Legislature(2017 - 2018)GRUENBERG 120
01/25/2018 01:30 PM House MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HJR17 | |
| HB178 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HJR 17 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 178 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HJR 17-HMONG VETERANS MILITARY BURIAL RIGHTS
1:46:36 PM
CHAIR TUCK announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 17, Encouraging the United States
Congress to pass legislation giving full military burial rights
to Hmong veterans of the Vietnam War.
1:47:26 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GERAN TARR, Alaska State Legislature, prime
sponsor of HJR 17, noted HB 125 - introduced and heard by the
committee last year - also addressed honoring the service of
Hmong veterans who live in Alaska. She informed the committee
during the Vietnam War the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
recruited Hmong people in Laos for their assistance in the U.S.
war effort, including fighting alongside American soldiers on
the Ho Chi Minh trail and transporting downed pilots to medical
treatment. She said the Hmong soldiers fought honorably and it
is estimated that 100,000 Hmong soldiers were recruited and
trained. Representative Tarr directed the committee to HJR 17
on page 2, line 7, which read:
approximately 40,000 Hmong soldiers lost their lives
defending democracy
REPRESENTATIVE TARR said after the war ended and the communist
regime took power, the Hmong people were no longer welcome in
their homeland and many became refugees in Thailand and various
other locations, including Alaska. She said she was proud to
represent thousands of Hmong/Americans living in her district,
and other large populations are represented by several
legislative districts in Anchorage. However, the U. S. has not
fulfilled its promise to grant Hmong soldiers full veteran
recognition.
REPRESENTATIVE TARR again referred to proposed HB 125 which
would place a veteran designation on the driver's license of
former Hmong soldiers. She said HJR 17 would extend burial
rights at Arlington National Cemetery to Hmong veterans, a
change that has been supported at the federal level by U.S.
Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and others. She quoted a
living Hmong soldier's statement from an article [document not
provided] as follows: "Burial rights would mean getting the
respect and the dignity that he and his fellow fighters feel
they've earned." Representative Tarr stressed the importance of
honoring commitments and said support from the Alaska State
Legislature, along with similar resolutions from other states,
is needed to urge for federal legislation to extend full
military burial rights.
1:52:34 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked if veteran status for burial rights
at Arlington National Cemetery would allow burial rights in Fort
Richardson National Cemetery.
REPRESENTATIVE TARR deferred the question to the Department of
Military & Veterans' Affairs (DMVA).
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX commented that General Vang Pao, the
leader of the Hmong soldiers who died about five or six years
ago, asked to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery; however,
his request was denied despite intervention from U.S. Senator
Lisa Murkowski.
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH, in response to Representative Saddler,
said his research suggests burial rights would apply at any
national cemetery.
REPRESENTATIVE TARR agreed.
1:55:09 PM
CHAIR TUCK opened public testimony.
1:55:30 PM
ROBERT DOEHL, Deputy Commissioner, Commissioner's Office, DMVA,
stated DMVA and the Alaska Veterans' Advisory Council, Office of
Veterans Affairs, DMVA, support HJR 17 and HB 125. He said
Hmong were integral in saving downed American aviators during
the Vietnam War, and sometimes ten Hmong would perish for every
American saved. He said, "In short, Hmong died defending and
trying to save American lives; if they died with American lives
they should get to rest in the same hallowed ground as those
American warriors." Mr. Doehl pointed out 50 years have passed,
noting recognition of the Filipinos who served with the U. S.
during World War II was also delayed, but for less time. [On
1/24/18] forty-five Alaska Air National Guard airmen in the
210th Rescue Squadron returned home from deployment and he said
one of the reasons airmen return home safely is due to the
support they receive from the people living in the deployment
location, and he restated DMVA's support for HJR 17. In
response to Representative Saddler, he confirmed national
cemetery eligibility would apply to Fort Richardson National
Cemetery.
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX asked why there is reluctance from
Congress to address this issue.
MR. DOEHL opined there is concern "the Hmong did not raise their
hand and take the same oath to support and defend the United
States as U.S. servicemembers do."
