Legislature(2013 - 2014)CAPITOL 120
02/04/2014 01:00 PM House MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HJR19 | |
| HB212 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 212 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HJR 19 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HJR 19-BASE F-35 AIRCRAFT AT EIELSON AFB
1:07:59 PM
CO-CHAIR FOSTER announced the first order of business would be
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 19, Urging the Secretary of the
United States Air Force, the Chief of Staff of the United States
Air Force, and the Commander of the Pacific Air Forces to base
F-35 aircraft assigned to the Pacific Air Forces at Eielson Air
Force Base.
1:08:30 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DOUG ISAACSON, Alaska State Legislature, prime
sponsor, introduced HJR 19. Representative Isaacson began his
introduction with the words of then Secretary of State, William
Seward's message to Congress over 100 years ago:
"If we would provide an adequate defense for the
United States we must have Alaska to dominate the
North Pacific."
REPRESENTATIVE ISAACSON stated that Mr. Seward's words are still
true today, as Alaska has been very strategic for military
activity, and an important part of the country's national
security. In addition, military activity has been a large part
of the economic growth of Alaska. He urged the committee to
keep Alaska at the forefront of our nation's economic and
military sectors by passing HJR 19. The Pacific Air Forces
(PACAF) are looking to station F-35 aircraft somewhere in the
Asia-Pacific Theater and Eielson Air Force Base (Eielson) faces
tough competition with international bases to become the home
for the new aircraft; the siting decision team will be coming to
Eielson in February, 2014. The resolution is another effort by
the legislature to strongly encourage the military to expand the
mission of Eielson. In fact, the state was very strategic last
year in the decision by the military to reverse changing where
the F-16s are located, and statewide support is needed for
basing the F-35s. It has been suggested that the F-35s could be
based at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER); however, the
use of Eielson will support the mission at JBER since F-22s are
at JBER, and it makes it very viable to have F-35s at Eielson to
facilitate joint exercise operations. Representative Isaacson
advised he would provide specific information on the aircraft at
the conclusion of his introduction. The three most recent
military sites that have been awarded F-35 squadrons are Hill
Air Force Base in Utah, Burlington Air National Guard Base in
Vermont, and Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, and all of these
bases received tremendous support from both government and
citizens.
1:12:16 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ISAACSON continued with Eielson's strengths:
recognized on a consistent basis by our armed forces; minimal
air space congestion; proximity to the Asia-Pacific Theater and
to the F-22s at JBER; free access to a training environment
including the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex (JPARC), which
is the nation's largest restricted training air space; runway
with year-round handling for any type of aircraft; and storage
capacity for over 20 million gallons of gas with a direct
pipeline to our refineries in North Pole. Eielson is also more
cost-effective to maintain than overseas Pacific installations,
and is a big component to the local and regional economies. In
conclusion, Representative Isaacson asked the committee to join
Alaskans and military members with support for HJR 19.
1:14:19 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HIGGINS spoke of his experience serving in the
military at Eielson, and described the numbering of the F series
aircraft. In response to Co-Chair LeDoux, he said some of the
aircraft in the series are "just on paper."
A video introducing fifth generation F-35 aircraft was shown
from 1:17 p.m. to 1:28 p.m.
1:28:23 PM
CO-CHAIR LEDOUX commented that the F-35 was a spectacular
airplane.
REPRESENTATIVE HUGHES found the video exciting and exhilarating.
She inquired as to the other locations that are being considered
for the placement of the F-35s.
REPRESENTATIVE ISAACSON advised that according to General
Carlisle, Commander, Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), PACAF site
survey teams are looking at nine bases including Kadena Air Base
and Misawa Air Base in Japan, Kunsan Air Base and Osan Air Base
in South Korea, and Andersen Air Force Base in Guam.
REPRESENTATIVE HUGHES expressed her support for Eielson. She
asked whether the sponsor's intent is to pass HJR 19 prior to
the site selection meeting.
REPRESENTATIVE ISAACSON indicated yes. A similar resolution was
heard by the Senate today; the main goal is for the PACAF site
selection team to be aware - before its arrival - that the state
is firmly behind placing the F-35 aircraft at Eielson.
REPRESENTATIVE ISAACSON, in further response to Representative
Hughes, stated there is no other aircraft like the F-35 in the
world; there are three models, one each for the Air Force, the
Navy and the Marines. Although other countries have
participated in its manufacture and thus will receive a
"version" he said, "... from what I'm told ... this [aircraft]
would be a high advantage to the United States."
