Legislature(2021 - 2022)ANCH LIO DENALI Rm
07/28/2021 01:00 PM Senate JOINT ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Member Introductions | |
| Decoration of Honor | |
| Organizational Meeting | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
JOINT ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE
July 28, 2021
1:01 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Matt Claman, Co-Chair
Senator Mike Shower, Co-Chair
Representative David Nelson
Representative Ivy Spohnholz
Representative Geran Tarr
Senator Roger Holland
Senator Scott Kawasaki (via teleconference)
Senator Lora Reinbold
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Chris Tuck
Senator Joshua Revak
PUBLIC MEMBERS PRESENT
Colonel Tim Jones, retired - Fairbanks (via teleconference)
Brigadier General Julio "Randy" Banez, retired - Fairbanks (via
teleconference)
Colonel Robert Doehl, retired - Anchorage
Colonel George Vakalis, retired - Anchorage
PUBLIC MEMBERS ABSENT
Nelson N. Angapak, Sr. - Anchorage
Commodore James Chase, retired - Anchorage
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
DECORATION OF HONOR
- HEARD
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
EMMA POTTER, Staff
Representative Matt Claman
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Delivered a PowerPoint on the Decoration of
Honor medallions.
KIM SKIPPER, Staff
Representative David Nelson
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Delivered a PowerPoint on the Decoration of
Honor medallions.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:01:13 PM
CO-CHAIR MATT CLAMAN called the Joint Armed Services Committee
(JASC) meeting to order at 1:01 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Holland, Kawasaki (via teleconference),
Reinbold and Co-Chair Shower; and Representatives Tarr, Nelson
and Co-Chair Claman. Public members present were Brigadier
General Julio "Randy" Banez, retired (via teleconference),
Colonel Tim Jones, retired (via teleconference), Colonel Robert
Doehl, retired and Colonel George Vakalis, retired.
Representative Spohnholz arrived shortly thereafter.
^Member Introductions
MEMBER INTRODUCTIONS
1:03:13 PM
CO-CHAIR CLAMAN asked members to give a brief introduction,
beginning with the public members.
1:03:26 PM
COLONEL DOEHL said he serves as a JASC public member recommended
by the Municipality of Anchorage (MOA), currently serving as the
MOA Building Official Development Services Director and
temporarily as the Mass Care Branch Director. He explained that
the MOA oversees the mass care effort at the Sullivan Arena and
other locations in Anchorage. He retired as a Colonel with the
Air National Guard after 18 years of service in the U.S. Army
and 14 years of service in the U.S. Air Force. He said he looks
forward to learning from other JASC members.
1:04:02 PM
COLONEL VAKALIS said he serves as a JASC public member
recommended by the Municipality of Anchorage. He came to Alaska
while serving in the U.S. Army, retiring as a full colonel after
serving two tours of duty in Alaska. He stated that he
previously served as the MOA Municipal Manager for 12 years and
as an Assistant Superintendent for the Anchorage School District
for nine years. He said his company, Vakalis & Associates, LLC
provides consulting services to the school district.
1:04:35 PM
BRIGADIER GENERAL "Randy" BANEZ stated that he works as a
civilian for a defense logistics agency on JBER. He began his
active duty military service as a Field Artillery Officer
[deployed to Turkey, Bahrain, and Kuwait]. He came to Alaska in
1992 to serve at JBER [commanding from company to brigade level,
including 197th Support Battalion, the 207th Infantry Group and
the Alaska Army National Guard, retiring in 2012]. He was
recommended by the Department of Military & Veterans Affairs
(DMVA) to serve as a civilian public member of JASC.
1:05:12 PM
COLONEL JONES said he serves as a JASC public member from
Fairbanks. He came to Fairbanks with the U.S. Army in 2008,
serving his last assignment as Garrison Commander at Fort
Wainwright. He said he retired as colonel after 27 years of
service.
1:05:50 PM
CO-CHAIR CLAMAN asked the legislative committee members to
introduce themselves.
1:05:58 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ said this will be her third year
serving as a JASC member representing House District 16, which
is adjacent to JBER. She said she is the daughter and daughter-
in-law of military veterans. She expressed her interest in
serving on the committee.
1:06:24 PM
REPRESENTATIVE NELSON remarked that he was pleased that the
committee has so much U.S. Army representation, especially from
civilians. He said he serves as a JASC member representing House
District 15, which includes Northeast Anchorage and the Air
Force portion of JBER. He said he currently serves as a first
lieutenant in the Alaska Army National Guard.
