Legislature(2001 - 2002)
02/27/2001 08:02 AM House STA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
February 27, 2001
8:02 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative John Coghill, Chair
Representative Hugh Fate
Representative Gary Stevens
Representative Peggy Wilson
Representative Harry Crawford
Representative Joe Hayes
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Jeannette James
OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT
Representative Scott Ogan
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4
Declaring February 2001 to be African-American Citizen
Recognition Month.
- MOVED CSHCR 4(STA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 16
Urging President Bush, the United States Department of State,
and the United States Congress to intervene and negotiate with
the government of Canada to reconsider the imposition of a fee
to transport firearms through Canada.
- MOVED CSHJR 16(STA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: HCR 4
SHORT TITLE:AFRICAN-AMERICAN CITIZEN RECOGNIT'N
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S)DYSON
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
02/09/01 0280 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME -
REFERRALS
02/09/01 0280 (H) STA
02/27/01 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 102
BILL: HJR 16
SHORT TITLE:OPPOSE CANADIAN
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S)CRAWFORD
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
02/16/01 0344 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME -
REFERRALS
02/16/01 0344 (H) STA
02/27/01 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 102
WITNESS REGISTER
Representative Fred Dyson
Alaska State Legislature
Capitol Building, Room 104
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as sponsor of HCR 4.
ROSALEE T. WALKER
[No address provided]
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HCR 4.
ROD ARNO, Lobbyist
Alaska Outdoor Council
P.O. Box 87-1410
Wasilla, Alaska 99687
POSITION STATEMENT: Expressed the Alaska Outdoor Council's
support for HJR 16
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 01-17, SIDE A
Number 0001
CHAIR JOHN COGHILL called the House State Affairs Standing
Committee meeting to order at 8:02 a.m. Representatives
Coghill, Fate, Stevens, Wilson, Crawford, and Hayes were present
at the call to order. Representative Ogan was also in
attendance.
HCR 4 - AFRICAN-AMERICAN CITIZEN RECOGNIT'N MONTH
Number 0099
CHAIR COGHILL announced the first order of business would be
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4, declaring February 2001 to be
African-American Citizen Recognition Month.
Number 0121
REPRESENTATIVE FRED DYSON came forward to testify as sponsor of
HCR 4. "We have a delightful population in our state: very
diverse," he said. "What we are trying to do here with this
bill is ... raise people's awareness of the contribution that
African-Americans have made in Alaska's history and are making
currently." He explained that the timing of the resolution is
tied in with what is going on nationally. Thirty-some other
states have passed similar resolutions, and there is a national
African-American Citizen Recognition Month as well.
REPRESENTATIVE DYSON suggested that because it was unlikely that
HCR 4 would get through both houses of the legislature before
the end of February, the committee might wish to change the date
of African-American Citizen Recognition Month from February of
2001 to February of both 2001 and 2002.
Number 0239
REPRESENTATIVE DYSON noted that there have been African-
Americans in Alaska since early in the American period of
Alaskan history. One of his favorites is "Roaring Mad" Mike
Healy, the famous captain of the U.S. Revenue Marine Service who
served with distinction on the Revenue Cutters Corwin and Bear.
Captain Healy, who was born in slavery, is a significant figure
in Alaskan history. John Muir sailed with Captain Healy and
rode aboard the Corwin on two of his famous trips to Alaska, one
of which included the exploration of Glacier Bay.
REPRESENTATIVE DYSON said Captain Healy also was [among] the
first Americans to land on Wrangell Island, establishing the
"interesting claim we have to Wrangell Island off the coast of
Northern Siberia," as Representative Dyson put it. Captain
Healy also participated in the rescue of literally scores of
people on ships, particularly noteworthy being his search for
survivors of the Jeannette. Many maps still in use are based on
surveys made by Captain Healy.
Number 0376
REPRESENTATIVE DYSON continued, saying, "The Alaska Highway was
largely built by African-American troops in 1941-43, and
African-Americans are continuing to make significant
contributions to Alaska." He said one of his best friends in
Eagle River is Bill Green, "who pastors an amazing church there,
... started the food bank, and is a constant source of agitation
for many of the very best things in my little community."