1:32:21 PM
CO-CHAIR LEDOUX referred to the resolution on page 2, lines 13-
14, which read:
WHEREAS F-35 aircraft are planned to replace A-10
aircraft in providing air-to-ground mission support
for ground forces;
CO-CHAIR LEDOUX then asked where the A-10 aircraft are located.
REPRESENTATIVE ISAACSON explained A-10 aircraft were transferred
from Eielson in 2005 and have been phased out of the Air Force
inventory. The F-35 can fly supersonic, hypersonic, and
subsonic because it can hover; in fact, this aircraft provides
all the support functions of the A-10 and the F-16, and is
expected to fulfill its design as a fighter aircraft for a long
time.
CO-CHAIR LEDOUX surmised any base where A-10 aircraft are
located would also seek F-35s to replace A-10s.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER was unsure where A-10 aircraft are based.
1:34:54 PM
CO-CHAIR LEDOUX restated her question.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER expressed his belief that if there is
currently an A-10 squadron based, it has its mission and
equipment; Eielson has a "higher claim on new aircraft coming
off the line" because it has a mission, but no equipment.
REPRESENTATIVE ISAACSON added that Eielson has the former A-10
hangar space in which the F-35s could fit with minimal
modification. He stressed that because the A-10 aircraft were
transferred from Eielson, and the F-35 aircraft are the
replacement for the A-10, Eielson is the logical base to house
the F-35. He offered to provide the committee with information
on the present location of A-10 aircraft, or suggested that the
committee hear from a knowledgeable party online.
1:36:42 PM
JIM DODSON, President, Fairbanks Economic Development
Corporation, and member of the Alaska Military Force Advocacy
and Structure Team (AMFAST), Department of Military & Veterans'
Affairs, advised that the two squadrons of F-35s under
discussion will be an overseas (OCONUS) stationing. Because the
Asia-Pacific Theater has been designated as the prime military
area of interest by the Department of Defense (DoD), only bases
within the Asia-Pacific Theater, such as the aforementioned nine
installations, will be considered.
REPRESENTATIVE HUGHES heard a report from the Alaska Arctic
Policy Commission (AAPC) on 1/4/14 and one of its focus areas is
security. She suggested that documentation accompanying HJR 19
should include information on the international security aspect
of the increased activity in the Arctic. Currently, there is a
lot of focus on the Asia-Pacific Theater, but the coming decades
will bring new activity to the Arctic, thus the Eielson location
should be selected.
1:38:45 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HIGGINS relayed the process through which bases
are selected. The site selection team looks at economics and
the community, and he pointed out that Eielson has the largest
air training space for this type of aircraft. He expressed his
belief that the deciding factor is how badly Alaska wants the F-
35s, and that is the point of the resolution; in fact, HJR 19
could be "the deciding factor." He reviewed the merits of
Eielson Air Force Base: closest Pacific Rim base that can house
F-35s fairly easily; not subject to closure by foreign
governments; unsurpassed training area. Representative Higgins
concluded that Alaska needs to let the Air Force know the F-35s
are wanted.
1:40:17 PM
CO-CHAIR FOSTER opened public testimony on HJR 19.
1:40:31 PM
MR. DODSON informed the committee in 2005, he managed the effort
to retain the mission of Eielson on behalf of the governor and
the mayor of the Fairbanks North Star Borough, thus has
experience in military issues. In reviewing the military
industry and the related stationing of equipment and manpower in
Alaska, he urged the committee to understand that there is a lot
of competition with other states and communities due to the
favorable economic impact a base brings; in fact, in Alaska the
military industry comprises 16 percent of its gross state
product, and 17 percent of the payroll paid in the state.
Alaska and its legislators should support the sustainability and
the growth of the military industry. Mr. Dodson supported
previous testimony on the merits and the opportunity of
stationing the F-35s in Alaska due to its available airspace and
its strategic position in the world. Alaska's 168th Air Tanker
Group stationed at Eielson with its 24 million gallons of fuel
storage serves as a northern fuel station at the top of the
world for the United States Air Force. He closed by urging the
committee to support the resolution as that is the right thing
to do for our state, our economy, and our nation.
