03/30/2000 01:52 PM Senate TRA

           SB 291-TED STEVENS ANCHORAGE INT'L AIRPORT                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MS. PAM LABOLLE, President of the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce,                                                             
stated enthusiastic support for SB 291 and noted that Senator                                                                   
Stevens' efforts and work for Alaska's growth and infrastructure                                                                
have been significant.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MR. DUANE HEYMAN, Executive Director of Commonwealth North, a non-                                                              
profit, non-partisan, public policy organization, stated                                                                        
wholehearted support for SB 291.  He noted the accomplishments of                                                               
Senator Stevens are too long to list.  He added that SB 291                                                                     
provides a significant educational opportunity in that over 1                                                                   
million people per year go through the airport.  Renaming the                                                                   
airport will provide the opportunity to expose them to a great                                                                  
Alaskan.  It is also a major economic engine for the State and the                                                              
publicity surrounding the renaming of the airport will be a major                                                               
marketing opportunity for the airport to take advantage of.                                                                     
Furthermore, he said some people expressed concern that naming the                                                              
airport after Senator Stevens might constrain his ability to raise                                                              
money for the airport.  Mr. Heyman said he asked Senator Stevens                                                                
that question directly and was told it will have the opposite                                                                   
effect and his ability to raise money for the airport will be                                                                   
enhanced.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Number 246                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MRS. NANCY USERA, representing the executive committee of                                                                       
Commonwealth North, and the Senior Vice President of Corporate                                                                  
Development at the Alaska USA Federal Credit Union, expressed                                                                   
support for SB 291 because Senator Stevens' accomplishments are                                                                 
legendary.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Number 320                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MR. MICHAEL KEAN, Transportation Director of the Anchorage Economic                                                             
Development Corporation, read a letter from Larry Crawford,                                                                     
President, into the record.                                                                                                     
     The Anchorage Economic Development Corporation has part of its                                                             
     mission to expand and diversify the Anchorage economy and                                                                  
     helps market the Anchorage International Airport (AIA).  AIA                                                               
     is an important economic interest of the State.  It is                                                                     
     strategically located as a global logistics center for the                                                                 
     Northern hemisphere.  AEDC supports SB 291 that would rename                                                               
     the AIA as the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.                                                                
     It is an appropriate tribute to our State's senior Senator.                                                                
     Senator Stevens has done much for Alaska, as well as our                                                                   
     nation, and is well respected throughout this country.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
FRANK DILLON, Alaska Trucking Association (ATA), expressed                                                                      
enthusiastic support for SB 291.  The ATA hopes that SB 291 will                                                                
not preclude in the future, when a road is built to Nome or Bethel                                                              
or elsewhere, naming the road for our great Senator.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
There being no further testimony or questions, SENATOR PEARCE moved                                                             
SB 291 out of committee with individual recommendations.  There                                                                 
being no objection, the motion carried.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN WARD adjourned the meeting at 1:59 p.m.