Legislature(2001 - 2002)
01/25/2001 03:30 PM Senate STA
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
January 25,2001
1:30 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Gene Therriault, Chair
Senator Randy Phillips, Vice Chair
Senator Drue Pearce
Senator Bettye Davis
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Rick Halford
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 3
Relating to the deployment of F-22 Raptor aircraft at Elmendorf Air
Force Base.
MOVED SJR 3 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
SJR 3 - No previous action recorded
WITNESS REGISTER
Senator Loren Leman
State Capitol Room 115
Juneau, AK 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of the bill
Lt. Col. Burton Wiggins
Chief of F-22 Weapons System Requirements
Langley Air Force Base (AFB), VA
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions about F-22
Lt. Col. Larry Jones
Chief of Weapons System Requirements
Elmendorf AFB, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions about F-22
John Joeright
Intern with Senator Loren Leman
State Capitol, Room 115
Juneau, AK 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Explained the provisions of SJR 3
Mark Farmer
Military Freelance Reporter/Analyst
P.O. Box 22208
Juneau, AK 99802
POSITION STATEMENT: Strongly supported SJR 3
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 01-01, SIDE A
Number 001
CHAIRMAN GENE THERRIAULT called the Senate State Affairs Committee
meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. He announced that Senate Joint
Resolution 5 had been waived from committee for immediate floor
action that morning so SJR 3 was the only item on the posted
agenda. Present were Senators Phillips, Davis, and Chairman
Therriault.
SJR 3-F-22 RAPTOR AIRCRAFT AT ELMENDORF AFB
CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT said that Senator Loren Leman, the bill
sponsor, was present and ready to testify and that there were two
people ready to testify and answer technical questions via
teleconference. Next he asked Senator Leman to come forward and
introduce the committee to the idea encapsulated by the resolution.
SENATOR LEMAN said that Elmendorf Air Force Base is in his
senatorial district. He has become interested in this topic in the
9-years that he has represented Elmendorf. He was also pleased to
say that his son is now in the Air Force Academy and dreamed of
flying for the Air Force one day. Having the opportunity to talk
with him about Air Force aircraft had piqued his interest. He went
on to say that the resolution supports the placement of F-22
aircraft at Elmendorf. The Air Force is currently developing and
proving the F-22 as replacement aircraft for aging F-15 aircraft
and it is possible that Elmendorf could become the home for the F-
22 and perhaps the next wave. He then asked John Joeright, intern
from UAS, to come to the witness table with him. He explained that
the intern program allows students to interact with legislators and
the opportunity to learn the legislative process first hand.
SENATOR LEMAN said that Lt. Colonel Burton Wiggins and Lt. Colonel
Larry Jones were online to answer questions after Mr. Joeright
presented the opening statement.
SENATOR PEARCE arrived at the meeting.
JOHN JOERIGHT testified that SJR 3 encourages the United States Air
Force to select Elmendorf Air Force Base for deployment of the F-22
Raptor. It would complement defense capabilities and significantly
boost Alaska's economy. During the construction phase, the Raptor
would inject between $50 million and $300 million into the Alaska
economy and create about 846 jobs. The Raptor would replace aging
F-15, Eagle Air Superiority Fighters and ensure U.S. air dominance
for at least the next 3 decades. Air superiority is a prerequisite
to military operations and Alaska is a forward base located in
perhaps the most strategic location in North America.
He went on to say that with other nations on the verge of
developing aircraft on par with the F-15s, Alaska should have the
best fighters to combat potentially lethal action by foreign
powers.
MR. JOERIGHT said that Lt. Colonel Larry Jones from Elmendorf AFB
was online and prepared to answer questions pertaining to impacts
at Elmendorf. Lt. Colonel Burton Wiggins from Langley AFB was also
online and ready to answer technical and tactical questions.
CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT asked if the $150 to $300 million construction
would occur at Elmendorf.
MR. JOERIGHT said that it was through the Alaska economy but
referred the question to Lt. Colonel Jones for further explanation.
CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT asked Lt. Colonel Jones if the stationing of
the aircraft in Alaska would mean a substantial increase of
facilities.
LT. COLONEL LARRY JONES said that it would include some new
facilities and remodeling or upgrades to others.
CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT asked for other questions or testimony.
MARK FARMER, a military freelance reporter and analyst, came
forward to testify. He stated that he is fully in favor of the
joint resolution and wholeheartedly recommended that all the
legislators and other legislators make themselves aware of what is
at stake. The F-22 is literally the premier fighter aircraft coming
online in the next few years. He said he wasn't speaking as a
journalist but rather as an Alaskan who makes his living flying in
fighter jets, taking pictures and traveling around covering
military activity.
MR. FARMER believes that Alaska has become perhaps the crown jewel
of the United States test and training ranges. He drew a comparison
between Alaska and the Nellis range complex. It is the United
State's most highly instrumented test and training range in Nevada,
covering about 5,000 square miles. This site is limited by
encroachment and environmental concerns and the fact that they have
only a small amount of restricted air space. Alaska, by comparison,
has 63,000 square miles of air space for military use. He said that
the F-22 has remarkable weapons, radar and super cruise
capabilities. It can fly upwards of 1,000 miles per hour without
afterburners.
Although Mr. Farmer characterizes himself as being liberal and
having many environmental concerns, he thinks that the military in
Alaska is doing an excellent job mitigating their impacts. Their
weapons impact ranges are in 2 small areas of the entire 63,000
square miles. He went on to say that what Alaska really has to
offer these aircraft is the ability to train and test the aircraft
at its maximum without having to keep it in a very small test and
training range.
As an Alaskan, he wanted to encourage the committee members to do
all that they could to make sure that after Langley AFB gets the
first wing, that Alaska is set to get the F-22 next. He said that
looking at the third wing, which is the prime unit at Elmendorf AFB
having three squadrons of F-15s, two of which are air superiority
fighter squadrons, they have been given the most advanced active
electronic radar in the world along with fighter data link. He said
that these are very F-22 like capabilities. Alaska is already being
prepared for using those capabilities so there is much to look
forward to.
He closed in saying that he was urging support of the F-22 in
particular and the military in its endeavors with Alaska's vast
test and training ranges.
SENATOR PHILLIPS asked Mr. Farmer if he had a military background.
MR. FARMER said that he had been with the Coast Guard and now works
primarily with the Air Force.
CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT asked if there were any other questions or
testimony. There was none. He then said that there were no
proposed changes to the legislation so there was no committee
substitute for consideration.
SENATOR PHILLIPS moved that SJR 3 be moved from committee with
individual recommendations.
CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT asked if there were objections and there were
none. He announced that the next meeting was Thursday February 1,
2001, when they would be hearing SJR 8. He adjourned the meeting at
1:45 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|