Alaska also has a remarkable repository of World War II, Korean,
and Viet Nam veterans, including a number of African-Americans
who served with great distinction. One was among the airmen in
an elite group that flew P51-Ds in World War II and had the
singular distinction of never losing a bomber that they escorted
over Germany.
REPRESENTATIVE DYSON was pleased to sponsor HCR 4. "You can
always argue that these things are full of sound and fury and
signifying very little," he said. "But, in fact, I think it
does send a signal that we recognize a remarkable and
disproportionate contribution made by this group of Alaskans,
and, hopefully, ... will help to raise people's awareness and
appreciation."
Number 0555
ROSALEE WALKER, a retired educator and a 34-year resident of
Juneau, thanked Representative Dyson for sponsoring HCR 4. She
quoted Eleanor Roosevelt, saying, "It's better to light one
little candle than to stumble in the dark."
MS. WALKER said she has been among those educators pushing for a
long time to get school curriculum updated to ... include the
contributions of ... minority groups, especially the African-
Americans, throughout the United States. She belongs to a
national organization, "and we do do a little bit of agitation
from time to time" to get people to recognize [that] African-
Americans have more value than people give them credit for [in]
the advancement of the United States of America. "We helped to
make this a great country, and we have helped to make this a
wonderful state in which to live," she said. "It's not always a
bed of roses, but just like the family, you fight and then you
go back and hang together."
MS. WALKER appreciates HCR 4 because, she said, unfortunately,
children do not often have role models who are other than sports
figures. There are highly educated [African-American] people in
high positions in Alaska that they never hear about. When she
talked to a group of about 50 children in Anchorage, only two
knew that there was at that time a black judge in Anchorage,
Superior Court District Judge Larry Card, and that included the
adults who were with the children.
MS. WALKER continued:
This type of thing [African-American Citizen
Recognition Month] really is a step forward to help us
to spread the word to our children that there's more
to our [African-American] people than just sports
figures or those on the ... page that talks about
illegal actions that people have taken. I really get
disturbed when there's not a balance of [emphasis on]
the good that's done and the bad that's done. I'm not
saying hide the bad, because we need to know that,
too. But I'm saying there should be a better balance.
MS. WALKER said African-American Citizen Recognition Month "is a
candle to keep us from stumbling in the dark, and it serves as a
reminder that all groups in this state have some value, and we
[African-Americans] have a commitment to the state just like
anybody else."
Number 0880
REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS called HCR 4 "a great resolution" and
said he certainly intends to vote for it, but was concerned
about the date because it is asking the governor to sign a
proclamation "after the fact." He asked Representative Dyson if
he would be comfortable with leaving out any reference to the
year and just saying, "declare February to be African-American
Citizen Recognition Month."
Number 0907
REPRESENTATIVE DYSON explained that if the month were to be
designated in perpetuity, that action would have to be taken as
a bill rather than as a resolution. He shared Representative
Stevens's sensitivity [about the date], and again suggested
changing the reference in the bill to the years 2001 and 2002.
"Then, maybe next year, some of us will come back with a bill,"
he added.
CHAIR COGHILL proposed resolving the issue by adding the year
2002 and sending HCR 4 out of committee with that amendment.
There being no objection, HCR 4 was amended to declare February
to be African-American Citizen Recognition Month in both years,
2001 and 2002.
Number 0967
CHAIR COGHILL said something "that always concerns me when we do
this is that the respect for other people is maintained as we
honor others." The resolution itself is good, "that we
recognize people of African-American descent." But in his
lifetime, he has seen many instances in which:
"... the equality issue ... [has been seen as] a
cultural issue, and I don't want to foster a cultural
issue that is going to help us misinterpret our
equality as individuals. Many times, we come [up to]
the very edge of that by recognizing ...[particular]
cultures, and my attitude is for us to be color blind
when it comes to equality under the law and to
appreciate each other's color when it comes to
culture. So as we send this resolution forward, I'm
going to pass it out, but it's going to be with a
caveat that I'm always cautious of honoring one group
and not recognizing that [doing so] always presents
the danger of [fostering] that color sensitivity.