1:07:01 PM
SENATOR HOLLAND said he is a JASC member representing Senate
District N. He said he joined the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves in
1991. During his service, he was deployed to Bahrain, Kuwait and
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
1:07:34 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TARR said she serves as a JASC member
representing House District 19, which includes Mountain View,
Russian Jack and Airport Heights. She stated that her district
is adjacent to JBER. She has worked with JBER on a number of
issues, including the runway relocation, housing and
neighborhood safety issues. She said she appreciates the
military members' participation in the community council
meetings to maintain strong relationships. She stated that she
previously served as co-chair of JASC. She related that a number
of her family members served in the military. She thanked JASC
members who have military service. She thanked the public
members for their ongoing participation. She stated that the
legislature previously cosponsored the Alaska Defense Forum,
which initially was held pre-COVID-19. The next forum will be
held in Fairbanks on August 4, 2021.
1:08:31 PM
SENATOR REINBOLD said her family moved to Alaska in the 1960s
when her father served as Site Manager for the Clear Air Force
Station, which is now Clear Space Force Station. She said she
serves as a JASC member representing Eagle River, which includes
a large portion of JBER in Senate District G. She recently
attended the change of command ceremony for Major General Brian
Eifler, U.S. Army Alaska. She stated that she has served on the
Military and Veterans Affairs Committee for most of her nine
years serving in the legislature and as co-chair of JASC.
1:09:31 PM
CO-CHAIR SHOWER said he serves as a JASC member representing
Senate District E, including the north side of the Mat-Su
Borough to Valdez, Glennallen and Delta Junction. He stated that
his district includes the missile defense complex at Fort Greely
and training facilities at Fort Wainwright. He said he served in
the U.S. Air Force from 1986 to 2010. He characterized JASC as
an important committee providing the legislature with updates on
the military. Alaska has a strong military presence including
its active and non-active members. The interest in the Arctic
continues to increase due to its deep water ports and strategic
location, he said.
1:10:47 PM
CO-CHAIR CLAMAN said he serves as a JASC member representing
House District 21. He stated that many of his family members
served in the military although he did not. He stated that he
plays taps at numerous veterans' funerals. He agreed with the
previous comments that this is an important committee to keep
informed on military activities in Alaska. He noted the presence
of Kim Skipper who has assisted the committee.
^Decoration of Honor
Decoration of Honor
1:11:52 PM
CO-CHAIR CLAMAN announced the consideration of the Decoration of
Honor. He directed attention to the fact sheet in members'
packets.
CO-CHAIR CLAMAN asked Senator Kawasaki, participating via
teleconference to introduce himself.
1:12:12 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI said he is a JASC member representing Senate
District J, representing the City of Fairbanks, adjacent to Fort
Wainwright. He acknowledged that the state has a huge veteran
and active duty military population. He stated that he has
served on JASC for a number of years, including as co-chair in
2016.
1:12:49 PM
CO-CHAIR CLAMAN returned to the Decoration of Honor fact sheet.
He stated that his staff would provide a short PowerPoint on the
Decoration of Honor.
1:13:42 PM
EMMA POTTER, staff, Representative Matt Claman, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, reviewed the fact sheet on slide 1.
She explained that the Decoration of Honor was an award given to
fallen service members. It was created in 2007 by House Bill
244, which gave JASC the responsibility to make arrangements for
the design of the Alaska Decoration of Honor and to award these
medallions to the next of kin. The committee is here today to
discuss storage of the medallions, she said.
1:14:14 PM
KIM SKIPPER, staff, Representative David Nelson, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, explained that former
Representative Nancy Dahlstrom served as co-chair of the
committee when the Decoration of Honor was created. Some of
these honorees served in the Korean War. Each Decoration of
Honor medallion is engraved with the fallen service member's
name. These members were either Alaska residents or were
assigned to a duty station in Alaska at the time of their
deaths. The legislature made Decoration of Honor medallions for
every eligible member in 2009 and held a Decoration of Honor
ceremony.
1:15:47 PM
MS. SKIPPER reviewed slide 3, which consisted of a table of
legislative resolutions that awarded the Alaska Decorations of
Honor and the number of awards issued. She reviewed the status
of the 245 Decoration of Honor medallions, of which
approximately 122 were being held in storage. She paraphrased
the Alaska Decoration of Honor awards by year, which read as
follows:
In 2008, Senate Concurrent Resolution 18 awarded 171
fallen service members of the Korean War, the Vietnam
War, the 1991 Gulf Wars, the U.S. War in Afghanistan
and the 2003 Iraq War the Decoration of Honor.