1:57:42 PM
VERDIE BOWEN, Director, Office of Veterans' Affairs, DMVA, said
he did not know why there is resistance from Congress on this
issue; in fact, the issue is discussed in committee each year
but does not receive enough support in the U. S. House and
Senate. He agreed the possible reason is that Hmong soldiers
did not receive an oath at enlistment. Mr. Bowen recalled the
100,000-member Vietnamese army in Laos was held back by the
30,000-member Hmong army managed by General Powell. Noting
Hmong army enlistment, he related children who were tall enough
to utilize a M1 Garand or M1 carbine rifle were taken from
school and enlisted in the army; thus, there is no way to
properly document those who were recruited. The Office of
Veterans' Affairs has worked with the Hmong community to
identify 25 people who served in the Hmong army. Mr. Bowen
advised Arlington National Cemetery has already recognized the
service of members of the Hmong army with a memorial dedicated
in 1997, which indicates Hmong army members deserve to be
interred in national cemeteries. Mr. Bowen pointed out burial
rights for members of the Hmong army should not be delayed or
the effort will be too late for many, as happened in many cases
of Alaska Territorial Guard members. He opined Alaska should
provide a reference point for its congressional delegation to
take to Congress and ask that this honor be given to those who
have served.
REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ asked whether Hmong veterans have been
identified by working directly with the Hmong community.
MR. BOWEN said yes; DMVA utilized the same program used to
identify Alaska Territorial Guard members, which allows officers
who served in the Hmong army to identify others who served.
This program was used last year in preparation for the Hmong
veteran driver's license designation.
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH postulated children were conscripted into
the army, and asked for the difference between conscription and
enlistment.
MR. BOWEN said the system was an involuntary draft and some
individuals received no training before they were sent to defend
or rescue downed pilots.
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH asked whether efforts have been made to
extend to the Hmong all of the benefits available to any veteran
who voluntarily or involuntarily enters U.S. military service.
MR. BOWEN advised at this time the only two benefits the DMVA
has [attempted to] extend are the driver's license designation
and burial rights. In further response to Representative
Parish, he added Alaska, California, and Minnesota have
established Hmong Memorial Day; furthermore, each state supports
a national program to allow Hmong soldiers to be interred in
national cemeteries.
2:05:35 PM
MAY RAMIREZ-XIONG testified in support of HJR 17. [Much of her
oral testimony was indiscernible, and she was provided with
contact information for submitting written testimony.] Her
written testimony was received by the committee and it read as
follows [original punctuation provided]:
Hi, my name is May Ramirez-Xiong.
Today, I called in to make a public testimony on HJR
17, but the connection with my cellular phone was not
good, and I was asked to send my testimony in writing
to this email. I will try to stay as close as possible
to my phone testimony.
I believe I speak not only for myself, but also on
behalf of every veteran and civilian, who has any
respect and/or understanding of what it is like to
have a family member serving our country. That the
right thing to do is to honor every veteran who fought
for our country as we honored our own veterans. That
for the same reason we honored our fallen heroes, the
people that served, the ones who fought to protect our
country, and for every veteran who paved the way to
give our country and our people the life, liberty,
freedom and justice for all, that we extend this honor
to the Hmong Veterans of the Vietnam War as well.
For the veterans who served the purposed outlined in
the Soldier's Creed, to "stand ready to deploy,
engage, and destroy, the enemies of the United States
of America in close combat." The Hmong Veterans served
this purposed for our Country during the Vietnam War.
This war left not only scars in our hearts, it
sacrificed our people, and it is a part of American
history. A part of me that I knew little about,
because this part of history was not taught in
schools. It was the "Secret War", and no recognition
were given to the Hmong people. The Hmong people
fought and continued fighting long after the United
States pulled out. The United States of America is my
Country. My Country that my father and many Hmong
Veterans fought to defend, and many Hmong people died
serving our country.
While language barriers have prevented the Hmong
Veterans from expressing their concerns about the lack
of dignity and respect they have received, the only
way to make it right for them is to be their voice,
because they fought for mine. Many who fought in The
Secret War has already passed away and very few Hmong
Veterans of the Vietnam War are still alive today. I
do not believe that many Hmong Veterans would consider
burial at Arlington due to superstitions of the
fengshui considering burials, and many may not
considered this an option at all. However, my
testimony is not just about the burial of Hmong
Veterans of the Vietnam War at Arlington Cemetery, but
about the honor, dignity, and respect for those men.
