Legislature(2019 - 2020)GRUENBERG 120
03/05/2019 01:00 PM House MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB56 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 56 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS
March 5, 2019
1:00 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Gabrielle LeDoux, Chair
Representative Chuck Kopp
Representative Geran Tarr
Representative Steve Thompson
Representative Sharon Jackson
Representative George Rauscher
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Chris Tuck, Vice Chair
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 56
"An Act establishing May 15 of each year as Hmong-American
Veterans Day."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 56
SHORT TITLE: ESTABLISH HMONG-AMERICAN VETERANS DAY
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) TARR
02/20/19 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/20/19 (H) MLV, CRA
03/05/19 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE GERAN TARR
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As the prime sponsor, presented HB 56.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:00:58 PM
CHAIR GABRIELLE LEDOUX called the House Special Committee on
Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting to order at 1:00 p.m.
Representatives Kopp, Thompson, Jackson, Tarr, Rauscher and
LeDoux were present at the call to order.
HB 56-ESTABLISH HMONG-AMERICAN VETERANS DAY
1:02:03 PM
CHAIR LEDOUX announced that the only order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 56 "An Act establishing May 15 of each year as
Hmong-American Veterans Day."
1:03:01 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GERAN TARR, Alaska State Legislature, introduced
HB 56 as prime sponsor. She said efforts to honor Hmong-
American veterans remind her of the phrase "a promise made is a
promise kept."
REPRESENTATIVE TARR provided background information about the
Hmong who fought alongside Americans during the Secret War in
Laos. She said the Hmong successfully rescued downed American
soldiers and assisted in disrupting enemy supply routes along
the Ho Chi Minh Trail. She said tens of thousands of Hmong
participated in the war effort and thousands of veterans now
reside in the United States. She said the number of Hmong-
American veterans in Alaska is relatively small, but highlighted
the pride shown by Anchorage's Hmong-American community. She
said the community has waited decades for the veterans' service
to be acknowledged.
1:05:27 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TARR recognized other efforts to honor Hmong-
American veterans. She referenced House Concurrent Resolution 3
[passed in the Twenty-Eighth Alaska State Legislature] sponsored
by Chair LeDoux that proclaimed May 15 to be Hmong-American
Veterans Day. She said HB 56 would make that proclamation
permanent. Representative Tarr shared efforts to ensure
recognition of veteran status on Alaska state driver's licenses,
which she said would be very meaningful. She also spoke about
efforts to make Hmong-American veterans eligible for military
burials.
REPRESENTATIVE TARR explained May 15 was chosen to acknowledge
the anniversary of the United States government's first public
recognition of Hmong contributions during the Secret War in
Laos. She said HB 56 would enable celebration of and sharing
about the Hmong-American veterans' service to the United States.
1:08:24 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JACKSON praised Representative Tarr and her
staff. She recognized that there are Hmong-American Purple
Heart recipients and intelligence officials who are not allowed
to return to their homeland. She stressed the importance of HB
56.
1:09:18 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER asked how many Hmong-American veterans
reside in Alaska.
1:09:29 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TARR answered approximately 65. She clarified
these individuals are veterans who qualify as having
participated during the years of the war. She noted the
youngest of these individuals are now in their late 50s and
early 60s. She said the establishment of Hmong-American
Veterans Day is important for the veterans' families, especially
children and grandchildren. She said the Hmong-American
veterans were considered traitors in their homeland and were
forced to adopt a new home. She spoke to the importance of
understanding and honoring one's family history.
1:11:38 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER asked if any other event or holiday
occurs on May 15.
1:11:48 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TARR answered she did not recall any conflicting
holiday. She said her office would double-check to be certain.
1:12:17 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JACKSON said nearly 3,000 members of the
Anchorage Hmong community hold an annual celebration on May 15.
She noted there has never been a conflict with any other
celebration.
1:12:49 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP stated that the month of May is notable for
days of memorial observance. He cited Memorial Day and Police
Officer Memorial Week. He said May is the ideal month for a
Hmong-American Veterans Day. He said recognition of Hmong
sacrifices during the war is overdue.
1:13:44 PM
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON thanked Representative Tarr for
introducing HB 56. He recalled House Bill 67 [passed in the
Twenty-Eighth Alaska State Legislature], which he sponsored,
that established March 26 of each year as Vietnam Veterans Day.
He said House Bill 67 was long overdue then, and HB 56 is long
overdue now. He mentioned the importance of choosing a
meaningful date and noted that March 26 was chosen for Vietnam
Veterans Day because it is the anniversary of the last troops
and civilian contractors being pulled out of Vietnam.
1:14:22 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TARR praised the Ken Burns documentary series
"The Vietnam War" for its telling of the Hmong-American
veterans' story. She echoed that recognition for the group is
long overdue.
1:14:59 PM
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON mentioned that "welcome home"
certificates were issued to Vietnam veterans after the passage
of House Bill 56. He said he received more feedback from those
certificates than anything else he has done as a representative.
He recalled wives of veterans telling him the certificates meant
a great deal to their husbands.
1:15:28 PM
CHAIR LEDOUX said similar certificates were presented to Hmong-
American veterans after the passage of House Concurrent
Resolution 3. She shared her regret that the State of Alaska
can only do so much on its own to honor Hmong-American veterans.
She said promises were made to the Hmong in Laos by the United
States military and the CIA representatives. She said they were
promised they would be treated as veterans if they fought with
the United States. She mentioned it took over a generation for
promises made to Filipino veterans of World War II to be
honored. She said it was her hope that Hmong-American veterans
will still be alive when the federal government finally honors
its commitment to them. She said she is hopeful, "but the
wheels of justice go exceedingly slowly."
1:17:20 PM
CHAIR LEDOUX said HB 56 would be held over. She said the
committee would hear public testimony on the bill on Thursday,
March 7, 2019, and that she expected to move HB 56 out of
committee that day.
1:17:51 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting was
adjourned at 1:18 P.M.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB056 ver A 2.26.19.pdf |
HMLV 3/5/2019 1:00:00 PM HMLV 3/7/2019 1:00:00 PM |
HB 56 |
| HB056 Sectional Analysis ver A 2.26.19.pdf |
HMLV 3/5/2019 1:00:00 PM HMLV 3/7/2019 1:00:00 PM |
HB 56 |
| HB056 Sponsor Statement 2.26.19.pdf |
HMLV 3/5/2019 1:00:00 PM HMLV 3/7/2019 1:00:00 PM |
HB 56 |
| HB056 Supporting Documents- Article ADN -Hmong veterans honored in Anchorage 2.26.19.pdf |
HMLV 3/5/2019 1:00:00 PM HMLV 3/7/2019 1:00:00 PM |
HB 56 |