[Due to the length of the resolution listing the
fallen service members' names, a link to the
resolution can be found at the following:
http://www.akleg.gov/PDF/25/Bills/SCR018B.PDF].
1:16:18 PM
MS. SKIPPER added that 67 of the 171 Decoration of Honor
medallions engraved with the fallen service members' names were
not distributed and remain in storage. She explained that some
families of the Vietnam War fallen service members refused the
Decoration of Honor because of anti-war sentiment, that some
spouses did not want the reminder of their lost husband or son
and some next of kin of the fallen service members were not
located. She paraphrased the following:
In 2009, House Concurrent Resolution 7 awarded six
fallen service members the Alaska Decoration of Honor,
as follows: Donald V. Clark, Christian P. Humphreys,
Cody J. Eggleston, Heath K. Pickard, Jason A. Karella,
and Daniel R. Sexton.
MS. SKIPPER said all six medallions were distributed.
1:16:50 PM
MS. SKIPPER continued to paraphrase the Decoration of Honor
recipients, which read:
In 2011, House Concurrent Resolution 7 awarded 30
fallen service members the Alaska Decoration of Honor,
as follows: Daniel L. Hansen, Michael Boyd Alleman,
Michael Lee Mayne, Zachary Ray Nordmeyer, Patrick A.
Devoe II, Timothy Bowles, Jarrett P. Griemel, Brian N.
Bradshaw, Justin Aaron Casillas, Aaron Eli Fairbairn,
Nicolas Hugh Joseph Gideon, Clayton Patrick Bowen,
Morris Lewis Walker, Kurt Robert Curtiss, Darryn D.
Andrews, Michael Chance Murphrey, Thomas Franklyn
Lyons, Zachary Taylor Myers, Shannon Michael Smith,
Matthew Michael Martinek, Michael Shane Cote, Jr.,
Gregory M.W. Fleury, Julian Lee Berisford, Jason Omar
Bradley Hickman, Joel D. Clarkson, James L. Miller,
Christopher Eastman, Jaysine Petree, William B.
Dawson, and Renee Sinkler.
1:16:54 PM
MS. SKIPPER informed members that none of these medallions were
distributed so all 30 medallions were in storage.
MS. SKIPPER explained that the process to identify and locate
the next of kin was time consuming and sometimes problematic.
The list from the U.S. Army designates the next of kin, which is
often the mother or wife, she said. However, some fallen service
members were only 21-years-old or younger at the time of their
deaths. Some members married young but their wives may have left
the state and no longer want the reminder. Some next of kin
reside in the Lower 48 or in other countries, making it more
difficult to locate them.
1:17:53 PM
MS. SKIPPER continued to identify the Decoration of Honor
recipients, which read as follows:
In 2012, Senate Concurrent Resolution 20 awarded 25
fallen service members the Alaska Decoration of Honor,
as follows: Charles E. Ridgley, Jr., David L. Brodeur,
Lamarol J. Tucker, Cheizray Enrolled SCR 20 -2-
Pressley, Bradley L. Melton, Jeffery C. S. Sherer,
Robert L. Voakes, Jr., Devin A. Snyder, Christopher R.
Bell, Joshua D. Powell, Ryan J. Larson, Kenneth B.
Elwell, Tyler M. Springmann, Douglas L. Cordo, Brandon
S. Mullins, Douglas J. Green, Christophe J. Marquis,
Brett E. Wood, Rodolfo Rodriguez, Jr., Timothy D.
Sayne, Ryan J. Cook, Calvin M. Pereda, Matthew C.
Colin, James R. Burnett, and Johnathan B. McCain.
MS. SKIPPER informed members that none of these medallions
were distributed and all were in storage.
1:18:00 PM
MS. SKIPPER said she took over the project in 2013. At the time,
she served as staff to then Representative Saddler. She
continued to identify the Decoration of Honor recipients, which
read as follows:
In 2013, House Concurrent Resolution 5 awarded 9
fallen service members the Alaska Decoration of Honor,
as follows: Dustin P. Napier, Jeffrey L. White, Jr.,
Thomas K. Fogarty, Brian L. Walker, Richard L.
McNulty, Vincent J. Ellis, Nathan T. Davis, Carl E.
