CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 216(TRA) "An Act designating the Alaska Highway and portion of the Richardson Highway as the Purple Heart Trail." SENATOR JOHNNY ELLIS, SPONSOR, provided an overview of the bill and noted that Representative Gardner was a sponsor of the companion legislation in the House. The intent of the bill is to honor Alaska veterans and show Alaska's pride in veterans to visitors. Alaska has more than 1,000 active military duty personnel. Forty-four other states have designated all or part of their interstate highway system as part of the Purple Heart Trail. Senator Ellis reported that the Alaska Highway was originally built by the U.S. Army during World War II. The bill proposes large signs at Fairbanks, Delta Junction, Tok, and the Canadian border, with smaller signs at points between, and three pullouts with informational signs explaining the Purple Heart Trail. Senator Ellis credited Ron Seibels, commander of the Alaska military Order of the Purple Heart, for the original idea of the bill. The changes to the CS and sign design were proposed by the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. 9:35:10 AM REPRESENTATIVE BERTA GARDNER spoke in support of the legislation. She added that the Military order of the Purple Heart is only for service men and women who have been killed or injured in the line of duty. She recounted that the House had recently passed legislation relating to the decoration of honor. 9:36:09 AM Vice-Chair Stoltze spoke in support of the legislation. He noted that there was little recognition of the servicemen who built the Alaska Highway, who were treated in a discriminatory manner. He noted that he may write a letter of intent recognizing them. 9:38:56 AM RON SIEBELS, ALASKA CHAPTER OF THE MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART (testified via teleconference), spoke in support of the legislation. He underlined that there has been no opposition to the provision. The communities along the route have written in support. He thought the Purple Heart signs would create a positive impression on visitors. He stated his appreciation for support for the project and urged timely passage of the bill. 9:43:03 AM Vice-Chair Stoltze asked who is depicted on the Purple Heart stamp. Mr. Siebels believed it was George Washington. 9:43:43 AM RIC DAVIDGE, STATE COUNCIL PRESIDENT, VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA (testified via teleconference), spoke in support of the legislation. The majority of veterans in Alaska are Vietnam veterans. He clarified that the Purple Heart can only be received by someone who is injured or killed by enemy fire, not by friendly fire. Vietnam Veterans of America is working with the new national veterans' organization, the Veterans of Modern Warfare, who represent all post-Vietnam veterans. The Purple Heart Trail project helps show honor to veterans and supports all veterans. 9:45:36 AM Representative Gara thanked Mr. Davidge for his work. 9:45:56 AM Co-Chair Meyer acknowledged the fiscal note from the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities for $150,000 for making and installation of the signs. 9:46:23 AM Vice-Chair Stoltze said he would draft a letter of intent in that states the basic intent of honoring the existing Alaska Veterans. 9:46:41 AM Representative Joule remembered a debate on the House floor regarding signage on the highway. At that time it was voted down. 9:47:42 AM Vice-Chair Stoltze clarified that the House floor debate referenced by Representative Joule was regarding tourist oriented directional signs. 9:47:56 AM Representative Thomas spoke in support of the bill and hoped to see language in the bill encouraging the Yukon government to continue the trail. 9:48:44 AM Vice-Chair Stoltze MOVED to REPORT CSSB 216 (TRA) out of Committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. CSSB 216 (TRA) was reported out of Committee with a "do pass" recommendation and fiscal note from the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. 9:49:40 AM