03/27/2003 03:05 PM House MLV

SJR  9-SUPPORTING MEMBERS OF MILITARY                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LYNN announced that the  committee would hear CS FOR SENATE                                                               
JOINT  RESOLUTION  NO.  9(STA),   Expressing  confidence  in  and                                                               
support  for all  members of  the military,  their families,  and                                                               
employers of members of the National Guard.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Number 0133                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
KAREN  McCARTHY,  Staff  to  Senator   Con  Bunde,  Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature, presented  SJR 9 on  behalf of the  sponsor, Senator                                                               
Bunde.  Ms. McCarthy provided the following comments:                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Senator Bunde  introduced SJR 9 because  all members of                                                                    
     our nation's  military, whether active duty,  Guard, or                                                                    
     Reserve, deserve  our support, especially at  this very                                                                    
     dangerous time.   This resolution  is the least  we can                                                                    
     do for our gallant young  men and women in all branches                                                                    
     of  the  military,  for their  families,  and  for  the                                                                    
     civilian  employers  who  help  make  it  possible  for                                                                    
     members of the  Guard to participate in  the defense of                                                                    
     our country.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     SJR   9  expresses   the  Alaska   State  Legislature's                                                                    
     recognition of the commitment of  our Guard and active-                                                                    
     duty  military  to  the  security   of  our  state  and                                                                    
     country; support for  the men and women  who defend our                                                                    
     freedom; gratitude  for the sacrifices of  the families                                                                    
     and  civilian  employers  of  our   men  and  women  in                                                                    
     uniform; and  the hope  that all  members of  the Guard                                                                    
     and active-duty  members of the military  return safely                                                                    
     to their families.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     The  language of  SJR  9 was  approved  by the  Alaskan                                                                    
     Command and  the Department  of Military  and Veterans'                                                                    
     Affairs.   It  passed the  Senate with  all 18  members                                                                    
     present  signing  on  as co-sponsors.    Senator  Bunde                                                                    
     appreciates that  SJR 9 has been  handled expeditiously                                                                    
     in the House,  due to the timeliness of  the issue, and                                                                    
     thanks members  of the committee  and other  members of                                                                    
     the House for their support for this resolution.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA offered her  appreciation that the National                                                               
Guard is being recognized.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LYNN noted  his support of SJR 9 and  anything that is done                                                               
to  support the  military, whether  active, reserve,  or National                                                               
Guard.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Number 0349                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GRUENBERG moved  to  report CSSJR  9(STA) out  of                                                               
committee with  individual recommendations [and  the accompanying                                                               
fiscal  notes].   There  being  no  objection, CSSJR  9(STA)  was                                                               
reported  from  the  House  Special  Committee  on  Military  and                                                               
Veterans' Affairs.