05/02/2002 03:08 PM Senate TRA

                                                                                                                                
              HB 523-TOM MADSEN AIRPORT AT UNALASKA                                                                         
                                                                                                                              
CHAIRMAN JOHN  COWDERY called the Senate Transportation  Committee                                                            
meeting to  order at 3:08 p.m. and  announced HB 523 to  be up for                                                              
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MS. SUSAN WELLS informed members  that HB 523 has the full support                                                              
of the mayor of the City of Unalaska  and surrounding communities.                                                              
She noted that  Tom Madsen was very highly thought  of by everyone                                                              
on the entire Aleutian Chain.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR. FRANK  KELTY said  he is  the former  mayor of Dillingham  and                                                              
that all the villagers believe it  is an appropriate honor to name                                                              
the airport after Tom Madsen.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR.  SINCLAIR WILT  related that  15 years  ago, when  one of  his                                                              
daughters was only  14 months old, she got into  her mother's iron                                                              
tablets and had to get to a hospital  within 18 hours or she could                                                              
die.  Wind and snow  was blowing  50 -60  knots at  the time.  Tom                                                              
Madsen said  he would try  to get her to  Cold Bay, which  he did.                                                              
From there she was shuttled to a hospital and survived.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  TAYLOR  moved  HB  523  from  committee  with  individual                                                              
recommendations.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR ELTON objected to say that  he is one of the few people in                                                              
the state  who never met Tom  Madsen, but he wanted  the committee                                                              
to  know  that  Stephanie  Madsen  was present.  She  had  been  a                                                              
gracious host to  him in Dutch Harbor when he first  met her and a                                                              
great  public servant,  serving  on  the North  Pacific  Fisheries                                                              
Management Council,  the Rural Development Council,  and the State                                                              
Chamber for the City of Cordova. He thanked her for attending.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN COWDERY asked if there were  any objections to moving the                                                              
bill from committee.  There were no further objections  and it was                                                              
so ordered.