Legislature(2009 - 2010)BUTROVICH 205
03/01/2010 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SJR27 | |
| SB274 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 274 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SJR 27 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE
March 1, 2010
3:33 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Bill Wielechowski, Co-Chair
Senator Charlie Huggins, Vice Chair
Senator Hollis French
Senator Gary Stevens
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Lesil McGuire, Co-Chair
Senator Bert Stedman
Senator Thomas Wagoner
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 27
Urging the federal government to provide funding for domestic
seafood marketing and promotional activities.
- HEARD AND HELD
SENATE BILL NO. 274
"An Act naming the state fish hatchery on the Elmendorf Air
Force Base the William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery."
- HEARD AND HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SJR 27
SHORT TITLE: FED. FUNDING: DOMESTIC SEAFOOD MARKETING
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) EGAN
02/12/10 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/12/10 (S) RES
03/01/10 (S) RES AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: SB 274
SHORT TITLE: WILLIAM JACK HERNANDEZ FISH HATCHERY
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) DYSON
02/10/10 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/10/10 (S) RES
03/01/10 (S) RES AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
SENATOR DENNIS EGAN
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SJR 27.
JULIE DECKER, Project Leader
National Seafood Marketing Coalition
United Fishermen of Alaska (UFA)
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SJR 27.
BRUCE WALLACE, Member
National Seafood Marketing Coalition
United Fishermen of Alaska (UFA)
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SJR 27.
SENATOR FRED DYSON
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 274.
IRVIN BROCK, representing himself
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 274.
TOM NAMTVEDT, representing himself
Wasilla, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 274.
GARY WALL, representing himself
Anchorage, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 274.
MICHAEL FALLON, representing himself
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 274.
FRED WILLIAMS, representing himself
Copper Center, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 274.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:33:58 PM
CO-CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI called the Senate Resources Standing
Committee meeting to order at 3:33 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Stevens, French and Wielechowski. Senator
Huggins arrived a minute later.
SJR 27-FED. FUNDING: DOMESTIC SEAFOOD MARKETING
3:34:26 PM
CO-CHAIR BILL WIELECHOWSKI announced SJR 27 to be up for
consideration.
3:34:54 PM
SENATOR CHARLIE HUGGINS joined the committee.
3:35:03 PM
SENATOR DENNIS EGAN, sponsor of SJR 27, testified that this
resolution urges Congress to use a portion of federal revenues
to market American seafood. Seafood producers struggle with the
same challenges as other producers, yet are not given the same
support. Specifically, seafood producers do not receive any
funds for domestic marketing and product development. They face
competition from foreign products that require vigorous and
innovative promotions.
He said that currently, over 80 percent of the fish consumed
annually by American families is the product of foreign
countries. The seafood industry is vital to Alaska's economy and
culture.
3:36:23 PM
SENATOR STEVENS moved conceptual Amendment 1 to delete "50" and
insert "80" on page 1, line 5. There were no objections and it
was so ordered.
CO-CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI opened public testimony.
3:36:52 PM
JULIE DECKER, Project Leader, National Seafood Marketing
Coalition, said this is the United Fishermen of Alaska's (UFA)
new initiative to fund a national program to market domestic
seafood in the United States. She introduced Bruce Wallace,
another team member.
She explained that the UFA formed this coalition partly because
Alaska is uniquely positioned to lead this project since it is
the national leader in the production, management, and marketing
of seafood. The idea is to invest a portion of import duties
that are already collected on fish and fish products in a
domestic seafood marketing program. They propose creating nine
regional boards throughout the country that would receive the
money and determine how to direct it into marketing activities
like product development, advertising, infrastructure, and
research and development. The idea is to increase the value of
the products and increase competitiveness against foreign
competition, and growing the economy with resource that is
already harvested and producing more jobs in that area.
MS. DECKER said the State of Alaska has seen return on its
investment in seafood marketing and they want to see that
continued on a nation-wide basis. The Coalition had already seen
interest in their one trip "Back East" and have received one
letter of support so far. They will continue the coalition
building throughout the year.
She said the reason the Legislature's support is important is
because it is an example to other communities and organizations
across the nation as to what they can do to help with the
initiative.
3:40:11 PM
SENATOR FRENCH commented that he didn't know the duties and
tariffs generate approximately $280 million annually for the
U.S. Treasury in reference to the first "Whereas" clause on page
2. He asked if the second "Whereas" clause that says "revenue
from anti-dumping and countervailing duties on imported
fish...total hundreds of millions of dollars annually;" was a
separate category and asked her how the duties work.
MS. DECKER answered these are two distinct pots of money. The
anti-dumping and countervailing duties are what the U.S. levies
to try to level the playing field for other countries who may
subsidize their industries. For instance farmed fish - it keeps
them from selling their product in the U.S at below-market
costs.
3:41:36 PM
BRUCE WALLACE, member, National Seafood Marketing Coalition,
United Fishermen of Alaska (UFA), noted that the State of Alaska
has worked well with industry on numerous levels for a number of
years. They find that is not necessarily true around the U.S.