Hammar, and Ethan J. Martin.
MS. SKIPPER stated that she was able to locate all of the
next of kin and distribute these awards.
1:18:20 PM
MS. SKIPPER continued to identify the Decoration of Honor
recipients, which read as follows:
In 2018, Senate Concurrent Resolution 14 awarded 3
fallen service members the Alaska Decoration of Honor,
as follows: David T. Brabander, Hansen B. Kirkpatrick,
and Jacob M. Sim.
MS. SKIPPER commented that she picked up these medallions at the
Alaska Mint yesterday. She related that she has next of kin
contacts for two of the fallen service members but needs to
locate the third fallen service member's wife or next of kin.
1:18:51 PM
MS. SKIPPER continued to identify the Decoration of Honor
recipients, which read as follows:
In 2020, Senate Concurrent Resolution 11 awarded one
fallen service member the Alaska Decoration of Honor
to Gabriel David Conde.
MS. SKIPPER said she worked for Senator Revak last year. She
stated that she just picked up the Decoration of Honor medal for
Mr. Conde who was killed in action in 2018.
1:19:20 PM
MS. SKIPPER stated that the committee could consider what to do
with the approximate 122 Decoration of Honor medallions being
held in storage at the Anchorage Legislative Information Office
(LIO). She emphasized the importance of distributing or
displaying the Decoration of Honor medallions of the fallen
service members.
MS. SKIPPER related that in 2015, LIO staff received a call from
a Gold Star family member who discovered via a Google search
that her son was awarded the Decoration of Honor. LIO staff
provided contact information so she was able to distribute the
Decoration of Honor medallion to the mother. Through that Gold
Star Family connection, she was also able to trace the next of
kin of a second fallen service member, she said.
1:21:01 PM
MS. SKIPPER noted that the state's original order from the
Alaska Mint to produce the medallions included minting
additional blank medallions. She stated that a number of boxes
of the unengraved and unassembled medallions were also in
storage at the Anchorage LIO.
1:21:28 PM
CO-CHAIR CLAMAN asked how many unengraved and unassembled
medallions were also in storage.
MS. SKIPPER said was unsure but offered to check and report back
to the committee.
1:21:47 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ asked whether any effort was made to
track down those awarded the Decoration of Honor from 2011 and
2012 since none of the 30 and 25 medallions, respectively, were
distributed.
MS. SKIPPER related her understanding that former Representative
Dahlstrom's staff made some effort to do so. She pointed out
that it was sometimes difficult to obtain a list of next of kin
for the fallen service members. Since the medallions were
legislative honors and not military medals, the military could
not release the information, she said. She offered to check on
the status and report back to the committee.
1:22:57 PM
REPRESENTATIVE NELSON asked if any effort was made to contact
museums about housing the medallions.
MS. SKIPPER answered no. She explained that she was awaiting
further direction from the committee on how to handle the
Decoration of Honor medallions still in storage. She recalled an
inquiry by Department of Military & Veterans Affairs (DMVA) on
the medallions. She wondered if DMVA would be an appropriate
agency to display them.
1:24:15 PM
REPRESENTATIVE NELSON suggested that the Decoration of Honor
medallions still in possession could be loaned to museums to
honor these fallen soldiers.
1:24:35 PM
SENATOR SHOWER agreed that displaying the medallions would be
better than storing them. He suggested that the committee should
consider any associated costs for storage or display, since the
state does not have a mechanism to receive donations from
organizations, such as veterans' organizations to cover any
costs.
1:26:10 PM
CO-CHAIR CLAMAN noted that about a third of the families of the
fallen service members were veterans of the Korean War or
Vietnam War. These members were awarded the Decoration of Honor
in Senate Concurrent Resolution 18 but their next of kin did not
claim the medallions. At this point, it seems unlikely that
their next of kin would claim their medallions, he said. He
suggested that the legislature should not continue to store the
medals.
1:26:48 PM
MS. SKIPPER remarked that some next of kin contacts have not
been made. She related that she conducted Google searches as
time permitted, but her time was limited. She said she has
compiled a list, which is on a memory stick that she intends to
provide to the library to preserve the information.
1:28:55 PM
CO-CHAIR SHOWER suggested that perhaps a veteran's organization
could take responsibility for the Decoration of Honor medallions
for those fallen service members whose next of kin declined to
accept the awards.
1:29:35 PM
MS. SKIPPER recalled seeing a display of veterans' medals in a
hall at the California State Capitol. She suggested that members
might want to consider a similar display at the Alaska State
Capitol.
