Legislature(2017 - 2018)GRUENBERG 120
04/18/2017 03:00 PM House STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB235 | |
| HB125 | |
| HB224 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 235 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 125 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 224 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 125-LAO/HMONG VETERAN DRIVER'S LIC. & ID CARD
3:40:05 PM
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS announced that the next 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."
3:40:28 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GERAN TARR, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor of HB 125, stated that the intent of HB 125 is to
recognize Hmong veterans living in Alaska for their service to
the country by designating their driver's licenses. She offered
that many people do not know about the service of the Hmong
veterans. During the Vietnam War, there was a United Nations
(UN) agreement that forbid the U.S. from committing U.S. troops
in Laos. As a result, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
launched a covert operation training and funding Hmong soldiers:
first to retrieve the bodies of pilots whose planes had crashed;
and then to block supplies and attack North Vietnamese and
Communist troops. An estimated 30,000 people, more than 10
percent of the Hmong population in Laos, were killed in the war,
and about 100,000 Hmong became refugees inside Laos; and it
remains a hostile situation for those refugees to this day.
REPRESENTATIVE TARR said that beginning in the late 1970s, the
U.S. and other nations began resettling the Hmong; currently
6,000 Hmong live in Alaska. She relayed that it has been more
than 40 years since the Vietnam War ended, but Hmong veterans
have never received proper recognition for their service. There
have been efforts at the national level: U.S. Senator Lisa
Murkowski introduced legislation in Congress that would allow
Hmong veterans to be buried in national cemeteries [Hmong
Veterans' Service Recognition Act]. Representative Tarr
maintained that General Vang Pao, a well-known leader in the
Hmong [American] community, wished to be buried at the Arlington
National Cemetery upon his death, but the law did not allow it.
REPRESENTATIVE TARR relayed that the proposed legislation would
allow a designation on a driver's license identifying the
individual as a veteran, thus making him/her eligible for any
services or benefits available to someone with such a
designation. She requested the committee to move the proposed
legislation forward; there are only a few dozen people who would
qualify; they can verify their service; and they are in their
sixties and seventies. She expressed her hope that Alaska can
honor their service before they've all passed away.
3:43:48 PM
REPRESENTATIVE BIRCH pointed out the many letters of support for
the proposed legislation.
REPRESENTATIVE TARR confirmed there were about 435 letters
demonstrating strong support for HB 125.
REPRESENTATIVE BIRCH asked if the Hmong soldiers were in the
employ of U.S. as military personnel. He asked, in what
capacity were they working - as mercenaries, independents, or
employees?
REPRESENTATIVE TARR replied that because direct military
involvement was forbidden by the UN agreement, the Hmong
involvement was a covert operation and was often referred to as
the "Secret War." The CIA recruited young Hmong individuals to
fight alongside American soldiers; some were as young as eight,
nine, and ten years old. They were told that they would receive
recognition for their service.
REPRESENTATIVE TARR relayed that former President William
Clinton signed legislation [Hmong Veterans Naturalization Act of
2000] easing the U.S. citizenship requirements for Hmong
immigrants who fought in the Secret War. There have been
several iterations of the legislation introduced by Senator
Murkowski. Representative Tarr maintained that it is an
important story to tell; many Americans are unaware of it; U.S.
always honors veterans for their service; and many Hmong died
fighting alongside of U.S. soldiers.
REPRESENTATIVE TARR quoted the testimony of Chue Chou Tchang,
the national chairman of the Special Guerrilla Unit - an
association of Hmong fighters in the U.S. Speaking through an
interpreter, Mr. Tchang stated, "We were American soldiers
fighting alongside American soldiers. We fought like brothers.
We died together. Coming to this country, we'd like to rest
with the American soldiers that fought with us."
REPRESENTATIVE BIRCH asked if the former Hmong soldiers
qualified as veterans at the federal level, and the proposed
legislation would allow them to qualify as veterans at the state
level.
REPRESENTATIVE TARR answered that the shame is that they don't
qualify as veterans; they receive no veterans benefits such as
medical care or pensions; and they are not permitted to be
buried in national cemeteries. She stated that it has been an
ongoing effort to recognize their service in some way. She
maintained that the state has jurisdiction over license plates,
but that would confer only social recognition, not personal
benefit. She asserted that with the driver's license
designation, they could receive local veteran discounts.
3:47:47 PM
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX expressed her support for HB 125. She
opined that the necessity for this legislation is sad; these
Hmong were promised that they would be treated as veterans; and
it is unfortunate when promises are made and not kept. She
pointed out a similar situation with Filipino soldiers, who
fought with the U.S. during World War II but never received the
compensation that they were promised. She maintained that the
Filipino veterans did not receive recognition or compensation
until the [American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009] was
passed; the issue was very important to Senator Daniel Inouye of
Hawaii, who advocated for it. She said that the Filipinos who
finally received recognition were in their eighties and
nineties.
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX maintained that at the state level, not
much more can be done than what is proposed by HB 125. She
noted that HJR 17 has been introduced encouraging Congress to
allow Hmong veterans burial rights at national ceremonies. She
maintained that the fact that General Chue Chou Tchang, who
wanted desperately to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery,
was not permitted to be buried at a national cemetery is a
tragedy and a travesty.
REPRESENTATIVE TARR concurred. She mentioned that the Hmong
Veterans' Service Recognition Act, introduced by Senator
Murkowski, identifies two very specific categories of people.