So, if this is successful it will build a number of bridges
between maritime states.
3:43:05 PM
CO-CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI closed public testimony and SJR 27 would
be held.
SB 274-WILLIAM JACK HERNANDEZ FISH HATCHERY
3:43:23 PM
CO-CHAIR BILL WIELECHOWSKI announced SB 274 to be up for
consideration.
3:43:36 PM
SENATOR FRED DYSON, sponsor of SB 274, thanked the chair for
hearing this bill. He explained that a very effective fish
hatchery on Elmendorf Air Force Base is being reconstructed.
Folks who are very familiar with the existing hatchery and its
history have asked that new hatchery be named after William Jack
Hernandez. He was an extraordinary person who served as a
civilian contractor on Wake Island building fortifications for
the Marine Corps when the Japanese attacked. They had a 16-day
fight in which he participated and then was taken prisoner for
three-plus years; he escaped once and was recaptured. He came
back and enlisted in the U.S. Army and transferred to Fort
Richardson in 1956 as an NCO (non-commissioned officer) and was
assigned to be the fish and wildlife conservation NCO; his job
was to rehabilitate the lakes and streams on the Post.
In 1957 the Secretary of Army approved a cooperative agreement
with the Territorial Fish and Game Department. Waste heat was
used from the power plant and the operation was very successful
for a long time. He said that Mr. Hernandez retired from the
Army and was given a commendation. He then went to work for the
Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) and returned to Fort
Richardson to manage the hatchery.
SENATOR DYSON said the History Channel ran a special called
"Wake Island: the Alamo of the Pacific" and a book has been
written that largely centered on his life and Wake Island. The
effort to get his name attached to the hatchery has largely come
from people who had worked with him and after him and seen what
he accomplished.
3:47:10 PM
SENATOR DYSON said the existing hatchery is being disassembled
and people might be confused by thinking that is the one being
named for him, but an amendment clarifies in the title that the
new one is being named after Mr. Hernandez.
CO-CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI offered Amendment 1 labeled 26-LS1449\A.2.
26-LS1449\A.2
Kane
AMENDMENT 1
OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR DYSON
Page 1, line 1, following the first occurrence of
"the":
Insert "new"
Page 1, line 5, following "Sec. 35.40.225.":
Insert "William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish
Hatchery."
Page 1, line 5:
Delete "located"
Insert "under construction"
Page 1, line 6, following "Anchorage":
Insert "scheduled to be completed in May 2011"
There were no objections and Amendment 1 was adopted. He opened
public testimony.
3:48:22 PM
IRVIN BROCK, representing himself, said he worked with Mr.
Hernandez for several years at the beginning of his career with
the department. He said, "I can see no one more deserving of
having that facility named after him. He was the first fish
culturist hired by the State of Alaska to manage the Fort
Richardson Hatchery." He was a friend and mentor to many future
state hatchery employees. He was also the "consummate gentleman"
and called everyone "Sir" no matter what their age or
experience. "It would be a great thing to put his name on part
of what he started."
3:50:14 PM
TOM NAMTVEDT, representing himself, Wasilla, said he is a
retired fisheries biologist and is a commercial fisherman. He
thanked Senator Dyson for sponsoring this bill. He added that
Mr. Hernandez, an E6, referred to him, an E4, as "kind Sir." Mr.
Namtvedt said, "Bill took every death of a fish personally."
When Mr. Hernandez retired in 1968 he took over his duties and
quickly learned that he left huge accomplishments. He said that
Mr. Hernandez died of cancer in 2003 and he lived at Lake
Susitna and fished commercially in Bristol Bay.
3:53:51 PM
GARY WALL, representing himself, Anchorage, said he lived in the
Sand Lake area and supported naming the new fish hatchery after
Mr. Hernandez. Mr. Wall said he arrived in 1973 and was assigned
to the fish hatchery and Bill took him under his wing and helped
him out in every way. He worked with Bill through his entire
career. He was a great guy and a real gentleman who knew his
fish and was dedicated to the hatchery programs.
3:54:45 PM
MICHAEL FALLON, representing himself, said he is a retired ADF&G
fish culturist and assistance manager at Fort Richardson. He
stated, "It was quite an honor to work with Bill at the
beginning of my career as Irv did. I can't think of anybody who
has come through the fish culture program that has made a
difference like Bill has for all of us." He was well respected
by everybody in the fish culture program as well as the
biologists.
MR. FALLON said another person, Jesse Wilson, was also suitable
for a recommendation. He operated the power plant and worked
closely with Bill.
3:57:02 PM
FRED WILLIAMS, representing himself, Copper Center, said he is a
retired fisheries biologist, and supported naming the new
hatchery after Mr. Hernandez saying he was the most dedicated
fisheries biologist he had ever met. He read every publication
he could get his hands on.
3:58:35 PM
CO-CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI closed public testimony and held SB 274.
There being no further business to come before the committee, he
adjourned the meeting at 3:58 p.m.
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