1:30:28 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TARR said she worked with Ms. Skipper on the
Decoration of Honor medallions when she was co-chair of JASC.
She hoped that if the legislature were to display the unclaimed
Decoration of Honor medallions, that this display would include
the names of all fallen service members, even those recipients
whose next of kin received their Decorations of Honor so all
would be honored.
MS. SKIPPER agreed that was important. She related that making
calls to parents was an emotional experience for her and for the
parents or spouse because the pain never goes away.
1:32:21 PM
SENATOR REINBOLD asked whether the task to locate next of kin
for the 122 Decoration of Honor medallions still in possession
could be divided up among staff volunteers.
CO-CHAIR SHOWER agreed that a plaque should list everyone. He
suggested using several veteran's organizations to help locate
next of kin.
1:33:50 PM
MS. SKIPPER noted that only one Decoration of Honor medallion
was issued per fallen service member. Sometimes the parents of
the fallen service member are divorced so she receives requests
for another medallion from the parents who did not receive them.
She reported that under former Speaker Pete Kott, the
legislature created a line of duty coin. Those coins were minted
and distributed to the next of kin of fallen Alaska State
Troopers or police officers. She said these coins are beautiful
and are housed in a nice wooden box but are not engraved. She
suggested that JASC might consider distributing these coins when
family members request duplicate medallions.
1:36:33 PM
CO-CHAIR CLAMAN acknowledged that it was a challenge to decide
what to do with the Decoration of Honor medallions in storage.
He said it seemed as though the legislature has enough
medallions. He suggested one option might be to include the
fallen service member names on a veterans' memorial. He
emphasized that it was important not to exclude anyone. He
commented that the size of the Decoration of Honor medallions
might make it difficult to find sufficient space in the Capitol.
He asked Co-Chair Shower if he knew of a veterans' organization
that might be interested in assisting the committee.
SENATOR SHOWER offered to reach out to a veterans' organization
and report back at next meeting.
1:38:12 PM
CO-CHAIR CLAMAN stated he would keep this item on the agenda. He
acknowledged the importance of honoring the fallen service
members. He surmised that the last thing members would want was
to keep the awarded Decoration of Honor medallions in storage.
SENATOR SHOWER informed members that U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan
is currently working on funding for an Arctic Warfare Center,
which is still a few years in the offing. He suggested that
building might be a perfect place to display the Decoration of
Honor medallions. He anticipated the building would have
adequate space and it is service oriented. He offered to check
with U.S. Senator Sullivan's office and report back to the
committee.
1:39:38 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TARR recalled that an annual report for JASC
would need to be prepared. One requirement included in the
report was to review the enabling statute and justify the
necessity for the committee. She suggested the committee might
wish to consider including this project in its recommendations.
She recalled that previously JASC had a more substantial budget,
including additional staff assigned to handle projects such as
identifying the Decoration of Honor recipients. However, over
time committee staffing changed, she said. She noted that it can
take staff several days to locate next of kin, make calls and
attempt to deliver the Decoration of Honor medallions. She
suggested that this project could be included in the long-term
plan and recommendations.
1:41:05 PM
CO-CHAIR CLAMAN acknowledged that the report was due in January
2021, before the next legislative session. He related that one
frustration was that the adjutant general is required to report
to the committee in December but that was not always
consistently done, which could make the committee's work more
difficult.
MS. SKIPPER explained that JASC reports were due in an "off
year" so the timeframe does not correspond to the end of a
legislature. She suggested the committee could consider a
statutory change to address this. She acknowledged she was not
familiar with the rationale for the timing of the report.
However, the report consists of the committee work for 2020 and
2021, which is due at the beginning of the next legislative
session. Thus, it was possible that the co-chair serving in year
one would not be reelected to serve in year two. If so, it could
result in the committee cobbling together the report.
1:42:56 PM
CO-CHAIR CLAMAN related his understanding that the logic could
be that having the report due on the in-between year would allow
the committee additional time to better understand the
requirements. He acknowledged that having the committee report
due at the beginning of a new legislative session might mean
some members may not serve. Thus, after the legislature was
organized and the session started, new members would need to
prepare the report. He acknowledged that at some level, there
were challenges with each scenario. He said one solution might
be to require that an annual report be submitted.
1:43:47 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ suggested that the committee could
require the report due by December 31, which would fall at the
end of the two-year legislature. She said she appreciated Ms.
