Legislature(2019 - 2020)ADAMS 519
03/02/2020 09:00 AM House FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB186 | |
| HB223 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 79 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 30 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 186 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 223 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HOUSE BILL NO. 223
"An Act naming the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots' Memorial
Bridge."
9:18:30 AM
REPRESENTATIVE LADDIE SHAW, SPONSOR, addressed the bill
with prepared remarks:
Thank you for taking the time to hear House Bill 223,
entitled "An Act naming the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots'
Memorial Bridge."
This is a topic that is very close to my heart, as I
served two tours in Vietnam.
Representative Shaw shared a framed photograph taken 50
years earlier coming back from an operation in Vietnam. The
photograph showed a helicopter dropping off wounded Navy
Seals and himself. He was honored to have Tom Studler
[staff to Representative Dave Talerico] in the audience,
who had been a Vietnam helicopter pilot and had served in
the delta at the same time as he had.
Representative Shaw relayed that he was honored to be
invited to be an associate member of the Vietnam Helicopter
Pilots Association as a Vietnam veteran and as a certified
helicopter pilot. He continued with prepared remarks:
I should note that this bill was the idea of
Representative Cathy Tilton. She very graciously
offered to have me introduce it and carry it, knowing
my personal connection to the subject. I really
appreciate her graciousness.
I would also like to acknowledge the work on this bill
done by Representative Tilton's staff, Heath Hilyard.
Heath did the bulk of the legwork on this bill, and
his work is greatly appreciated.
Lastly, I'd like to express my appreciation of the
reception this bill has received so far particularly
that every veteran in the House signed on as a co-
sponsor at introduction. I'm deeply honored by that.
With that, I'd like to tell you about my experience,
and why I'm so glad to have the opportunity to present
this legislation to you?
Representative Shaw continued with prepared remarks:
Vietnam was called the Helicopter War. During the
Vietnam War the United States relied on the helicopter
as never before. The helicopter's role in combat
expanded enormously in this conflict as thousands of
choppers rapidly transported personnel throughout the
warzone. Heavily armed helicopters offered a fearsome
component to ground operations. As close air support,
mobility and fire power would be the keys for American
operations in Vietnam, and the helicopter provided an
abundance of both. But the role of the helicopter in
support of activities in the Vietnam War must not be
overlooked, as thousands of missions were flown to
resupply, reinforce troops on the ground, to evacuate
Americans and South Vietnamese wounded, and to offer
countless other services in pursuance of the war
effort.
The UH-1 or better known as the Huey, was the symbol
of the American war in Vietnam. Indeed, the Vietnam
War was the Helicopter War. As a side note, there were
nearly 12,000 helicopters that flew combat or support
missions in Vietnam. Over 5,000 were destroyed. There
was a helicopter casualty rate of 45 percent. There
are 58,000 names on the wall in Vietnam; 8 percent of
those are helicopter pilots and crew. Forty thousand
helo pilots served in Vietnam. I'm honored to have
flown with them and I very much appreciate your
support on this bill.
Representative Shaw asked his staff to review the specifics
of the legislation.
9:22:21 AM
JOSH WALTON, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE LADDIE SHAW, explained
that the bill would name bridge numbers 1124 and 1889 -
spanning the Matanuska River northbound and southbound at
mile 30.4 of the Glenn Highway - the Vietnam Helicopter
Pilots' Memorial Bridge. He noted there were two bridges in
close proximity to each other in the area. He elaborated
that when heading out of Anchorage towards Mat-Su the first
bridge is the Bondsteel Bridge, which the bill would not
change. The bill pertained to the second bridge, which was
a bit farther north and was currently unnamed. The bill
would rename the unnamed bridge the Vietnam Helicopter
Pilots' Memorial Bridge.
Mr. Walton noted that members' packets included photos from
Google Maps identifying the bridges. He referenced an
academic article included in members' packets about the
role helicopters served and how the helicopter came of age.
The backup materials also included a few contemporary
articles illustrating the role pilots served and some of
the challenges they had encountered when their
accomplishments had been recognized after the Vietnam War.
Mr. Walton highlighted that the bill had the support of
Lynn Kile, president of the Alaska chapter of the Vietnam
Helicopter Pilots Association. He noted that Mr. Kile would
be available to provide testimony and answer questions if
requested at a subsequent hearing on the bill. He relayed
that the bill had received a letter of support from the
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Commissioner
Major General Torrence Saxe. He concluded his remarks and
was available for questions and offered to provide a
sectional analysis if requested.
9:25:37 AM
Representative Tilton shared that she was honored and
appreciative that Representative Shaw had brought the bill
forward. She detailed that she was a daughter,
granddaughter, and wife of Vietnam veterans and felt
particularly connected to the legislation. She shared that
the location of the bridge was suitable because it spanned
where the largest population of Vietnam veterans resided -
Mat-Su and Anchorage. She noted that the existing Sargant
James Bondsteel Bridge was significant because he was a
Vietnam veteran who had earned a medal of honor. She read a
statement:
There are brave Alaskans who gave their "last full
measure of devotion" flying or serving on helicopters
during the Vietnam War (source:virtualwall.com):
• Chief Warrant Officer Lloyd Rainey (Anchorage)
Pilot, age 33
• Warrant Officer William Duncan (Anchorage) Pilot,
age 22
• Chief Warrant Officer William Walters (Anchorage)
Pilot, age 24
• Specialist Richard Bauer (Anchorage) Crew, age 19
• Warrant Officer David Lape (Cordova) Pilot, age 23
• Warrant Officer William Childers (Fairbanks)
Pilot, age 21
• Specialist David Ferry (Fairbanks) Crew, age 24
• Specialist Kurt Int-Hout (Kodiak) Crew, age 20
• Warrant Officer Frederick Simeonoff (Spenard)
Pilot, age 22
Representative Tilton elaborated that the Alaskan men she
had listed gave their lives at very young ages. She
believed there was no better way to honor them.
Representative Carpenter noted that there were multiple
bills being considered that would rename bridges and the
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT)
had submitted fiscal notes with different price tags. He
requested to hear why there was a cost disparity between
the posting of signs included in the two bills heard during
the meeting. He noted the cost of $9,000 in one bill and
$6,000 in the current bill. He did not believe the
difference made sense. He supported the bill and believed
the bridge naming was well-deserved.
Co-Chair Johnston asked if DOT would like to address the
fiscal note.
Representative Carpenter restated his question. He noted
that two bridges were shown at $6,000 and one was $9,000.
He asked why there was a cost disparity.
MATT WALKER, STATE TRAFFIC AND SAFETY ENGINEER, DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC FACILITIES, answered that
there were two signs for both directions on the irene
Webber Bridge and two signs for both directions on the
Glenn Highway for the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots' Memorial
Bridge. There was a cost difference between the two. He
speculated that there may be more information available on
the site conditions on the Glenn Highway bridge because it
was more easily accessible. He did not believe the fiscal
notes included cost for labor or installation. He did not
know the precise reason for the disparity. He offered to
follow up on the question.
Representative Carpenter requested a follow up on the
question. He thought $6,000 to $9,000 for two signs seemed
high.
HB 223 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
Co-Chair Johnston reviewed the agenda for the following
day.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 223 DMVA Support Letter 2.11.2020.pdf |
HFIN 3/2/2020 9:00:00 AM |
HB 223 |
| Sponsor Statement HB 186 vM 02.06.2020.pdf |
HFIN 3/2/2020 9:00:00 AM |
HB 186 |