Legislature(1997 - 1998)
04/15/1998 01:04 PM House TRA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HJR 67 - AIR FLIGHTS RUSSIAN FAR EAST Number 2155 CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS announced the next order of business would be HJR 67, Relating to renewal of the bilateral aviation agreement concerning the mandatory Anchorage stopover for Russian carriers on transpacific routes between the Russian Far East and the United States. PETER ECKLUND, Legislative Assistant to Representative William K. (Bill) Williams, Alaska State Legislature, provided the sponsor statement for HJR 67. He read the following into the record: "HJR 67 urges the U.S. Department of Transportation to negotiate renewal of the bilateral agreement to retain the mandatory stopover in Anchorage for transpacific flights between the Russian Far East and the United States. The current bilateral agreement is due to expire in May of 1998. "It is important to continue mandatory stopovers of Russian air carriers to preserve the position of Anchorage as the American gateway to the Russian Far East. "In addition to close historical and cultural ties between the people of Alaska and the people of the Russian Far East, the state has established agreements with many Russian cities and territories to help with their transition into a market-based economy. Discontinuation of direct Alaskan air service would severely hamper these efforts. "Further, absent the agreement, Anchorage International Airport could see additional decline in international air traffic and local jobs. "In short, continuation of mandatory Russian stopovers in Anchorage is good for the state and good for the developing economies of the Russian Far East. To that end, I urge your swift passage of HJR 67." MR. ECKLUND advised the committee members that there a person on line from Anchorage who can answer specific questions concerning HJR 67 and what the mandatory stopover is and what it means. He said it's his understanding that after the breakup of the communist Soviet Union, the United States entered into an agreement with Russia to have stopovers in Anchorage of all of their flights, which was renegotiated in 1983 and 1985, and the mandatory stopover was included in the renegotiation. He pointed out that some people in Russia are pushing to not have that mandatory stopover anymore. They want to fly directly from the West Coast of the United States to Russia. He said that would hurt Alaska's carries such as Alaska Airlines because they don't have the capability to make those long flights. Number 2256 RICH WILSON, Development Manager, Anchorage International Airport, testified via teleconference from the Anchorage Legislative Information Office (LIO). He said the thrust of the effort is to retain as much economic activity in the state as we can. This is one of the things that we can do to maintain our position and to enhance our future opportunities and make business between Alaskans and Russians in the Far East. He said many jobs will be directly affected, and rates and fees to the Anchorage airport will be directly affected if the mandatory stop is lifted. Number 2346 REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON moved and asked unanimous consent to move HJR 67 out of committee with individual recommendations and with the attached zero fiscal note. There being no objection, HJR 67 moved out of the House Transportation Standing Committee.
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