Skipper's feedback on how to modernize the requirement by moving
the deadline up one month to guarantee that the report was in
hand in time for the new legislature.
1:44:42 PM
CO-CHAIR CLAMAN stated he would keep this item on the next
agenda.
^Organizational Meeting
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
1:45:03 PM
CO-CHAIR CLAMAN announced the consideration of the
organizational meeting. He reviewed the upcoming meetings and
tours. He said the committee scheduled a tour of the Joint Armed
Services Headquarters at the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson
(JBER) on August 25, 2021, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.
CO-CHAIR CLAMAN further stated that Major General Torrence Saxe,
Adjutant General, Alaska Army National Guard suggested that the
committee consider touring operations in other parts of the
state, including the Anchorage Joint Forces Headquarters and
offices in Bethel, Kodiak, Fairbanks and Southeast Alaska. He
suggested that the committee should make sure this was
consistent with ongoing operations and that the committee would
not incur any additional cost. He offered to provide members
with more details in the next few weeks.
1:46:16 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TARR asked whether members would return to
Anchorage for the JBER tour if members were in Juneau for
special session.
CO-CHAIR CLAMAN suggested that members should await more
information and stay flexible given the uncertainty surrounding
the third special legislative session, in terms of when it is
convened and for how long. He said it was quite possible the
legislature would not be in special session or that the special
session might be delayed. He recalled that at times during
session he has been in Anchorage so if some members were in
Anchorage they could attend.
1:48:02 PM
SENATOR SHOWER, noting it was not yet formally announced,
related his understanding based on comments made at the time of
the Comprehensive Fiscal Plan Working Group meetings, it was
likely that the governor would allow members to convene on
August 16, 2021. He suggested that members and staff could take
Alaska Army National Guard flights if the legislature were to
coordinate tours with military operational training. Since the
committee does not have funding, this was one way for members to
travel and tour infrastructure facilities without incurring
additional costs.
1:50:08 PM
CO-CHAIR CLAMAN indicated that he was receptive to legislative
travel on planned training flights since the training would
occur anyway.
1:50:27 PM
COLONEL VAKALIS asked whether the committee planned to have the
senior members of the various service branches give an update on
their roles in Arctic strategies. He offered that JASC could
play a key role in Arctic projects but the committee must be
informed of each service branch's role and plans.
CO-CHAIR CLAMAN answered that JASC's target plan for the fall
was to have presentations by the armed forces leadership. He
remarked that it would be unlikely that all three branches would
be available at the same time.
COLONEL VAKALIS suggested that perhaps the committee could have
the second in command present.
1:51:49 PM
SENATOR REINBOLD echoed Colonel Vakalis's comments. She
expressed concern that the legislature does not receive more
information on national security issues. She suggested that the
committee prioritize being briefed on national security issues.
She expressed interest in knowing more about Alaska's resource
development, Arctic issues the State of Hawaii's activities with
Russia and China and even food security for preparedness.
1:53:08 PM
CO-CHAIR CLAMAN related that he spoke to General Saxe a few
weeks ago. General Saxe was specific about the U.S. Army
National Guard being one of the first responders on food
emergencies during a state of emergency.
1:53:20 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TARR recalled that the armed service members
previously recommended JASC provide six months advance notice
for them to come before the committee. She recalled she started
planning in August for late January to early February
presentations when she served as JASC's co-chair. Advance notice
would allow members, including public members, ample time to
arrange for travel to Juneau, she said.
CO-CHAIR CLAMAN recalled that the House Armed Services Committee
previously received presentations on strategic updates.
1:54:15 PM
CO-CHAIR SHOWER offered his view that COVID-19 caused issues
this year. He agreed that ideally the committee would receive
updates every year. When riots were occurring in Seattle last
May, Alaska asked to have a military ship standby because Alaska
is logistically challenged and it would take time to deploy a
ship. He emphasized the importance of JASC's role to ensure that
a plan is in place that could be communicated to Alaskans if any
needs arose.
1:56:20 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Co-Chair Claman adjourned the Joint Armed Services Committee
meeting at 1:56 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Decoration of Honor Presentation 7.28.2021.pdf |
JASC 7/28/2021 1:00:00 PM |
Decoration of Honor Powerpoint Presentation 7.28.2021 |
| HB 244 (2007) Legislation Creating Decoration of Honor.pdf |
JASC 7/28/2021 1:00:00 PM |
HB 244 |