1:43:02 PM
LUKE HOPKINS, Mayor, Fairbanks North Star Borough, agreed with
the previous testimony in support of HJR 19. Those at Eielson
know the importance of the base - as in 2005 - and now,
regarding the placement of the F-35s; as a matter of fact, the
base commanders make it known that from Eielson they can reach
any place in the northern hemisphere in about nine hours. He
restated the value of the aircraft to the economy and to the
efforts of the military in the Asia-Pacific "realignment." It
is very important for both the state legislature and local
communities to send resolutions to the commanders in the Air
Force, and to the Secretary of the United States Air Force.
Mayor Hopkins expressed his hope that HJR 19 would pass out of
the committee.
1:45:28 PM
TIM JONES, Army Colonel Ret., informed the committee he is a
former Garrison Commander at Fort Wainwright, is currently the
chairman of the Military Affairs Committee, Greater Fairbanks
Chamber of Commerce (Fairbanks Chamber), and the Interior
representative to the legislature's Joint Armed Services
Committee. He agreed with previous testimony in support for HJR
19, and added that basing the aircraft at Eielson is not only
beneficial to the community, but is the right thing to do for
the Air Force. Eielson's strategic location alone justifies the
basing decision as it allows for a rapid response to military
requirements throughout the Pacific, Europe, the Middle East,
and Asia. Furthermore, the air-to-air and air-to-ground
training through the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex (JPARC)
is "world class," and gains additional strategic importance when
combined with the 168th refueling wing. He observed that
service members and their families stationed at Eielson enjoy a
superior quality of life, as well as tremendous support provided
by the community and the state. Mr. Jones expressed his
personal support, and that of the Fairbanks Chamber Military
Affairs Committee, for HJR 19.
1:47:38 PM
CO-CHAIR FOSTER, after ascertaining no one else wished to
testify, closed public testimony.
1:47:53 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG moved to adopt Amendment 1, as follows:
Page 3, line 13, following "members" insert:
"on all bases in Alaska"
CO-CHAIR LEDOUX objected for the purpose of discussion.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG suggested the resolution should
indicate that Alaskans support - not just Eielson - but all the
military bases in Alaska. He read the language of the amendment
and advised that the sponsor of the resolution participated in
preparing the amendment.
1:49:23 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER questioned whether the amendment is
intended to read "on all bases in Alaska," or "and all bases in
Alaska."
REPRESENTATIVE ISAACSON stated "and all bases in Alaska" is the
intended language.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked unanimous consent that the
amendment be amended accordingly.
REPRESENTATIVE HUGHES supported the amendment to the amendment.
1:50:34 PM
CO-CHAIR LEDOUX moved to adopt an amendment to the amendment as
follows:
[Page 3, line 14, following "all military service
members" insert:]
[all military service members] "and all bases in
Alaska"
REPRESENTATIVE ISAACSON opined the amendment to the amendment
may be redundant because it is previously stated; however, if
the intent is that Alaskans have, and currently, salute military
members, he said, "that's fine."
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG expressed his support for the amendment
to the amendment.
1:52:32 PM
CO-CHAIR FOSTER asked whether there was any objection to the
adoption of the amendment to the amendment. Hearing none, it
was so ordered.
1:52:43 PM
CO-CHAIR LEDOUX removed her objection to Amendment 1. There
being no further objection, Amendment 1, as amended, was
adopted.
1:52:59 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER [moved to adopt Conceptual Amendment 2]
which would add Lt. General Russell Handy, Commander, Alaskan
Command, U.S. Pacific Command; Commander, 11th Air Force,
Pacific Air Forces; Commander, Alaskan North American Aerospace
Defense Command Region, JBER, to the list of those to whom the
resolution is addressed.
REPRESENTATIVE ISAACSON agreed to a wide distribution of the
resolution.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER preferred to limit distribution to the
addition of Lt. General Handy.
1:53:52 PM
CO-CHAIR FOSTER objected to Conceptual Amendment 2 for the
purpose of discussion.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER, in response to Representative Gruenberg,
said he would not add the Alaska Delegation to Conceptual
Amendment 2.
1:54:21 PM
CO-CHAIR FOSTER removed his objection to Conceptual Amendment 2.
There being no further objection, Conceptual Amendment 2 was
adopted.
1:54:48 PM
CO-CHAIR LEDOUX moved to report HJR 19, as amended, out of
committee with individual recommendations and no accompanying
fiscal note. There being no objection, CSHJR 19 (MLV) was
reported from the House Special Committee on Military and
Veterans' Affairs.
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