal documentation substantiates
military service; she deferred the question to Robert Doehl,
Deputy Commissioner, Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER directed attention to the bill on page 1,
lines 8-10, and page 2, lines 11-13, which read [in part]:
a Hmong veteran or Lao veteran who served in military
operations in support of the United States in the
Kingdom of Laos between February 28, 1961, and May 15,
1975.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER pointed out references on page 1, [line]
13 and on page 2, lines 1 and 16, state "a Hmong veteran or Lao
veteran," and asked whether all five references are complete.
REPRESENTATIVE TARR said yes. She offered to clarify the
aforementioned language with Legislative Legal Services,
Legislative Affairs Agency.
1:59:05 PM
CHAIR TUCK opened public testimony on HB 125.
1:59:32 PM
PASERT LEE stated his support for HB 125, and noted that during
the Vietnam War, from 1961 to 1975, the Hmong and Lao people
worked very hard for America. He recognized the vast number of
people's lives lost during the war in different parts of
Vietnam. He offered to bring evidence to prove the truthfulness
of the losses. He stated his hope that the American people
would support the bill for the Hmong and Lao veterans' license
plates and identification cards. He urged the Senate and House
to support the bill.
MR. LEE related after fighting for America he has lived in the
U.S. for almost 42 years and [the Hmong people] have not
received any [recognition]. He emphasized that HB 125 would
recognize the heavy and painful years of 1961-75 for the Hmong
and Lao people. He told some of the efforts and actions of the
Hmong and Lao soldiers during the war. He explained the Hmong
people who fought for the U.S. lost their country, homeland, and
much more. He urged the Senate, House, and chair to open their
eyes to look at the bill for the Hmong and Lao people.
2:04:00 PM
WILSON VANG testified in Hmong translated by Seng Her. Mr.
Wilson Vang said he served with CIA during the Hmong Veteran
secret war from 1961-1975 in North Vietnam. During that time
his leaders were John Kennedy and President Nixon. He stated
that Hmong veterans lost their land, which caused him to come to
America. He offered his support of HB 125 because it helps
recognize all the service of Hmong and Lao veterans in the war.
He explained that in America, the Hmong people are not
recognized, and this bill would help begin that process.
2:08:16 PM
XAISHOUA VANG testified in Hmong translated by Seng Her. He
stated that he was born June 3, 1957 and was requested to join
the war from 1968 to 1975 and protect the [Hmong nation] by John
Kennedy, President Nixon, General Vang Pao, and others. He said
part of the reason why [the Hmong people] have migrated to the
U.S. is because of the loss of their country. Right now, their
country is not under the control of their people. Mr. Xaishoua
Vang offered his impression that [since the war], the Hmong and
Lao veterans have not been recognized for their involvement in
the war. He remarked, "Today I come here to support HB 125, and
ask for the representatives through the chair to support HB
125." He urged the committee members, as leaders of the state,
to recognize the importance of HB 125.
2:13:25 PM
TONGLOU VANG testified in Hmong translated by Seng Her. He said
he was born August 10, 1933 and served in the war from 1961-75.
While involved in the war in 1965, he received injuries in his
chest and left leg. Many lives were lost in the local community
because of the Vietnam soldiers. Afterwards in 1975, the
Americans and General Vang Pao and leaders departed the area and
the surviving Hmong community was left with nothing. He
explained that without any leaders, [the Hmong soldiers] had to
seek other shelters, which has led to the most recent gorilla
war. He noted that during a six-month long training mission
away from his family time he lost many relatives and family
members. He requested that the state leaders support of HB 125
and recognize the service in this war. He expressed that [the
Hmong people] would not forget the committee's actions.
2:18:40 PM
XIAGE VANG testified in Hmong translated by Seng Her. He
detailed that he was born in 1945 and now is 75 years old. He
thanked the chair and the committee members for hearing him. He
explained that in 1961 President Kennedy and the King of Laos
discussed a written declaration of the participation engagement
with the Hmong and Lao people; troops were involved in the war
to help protect the nation. During that time, troops were given
supplies such as a radar to track down and control the war.
[There was a brief discussion in Hmong about radar.]
MR. XIAGE VANG explained that because of the radar given to [the
Hmong people], they were better able to identify their
situation; unfortunately, the radar was lost. He stated that in
that area, bodies have been identified and have not been
retrieved, which has caused the Hmong people to migrate to
another area. He requested that the chair, the leaders, and
everyone recognize HB 125 as something of importance to him and
the Hmong and Lao veterans. He asked that the bill be moved
forward and presented to the other leaders of the state. He
thanked the committee for hearing the bill.
2:26:55 PM
MAI XIONG testified in support of HB 125 to recognize Hmong and
Lao veterans with license plates and IDs. She said the bill
would benefit the Hmong people who helped win the war. She
explained that the war was very difficult with many casualties
and was the reason many Hmong and Lao individuals came to
America. She added that she wants more people to know about the
efforts of the Hmong people because the generation of veterans
is passing. She asked the committee to "pass bill for the Hmong
veterans, because that is the only thing we want to get."