The first is someone who was naturalized pursuant to the Hmong
Veterans' Naturalization Act of 2000 and who resided in the
United State at the time of death. The second is someone who
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) determined served with a
special guerrilla unit or irregular forces operating from a base
in Laos in support of the U.S. Armed Forces between February 28,
1961, and May 7, 1975, and who at the time of death resided in
the United States and was a U.S. citizen or an alien lawfully
admitted for permanent residence.
REPRESENTATIVE TARR stated that under the proposed legislation
she believes the number of people who would qualify is 48. She
maintained that the Hmong veterans have indicated to her that
they are very proud of their service and are proud to be
American citizens. As an ethnic minority in Laos, losing 30,000
of their number was a devastating blow to their community. They
had to resettle elsewhere and reinvigorate their community. She
maintained that it is time that Alaska honors their service.
3:52:19 PM
VERDIE BOWEN, Director, Veterans Affairs (VA), testified that
the Hmong served in Laos in locations where the U.S. Armed
Forces could not and would not because of the laws in existence.
They were enlisted by the CIA to perform the functions of
setting up listening posts and radar sites to observe the enemy.
He maintained that the most significant aspect of their service
was that about 30,000 Hmong soldiers faced over 75,000 North
Vietnamese soldiers - a much stronger force. He said that most
of the Hmong were young men and children; they were able to hold
their own; and at the end of the war they immigrated to the U.S.
He mentioned that he is not clear on all the promises made to
the Hmong by the CIA, as they were not recorded, but he believes
that there were many.
MR. BOWEN offered that the designation on the driver's licenses
under the proposed legislation would accomplish two things: it
would provide them the ability to receive some benefits; and it
would provide these Hmong fighters living in Alaska a "thank
you" from people who recognize their service. He said that the
only time Alaskans become aware of Hmong veterans is on Memorial
Day in May, and that would be a good time to pass the proposed
legislation. This legislation would serve to thank the Hmong
for their service and showcase support for Senator Murkowski's
proposed legislation authorizing burial in national cemeteries.
3:54:57 PM
REPRESENTATIVE BIRCH relayed that he supports the proposed
legislation; it is arguably 40 to 50 years late; but the country
is "late to the table" in thanking its Vietnam [War] veterans as
well.
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX asked if military officers may attend
Veterans Day and Memorial Day events in their military capacity.
MR. BOWEN answered, yes, they are. He added that a Hmong
memorial was placed at the Arlington National Cemetery sometime
around 2003 or 2004. He maintained that military officers may
attend those events.
3:56:09 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON asked if veteran organizations have
commented on the proposed legislations.
REPRESENTATIVE TARR responded that many of the 435 signed
letters of support had been distributed through Veterans of
Foreign Wars (VFW) halls; and in many cases the post with which
a Hmong veteran was associated was included with the signature.
She said that the Hmong veteran groups work closely with local
VFW posts; she mentioned several collaborative efforts. She
stated that as far as she is aware, every indication points to
solidarity and support of one group for the other.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON stated that although she does not
discount the service of the Hmong fighting for their own rights
in their own homeland, it is different from a United States
military veteran. She said that she supported legislation
recognizing African American soldiers working on the Alaska
Highway [SB 46, signed into law 5/1/17]; she offered that if
legislators begin identifying foreign collaborators in the
multiple overseas situations involving the CIA, then there are
many more to be considered, such as the Iraqi collaborators.
She maintained that offering the Hmong asylum in the U.S. is
warranted, but she relayed that she does not want to take
anything away from the U.S. military veterans who fought "in a
foreign war in a foreign country to defend people." She
maintained that she does not think the two groups should be
interchangeable.
REPRESENTATIVE TARR responded that this situation is different;
the Hmong soldiers fought alongside American soldiers instead of
being like a traditional ally. They were fighting for the
Americans in this instance; there is a specific designation for
people who would qualify; and there are specific service dates
that need to be verified.
MR. BOWEN referred to a document modeled after the Alaska
Territorial Guard (ATG) application, which would be verified
against the records that the Hmong currently have showing that
they fought during the [specified] period. He said that what
makes the Hmong unique is the fact that prior to the war, they
had no country; they were people of the hills. They aligned
themselves with the CIA and the U.S. thinking that the U.S.
would bring them to the U.S. to provide them a home. Because of
how the war ended, that did not happen. To this day the Hmong
are continuously hunted and killed by the (indisc.) communists.
He reiterated that they are a people with no country or place,
except the U.S. as they immigrate to the U.S.
4:02:31 PM
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL pointed out that the legislation proposes a
veteran's designation on an identification card or driver's
license, not a full on veteran status. About Representative
Johnson's point, he gave the example of the U.S. Armed Forces
fighting alongside the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan against
the Taliban at the time the U.S. first sent soldiers to that
country. He mentioned that the U.S. has had the support of
foreign forces often, and sometimes members of these foreign
forces have been offered asylum.
REPRESENTATIVE TARR reiterated that under the proposed
legislation, the Hmong would not receive Veterans heath care
benefits or pensions. It would merely offer them some local
discounts.
4:04:04 PM
MAI XIONG, Hmong Alaska Community Inc., testified that she
supported HB 125. She stated that the Hmong were recruited by
the CIA to help the U.S. win the war. (indisc.) She stated
that her dad is also a veteran who fought in that war. She
maintained that the Hmong were brought to America because the
U.S. lost the war, not because they wanted to come to the U.S.
She expressed that she supported the designated driver's license
under the proposed legislation. She mentioned that the Hmong
have been in the U.S. for over 42 years and are just asking for
this one thing. (indisc.)
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS announced that HB 125 would be held over.