Legislature(2001 - 2002)
04/30/2001 06:00 PM Senate STA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HJR 27-WWII ALASKA-USSR LEND-LEASE MONUMENTS CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT said a proposed committee substitute (O version) is before the committee; it changes awkward language. He asked for a motion to adopt the O version. SENATOR PEARCE moved the O version of HJR 27 dated 4/30/01 as the working document. There was no objection. ALEXANDER DOLITSKY, Chairman and Executive Director of the Alaska- Siberia Research Center, testified in support of the proposed lend- lease monuments in Alaska. Memorials would be erected in Fairbanks and Nome first and then in Montana, Canada and Russia if there is sufficient interest. There has been overwhelming support from various organizations, individuals, municipal governments and Alaska's Congressional Delegation. They expect Russian President Putin and other Russian agencies to be interested in the project and lend support. CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT asked whether the wording changes in the proposed committee substitute were acceptable. MR. DOLITSKY said it's an important historical document that must be accurate and he is pleased with the proposed changes. He added he has been working with the governor's office on a proclamation for the lend-lease day that would be announced on May 9, 2001, which is international victory day for World War II. SENATOR PHILLIPS had no questions on the resolution but asked whether there were women involved in transporting aircraft. MR. DOLITSKY said women were involved and they talked with the artist, Skip Wallen, about including women on the statue. However, women were not involved in transporting aircraft on the flight legs from Great Falls, Montana, across Canada and Alaska to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Women pilots were actively involved in transporting aircraft from Buffalo, New York to Great Falls, Montana so placing them on the Alaska-USSR statue would be inaccurate. Women pilots will be acknowledged on plaques but not on the statue. SENATOR PHILLIPS strongly recommended acknowledging the WACS because they were involved. MR. DOLITSKY agreed that they were involved and would be acknowledged. Without their involvement and the lend-lease program the outcome of the war could well have been different. CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT moved amendment 1, which would add "Fairbanks," after "at" on page 1, line 14 of the proposed CS. There was no objection. SENATOR PHILLIPS suggested adding "Alberta" after "Edmonton" on line 13 and "YT" after "Whitehorse" on line 14. CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT said for consistency, Russian locations might also need more specific identification. MR. DOLITSKY said that could be confusing. CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT said Senator Phillips would hold on the amendment. There were no other amendments offered. He asked for the pleasure of the committee. SENATOR PEARCE moved SCS CSHJR 27(STA) from committee with individual recommendations. CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT noted Miriam Lancaster was on line and asked whether she had any comments. MIRIAM LANCASTER, board member of the Alaska Siberia Research Center, testified in support of HJR 27. She is a Captain in the United States Public Health Service and has worked and lived in Alaska for over 21 years. This is a different type of memorial in that it commemorates the synergy of combined efforts of pilots, mechanics and the common people that worked behind the scenes during the war. It also recognizes the role of women aviators who flew the first leg of the journey in the lend-lease project. It demonstrates the North America and Russian successes during a very difficult time. Number 840 CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT asked for objections to moving HJR 27 from committee. There were none.
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