2:28:32 PM
SAIVIT VONGRATSAMY testified in Laos translated to Hmong by
Pasert Lee and to English by Seng Her. He noted the need to
honor people's commitment, which HB 125 does. He thanked the
committee for hearing his testimony.
2:32:02 PM
SAMAK VONGVILAY testified in Laos translated to Hmong by Pasert
Lee and to English by Seng Her. He informed the committee that
in the war he was a soldier and a cook for the leaders. He
stated that HB 125 is very important to him and for the
recognition of the Hmong and Lao veterans.
2:34:32 PM
ROBERT DOEHL, Deputy Commissioner, Office of the Commissioner,
Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs, stated DMVA's
support for HB 125 which recognizes those who have made
substantial sacrifices in service to the U.S. and who also
brought many American service members to safety. He advised
there is an established method to verify a veteran's status.
2:35:44 PM
VERDIE BOWEN, Director, Veterans Affairs, Office of Veteran
Affairs, Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs, expressed
his support for HB 125. He provided a brief history of the
30,000-member Hmong army that faced 70,000-100,000 soldiers of
the North Vietnamese Army along the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos,
suffering huge losses of life. In response to Representative
Saddler's question as to the number of Hmong veterans [in
Alaska], he estimated 30-40 veterans would receive veterans'
status on their driver's licenses. He said in April 2016, the
Alaska Veteran Advisory Council, Office of Veterans Affairs,
DMVA, voted in support of individuals receiving the veteran
designation, and also related a statement of personal insight
into the service of the Hmong veterans.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER restated his intent to use the definition
of Hmong veteran and Lao veteran [text previously provided].
MR. BOWEN indicated his agreement.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked whether the federal certification
of Hmong or Lao veteran status would suffice for the purposes of
the proposed legislation.
MR. BOWEN explained Hmong and Lao veteran status was designated
on their entrance visas at the time the veterans entered the
U.S.; the Office of Veteran Affairs would utilize a program
similar to that utilized for veterans of the Alaska Territorial
Guard.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER questioned whether the verification would
be an efficient process, given the age of the entrance visas.
MR. BOWEN explained Hmong veterans' groups in Anchorage have
already established the service of their members.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER stated his support for [HB 125].
2:40:41 PM
MAI RAMIREZ-XIONG informed the committee she was speaking on
behalf of her father, Lieutenant Colonel Xiong. She spoke of
what the Hmong people have done for the country after
immigrating. Ms. Ramirez-Xiong related her father has done much
for this country and HB 125 would demonstrate some understanding
by the American people, because many are unaware of the service
of the Hmong people to a country unknown to them. Ms. Ramirez-
Xiong said she is a U.S. citizen and urged that her father and
other Hmong veterans receive their well-earned recognition.
2:43:12 PM
BEDY XIONG expressed her strong support of HB 125 because Hmong
veterans have not been recognized.
2:44:45 PM
ZOUNEE YANG said both of her dads served in the Vietnam War at a
very young age and she wants HB 125 to pass. The bill is small
gratitude for all the Hmong and other tribes involved and would
make them happy. Ms. Yang stated she is first generation [U.S.
citizen] and wants to be able to teach her children about their
grandparents' history of service with the U.S. military, which
may not be taught in school.
2:46:38 PM
LUCKY XIONG said his father served from 1961-1965 and stated his
support for HB 125. Mr. Xiong expressed his belief that
veterans deserve recognition for their sacrifices, and the bill
would clearly identify and respect those who served.
2:47:41 PM
CHAIR TUCK, after ascertaining no one else wished to testify,
closed public testimony on HB 125.
2:48:40 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TARR stated her intent to provide additional
written testimony to the committee.
[HB 125 was held over.]
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB125 ver D 3.27.17.pdf |
HMLV 4/4/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 125 |
| HB125 Sponsor Statement 3.27.17.pdf |
HMLV 4/4/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 125 |
| HB125 Fiscal Note-DOA-DMV 4.2.17.pdf |
HMLV 4/4/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 125 |
| HB125 Fiscal Note-MVA 4.2.17.pdf |
HMLV 4/4/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 125 |
| HB125 Supporting Document- Letter Berkowitz 3.27.17.pdf |
HMLV 4/4/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 125 |
| HB125 Supporting Document-Letter Mai Xiong 3.27.17.pdf |
HMLV 4/4/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 125 |
| HB0178 ver A.PDF |
HMLV 4/4/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 178 |
| HB178 Sponsor Statement 3.22.17.pdf |
HMLV 4/4/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 178 |
| HB178 Fiscal Note-DOT 4.2.17.pdf |
HMLV 4/4/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 178 |
| HB125 Supporting Documents-Letters of Support 4.3.17.pdf |
HMLV 4/4/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 125 |
| HB178 Fiscal Note-MVA 4.4.17.pdf |
HMLV 4/4/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 178 |
| HB178 Additional Documents-Letter DMVA 4.4.17.pdf |
HMLV 4/4/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 178 |