Legislature(2025 - 2026)BARNES 124
03/04/2025 01:30 PM House TRANSPORTATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearings Board of Marine Pilots | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
March 4, 2025
1:31 p.m.
DRAFT
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Ashley Carrick, Co-Chair
Representative Ted Eischeid, Co-Chair
Representative Genevieve Mina
Representative Louise Stutes
Representative Kevin McCabe
Representative Elexie Moore
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Cathy Tilton
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
Board of Marine Pilots
Donald Habeger - Juneau
James Cunningham - Homer
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
DONALD HABEGER, Appointee
Board of Marine Pilots
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as an appointee to the Board of
Marine Pilots.
JAMES CUNNINGHAM, Appointee
Board of Marine Pilots
Homer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as an appointee to the Board of
Marine Pilots.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:31:07 PM
CO-CHAIR EISCHEID called the House Transportation Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:31 p.m. Representatives Stutes,
McCabe, Moore, Carrick, and Eischeid were present at the call to
order. Representative Mina arrived as the meeting was in
progress.
^CONFIRMATION HEARINGS BOARD OF MARINE PILOTS
CONFIRMATION HEARINGS BOARD OF MARINE PILOTS
1:32:00 PM
CO-CHAIR EISCHEID announced that the only order of business
would be the confirmation hearings for the Board of Marine
Pilots.
1:33:12 PM
DONALD HABEGER, Appointee, Board of Marine Pilots, testified as
an appointee to the Board of Marine Pilots. He introduced
himself to the committee, explaining that he originally chose to
join the board on an impulse. He emphasized that his resume is
heavily focused around the marine industry, including a ship
agent position, a position running the Port of Juneau, and a
position working for the government relations team for Royal
Caribbean. Since these positions, he has been involved with
other varied interests, including community development. He
addressed his qualifications for the board, stating that he
qualifies as one of the two public members. Per requirement for
a public member position on the board, he added that he has
never been a marine pilot and is not invested in any occupation
that the board regulates.
1:38:32 PM
MR. HABEGER, in response to a question from Representative
Stutes, clarified that he is a member of the Juneau Reentry
Coalition.
1:38:56 PM
The committee took a brief at-ease.
1:39:53 PM
CO-CHAIR EISCHEID acknowledged a technical issue.
1:40:43 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 1:40 p.m. to 1:49 p.m.
1:49:03 PM
CO-CHAIR EISCHEID introduced the next appointee.
1:49:30 PM
JAMES CUNNINGHAM, Appointee, Board of Marine Pilots, shared his
experience and qualifications being a maritime pilot. He stated
that he has served on the board for the past three years. He
added that he graduated from the Maine Maritime Academy where he
attended the marine pilot's training program. He stated that he
became a full pilot in 2021.
1:51:44 PM
MR. CUNNINGHAM, in response to a question from Representative
Stutes, explained that the Maine Maritime Academy is a private
school while Kings Point [United States Merchant Marine Academy]
is a federally backed school. He stated that the certifications
are "identical;" however, Kings Point graduates are required to
serve in the Navy Reserve for five years.
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES expressed her appreciation for his past
service on the board.
MR. CUNNINGHAM discussed the importance of the maritime industry
in the state.
1:54:14 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE expressed his appreciation for marine
pilots in the state, especially in conjunction with Port
McKinsey.
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES expressed her appreciation for marine
pilots in the state, especially in conjunction with the Alaska
Marine Highway System.
1:54:40 PM
CO-CHAIR CARRICK expressed her support for marine pilots in the
state.
1:54:53 PM
CO-CHAIR EISCHEID opened public testimony. After ascertaining
there was no one who wished to testify, he closed public
testimony.
1:55:29 PM
CO-CHAIR EISCHEID made closing comments. He reminded members to
stay in the room to sign the report. [The House Transportation
Standing Committee has reviewed the qualifications for the
governor's appointees and recommends that the following name be
forwarded to a joint session for consideration: Donald Habeger
and James Cunningham as appointees to the Board of Marine
Pilots. The committee was reminded that this does not reflect
intent by any of the members to vote for or against these
individuals during any further sessions for the purposes of
confirmation.]
1:56:12 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Transportation Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 1:56
p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Donald Habeger Marine Pilots Resume_Redacted.pdf |
HTRA 3/4/2025 1:30:00 PM |
Resume of Board of Marine Pilots Appointee Donald Habeger |
| James Cunningham Marine Pilots Resume_Redacted.pdf |
HTRA 3/4/2025 1:30:00 PM |
Board of Marine Pilots Appointee James Cunningham |