CHAIR COGHILL acknowledged that he was treading on thin ice
because many people do not understand what he is trying to say,
"That equality under law and recognition of culture can go hand
in hand, but I want to make sure we're not misunderstanding that
here."
Number 1096
MS. WALKER understood Chair Coghill's concern, but suggested
looking at the issue more from an educational point of view than
from a cultural one. She noted that February has been
designated as Black History Month, which originated years ago as
Negro History Week. The designation of February as African-
American Citizen Recognition Month is ...[an] addendum to
teaching young people about the African-American role in
American history. "We're not looking at any special favors
because there are other groups," she said. "I go around to
schools ... all during the year and talk about Elizabeth
Peratrovich and other people who have made contributions to the
state. But I appreciate the fact that Representative Dyson
brought [HCR 4] during ... Black History Month, when we can tie
it in as an educational entity.
Number 1203
REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS moved to report HCR 4, as amended, out of
committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying
fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHCR 4(STA) was passed
out of the House State Affairs Standing Committee.
HJR 16-OPPOSE CANADIAN FEE TO TRANSPORT FIREARMS
Number 1220
CHAIR COGHILL announced the next order of business would be
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 16, urging President Bush, the United
States Department of State, and the United States Congress to
intervene and negotiate with the government of Canada to
reconsider the imposition of a fee to transport firearms through
Canada.
Number 1263
REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD came forward to testify as prime sponsor
of HJR 16. He described HJR 16 as a simple resolution about
fairness and equity. Many Alaskans pass through Canada,
especially going between Southeast and Southcentral Alaska, and
there is a $50 fee for transporting a firearm any time they
cross the border. The fee [covers any additional crossings
within 60 days], but when Canadians come into the United States,
they don't have to pay a fee. "We [in HJR 16] are urging
President Bush to negotiate with the Canadians to treat us
fairly," he said.
Number 1353
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON commented that in her district, this
[issue] is crucial because of the Stikine River that people are
going up all the time throughout the year. The Canadian
requirement creates a very difficult situation because those
people aren't going to come up [to Juneau] to take a firearms
safety course and pay the $50 "before they leave my little
island and take a boat up the river." This [Canadian policy]
has a huge impact in her district, and she supports HJR 16.
Number 1405
REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS noted that HJR 16 speaks to two issues,
filling out a nonresident firearm declaration form and paying
the $50 fee. He asked Representative Crawford if he wanted to
consider putting something in the first few lines about the
declaration form, as only the fee is mentioned there.
Number 1437
REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD thought it would be very objectionable
to the Canadians if U.S. citizens didn't fill out the
declaration; it seems to him that the Canadians' biggest concern
is that people leave their guns in their cars when in Canada,
and the guns might be stolen. For that reason, they want to
know exactly what is being carried through. He thought it was
only the fee that needed to be addressed. As Representative
Wilson had said, he wants to make it easier for people to cross
the border in places where there are not checkpoints. "We need
an accommodation also for air travel, for private planes. "
That's part of our law to have a gun [in a plane] as survival
gear," he explained.
Number 1515
REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS asked for clarification" So this bills
speaks specifically to the fee, not necessarily to the
declaration form?"
REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD said he would rather not have to fill
out the form, but thought the Canadian government would never
agree to that.
Number 1535
REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS noted that on page 2, line 11 of HJR 16,
there is reference to both the declaration and the fee. He
asked if Representative Crawford wanted to delete that reference
to the declaration.
Number 1575
REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD looked at that line and confirmed that
both the declaration and the fee were mentioned there. He
conferred briefly with staff, and then explained that the
reference to the declaration was left in to allow the president
to include it in negotiating with Canada.
REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS said he had just wanted to call the
sponsor's attention to [that mention of the declaration], and
that he "can live with it however you want to do it."
REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD said the specific mention had been
discussed extensively and he had thought it was taken out.
Number 1651
CHAIR COGHILL observed that including the reference to the
declaration would allow the United States to negotiate on-site
inspection issues. It might be appropriate to include the
reference so that it can be part of the integral discussion.
"That's all we're asking to do is to bring it up for ...
discussion, as I understand the resolution," he said. He
thought its inclusion would give the resolution more impact.