To invalidate the rights that were promised four
almost five decades ago demonstrates the kind of
people we are. We are perceived to make broken
promises, is this how we treat the very people that
fought for our country? I am born and raised in the
United States of America. I am an American. And, if we
are anything that we say we are, we would provide
Freedom, Liberty and Justice for all. Dignity and
respect should be awarded to all soldiers, even the
foreign-born soldier that fought alongside American
soldiers, because they served the same purpose.
The United Stated should extend this right to include
the Hmong Veterans of the Secret War. They should be
honored even if they were not born on U.S. soil. Hmong
Veterans fought for this land, and their families died
for our soil. They may not have sworn with their right
hands as American Soldiers do (I was not born during
that era, I would not have seen this) but I know
they stood by the Solder's Creed:
I am an American Soldier.
I am a warrior and a member of a team.
I serve the people of the United States, and live the
Army Values.
I will always place the mission first.
I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.
I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough,
trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.
I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.
I am an expert and I am a professional.
I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the
enemies of the United States of America in close
combat.
I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of
life.
I am an American Soldier.
Because my father was one of the Hmong Veterans who
fought this War. They were warriors and members of
U.S. teams. They served the people of the U.S., and
lived the values. They have put the mission first, and
did not accept defeat, they did not quit. They carried
fallen comrades to safety; they were the expert and
the professional who was ready to deploy, engage, and
destroy the enemies of the U.S.A in close combat. They
were the guardian of freedom and the American way of
life, they were American Soldiers even before stepping
on American soil. We owe it to what remains of the
Hmong Veterans of the Vietnam War - The Secret War, to
give them what we promised. I'm sad to say that the
longer we wait to make a change, the less meaningful
it would be for anyone else. It's to show dignity
and respect for those who fought. It only matters
while they're still alive. Lets not wait until they're
all gone, to approve something they were promised
decades ago.
CHAIR TUCK handed the gavel to Vice Chair LeDoux.
2:11:44 PM
CHARLIE XIONG, calling from California, attempted to provide
testimony. [Due to technical difficulties Mr. Xiong's testimony
was indiscernible.]
To address technical difficulties, a series of at-eases were
taken from 2:13 p.m. to 2:19 p.m.
2:19:22 PM
MAI XIONG attempted to provide testimony. [Due to technical
difficulties Ms. Xiong's testimony was indiscernible.]
2:20:48 PM
PASERT LEE [Much of Mr. Lee's testimony was not discernible;
however, the portions of his testimony transcribed here indicate
he was in support of HJR 17.] indicated that from 1961-75 the
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) recruited Hmong people to
rescue American pilots who had been shot down. He said that
Hmong people protected Highways 7 and 4, as well as the Ho Chi
Minh Trail. He spoke of the 36,000 Hmong soldiers that died
during the Vietnam War compared to the relatively fewer 58,000
American soldiers that died there. He said he hopes that HJR 17
passes for the Hmong living in Alaska.
2:23:28 PM
VICE CHAIR LEDOUX announced that public testimony on HJR 17
would remain open.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER spoke of the urgent need to pass the
resolution as soon as public testimony is heard.
VICE CHAIR LEDOUX agreed.
[HJR 17 was held over.]
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HJR017 Sponsor Statement 1.20.18.pdf |
HMLV 1/25/2018 1:30:00 PM |
HJR 17 |
| HJR017 Supporting Document- S.1179. 1.20.18.pdf |
HMLV 1/25/2018 1:30:00 PM |
HJR 17 |
| HJR017 Fiscal Note 1.24.18.pdf |
HMLV 1/25/2018 1:30:00 PM |
HJR 17 |
| HB178 ver M.pdf |
HMLV 1/25/2018 1:30:00 PM |
HB 178 |
| HB178 Supporting Document-Support Letters 1.24.18.pdf |
HMLV 1/25/2018 1:30:00 PM |
HB 178 |
| HB178 Fiscal Note-MVA 1.19.18.pdf |
HMLV 1/25/2018 1:30:00 PM |
HB 178 |
| HB178 Fiscal Note-DOT 1.19.18.pdf |
HMLV 1/25/2018 1:30:00 PM |
HB 178 |