04/03/2012 09:00 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS

            SJR 20-RELOCATION OF 18TH F-16 SQUADRON                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:02:19 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  WIELECHOWSKI  announced that  the  first  bill before  the                                                               
committee  would  be  SJR  20,   which  urges  Congress  and  the                                                               
Department of  Defense to reconsider  the transfer of  F-16s from                                                               
Eielson Air  Force Base and  recognized the  strategic importance                                                               
of  the base.  Recently,  the  Air Force  announced  that it  was                                                               
recommending the  relocation of the 18th  F-16 Aggressor Squadron                                                               
from Eielson  Air Force Base to  Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.                                                               
This would reduce the operational  capacity of Eielson, making it                                                               
vulnerable to potential base closure.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR PASKVAN, as sponsor of SJR  20, shared the reason for the                                                               
bill. The United States Air  Force has recommended the relocation                                                               
of the 18th  F-16 Aggressor Squadron from Eielson  Air Force Base                                                               
to  Joint  Base  Elmendorf-Richardson.   He  suggested  that  the                                                               
transfer of the F-16 would be  detrimental to the state of Alaska                                                               
and have a  dramatic impact on the Fairbanks economy,  as well as                                                               
to all of Interior Alaska.  It will reduce operational capacities                                                               
at Eielson, making it vulnerable  for future base realignment and                                                               
closure (BRAC) rounds.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
He related that the benefits  and strategic importance of Eielson                                                               
Air  Force Base,  now  and  into the  future,  far outweighs  any                                                               
negligible savings by the transfer  of the F-16 squadron. Eielson                                                               
is at the forefront of  protecting the United States' interest in                                                               
the   Pacific  Theater   and  serves   a  critical   function  in                                                               
reinforcing  the region.  It helps  to secure  important pipeline                                                               
infrastructure, including  the Trans-Alaska Pipeline  System, and                                                               
also  the refineries  that are  located in  interior Alaska.  The                                                               
pipeline provides  a significant  portion of the  nation's energy                                                               
needs. Eielson has  adjacent access to the largest  joint air and                                                               
land training range  in the nation. This  area's minimal airspace                                                               
congestion  is well  suited to  perform  operations for  unmanned                                                               
vehicles  and  live-fire  exercises. The  21st  Century  military                                                               
capabilities are going towards unmanned vehicles.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
He  continued  to  say  that  Eielson  connects  to  the  largest                                                               
unrestricted air space  in the United States. The  base has large                                                               
fuel storage  capacity and has  a runway capable of  handling the                                                               
military's  largest aircraft  year  round. Movement  of the  18th                                                               
Aggressor  Squadron puts  Eielson at  risk. The  base has  served                                                               
America's needs for  decades and because of  its location, should                                                               
continue to  serve America's  interests. The  base has  access to                                                               
unique  training  grounds,  fuel   storage,  ample  housing,  and                                                               
provides critical support for the joint training exercises.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
He stated that he speaks as  a lifelong resident of Alaska and of                                                               
Fairbanks  when  he  says  he  understands  the  significance  of                                                               
Eielson Air Force Base to  the communities of Interior Alaska and                                                               
to  America's  security  interest.  During 2005,  the  last  BRAC                                                               
round,  the  strategic and  economic  importance  of Eielson  was                                                               
proved. He  encouraged members  of the  committee to  support the                                                               
resolution,  which seeks  to  remind the  President  and the  Air                                                               
Force that the F-16's should stay at Eielson Air Force Base.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
9:06:54 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR KOOKESH joined the committee.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
At-ease from 9:07 a.m. to 9:08 a.m.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI opened public testimony.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
LUKE HOPKINS,  Mayor, Fairbanks North Star  Borough, testified in                                                               
support  of SJR  20. He  questioned  the basis  for the  proposed                                                               
savings  in  the Department  of  Defense  budget because  of  the                                                               
movement of the F-16's from  Eielson. He noted that Fairbanks was                                                               
taking steps to work with  consultants locally and in Washington,                                                               
D.C., to determine if there really would be a savings.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
He spoke  of the  draft EIS  for the  Joint Pacific  Alaska Range                                                               
Complex  which shows  that Eielson  is vital  to future  training                                                               
sessions.   He  requested   that   the   committee  support   the                                                               
resolution.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:10:49 AM                                                                                                                    
DOUG ISSACSON,  Mayor, North  Pole, testified  in support  of SJR
. He agreed  with the sponsor and with Mayor  Hopkins. He added                                                               
that Eielson  is expanding its  mission and  is in the  middle of                                                               
adding new  housing and new  facilities, so  it seems odd  that a                                                               
reduction is being considered. He  noted support for the military                                                               
by the surrounding communities.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
JIM   DODSON,  President/CEO,   Fairbanks  Economic   Development                                                               
Corporation, testified in support of  SJR 20. He related his part                                                               
in  past  BRAC preventative  measures  when,  in 2005,  the  BRAC                                                               
Commission determined  that the financial information  being used                                                               
by  the Air  Force was  inaccurate. He  maintained that  the same                                                               
thing was happening  today. He voiced agreement  with the sponsor                                                               
statement.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:14:08 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI closed public testimony.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  PASKVAN  thanked  the  testifiers for  speaking  on  the                                                               
resolution.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  PASKVAN  moved  to  report   SJR  20,  version  M,  from                                                               
committee with  individual recommendations and the  attached zero                                                               
fiscal note. There  being no objection, SJR 20  was reported from                                                               
the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.