Number 1694
REPRESENTATIVE FATE said because HJR 16 is trying to pave the
way for negotiation, [it might be wise to look at] line 11, page
2, where there are two adjectives, "onerous" and "burdensome".
"It may be burdensome; I'm not sure it's onerous; and which one
are you talking about, the declaration or the fee?" he asked.
He thought, "You can point to the things that they're doing to
us, but when you get too descriptive ..., I think it takes away
a little bit from ... this legislature and the prestige that we
enjoy."
REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD replied, "If the representatives from
North Pole and Fairbanks would like to change the wording, I
wouldn't be adverse to it."
Number 1769
REPRESENTATIVE FATE said he would like to delete the word
"onerous," but not "burdensome." There is no question that the
Canadian policy is burdensome. "That's not a descriptive term
that belittles; it's just a descriptive term that states the
fact."
REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD remarked that he thought the $50 fee was
onerous, but he would be glad to remove the word.
REPRESENTATIVE FATE replied, "If that's onerous, what about the
... $250 that's required to get across the border ...? You have
to show that you have that [much money]. That's burdensome."
He added that he is in concurrence with Representative
Crawford's goals because the Canadian policy is burdensome, and
he thinks the Canadian government may have gone "a bit
overboard" and that the $50 fee should be negotiated.
Number 1824
REPRESENTATIVE FATE moved to amend HJR 16 by removing "onerous".
Number 1837
CHAIR COGHILL observed that the word "onerous" also appears on
page 2, line 5.
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON added that it would be necessary to remove
two words, both "onerous" and the following "and".
Number 1873
CHAIR COGHILL agreed that she was correct, and that both words
would need to be deleted from both line 5 and line 11. Hearing
no objection, he declared that HJR 16 was thus amended.
Number 1881
REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS asked if any other states have similar
fees for Canadians crossing into them.
REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS answered, "Not to our knowledge."
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON raised the question of including some
mention of the declaration in the title, wondering if that might
[provide additional leverage] in negotiations. She emphasized
that she didn't want to "mess it up," and was just raising the
question.
CHAIR COGHILL said from the chair's perspective, he thinks the
message is clear enough, and that changing the title was not
necessary.
REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD said a good deal of time had been spent
on the title, and drafters thought it was fine as it is.
Number 1992
REPRESENTATIVE FATE noted that a declaration of firearms had
been required for many years, "so we're not talking about
something that's new here as far as the declaration of the
firearms is concerned."
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON asked if any change had been made in the
form that those crossing the border must complete. She couldn't
remember having to fill out any papers.
REPRESENTATIVE FATE described the "small things" one had to do
when taking firearms into Canada, explaining, "There simply was
no fee attached to that declaration."
CHAIR COGHILL noted that although the discussion was pertinent
to the declaration, it was not pertinent to HJR 16.
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON wanted to know if the paperwork was new
along with the $50.
REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD did not know if the declaration form had
been changed in January when the $50 fee was imposed, but he
assured her that a form had been required in the past when
people took firearms through Canada.
Number 2149
REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS moved to report HJR 16, as amended, out
of committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal notes.
CHAIR COGHILL discovered that there was a witness in the room
who had wished to testify.
Number 2174
ROD ARNO, Lobbyist, Alaska Outdoor Council, expressed the Alaska
Outdoor Council's support for HJR 16. The only thing he wished
to add was a suggestion that in negotiating, it might be
proposed to charge Canadians for bringing golf clubs across the
border into the United States. [Laughter]
CHAIR COGHILL added that there are many other trade and other
reciprocal agreements between the United States and Canada, "so
this is a really good and genuine request."
Number 2233
CHAIR COGHILL, hearing no objection, declared that CSHJR 14(STA)
was moved from the House State Affairs Standing Committee.
CHAIR COGHILL told members that the committee would hear HB 95,
concerning use of the third floor of the Capitol, at 8:00 a.m.
March 8, and would hold a joint meeting with the House Judiciary
Standing Committee at 10:00 a.m. the same day.
ADJOURNMENT
Number 2320
CHAIR COGHILL adjourned the meeting of the House State Affairs
Standing Committee at 9:35 a.m.
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