SJR 10-HMONG VETERANS; CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:23:29 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  KAWASAKI  announced  the  consideration  of  SENATE  JOINT                                                               
RESOLUTION  NO.  10 Encouraging  the  United  States Congress  to                                                               
award Hmong  veterans of the  Vietnam War the  Congressional Gold                                                               
Medal.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:23:53 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI stated  that SJR 10 urges  Congress to award                                                               
the Congressional  Gold Medal  to Hmong  veterans of  the Vietnam                                                               
War, similar  to the recognition  given to Filipino World  War II                                                               
veterans for  their bravery  and sacrifice.  SJR 10  outlines the                                                               
details  of  why the  State  of  Alaska  should honor  the  Hmong                                                               
veterans. He  stated that SJR 10  is a bipartisan effort  at both                                                               
the state and federal levels.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:24:44 PM                                                                                                                    
JOSHUA  MCHOES, Staff,  Senator Bill  Wielechowski, Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska,  testified in support of  SJR 10 and                                                               
stated  his belief  that  the Congressional  Gold  Medal is  well                                                               
deserved. Hmong  veterans made a significant  contribution to the                                                               
U.S., and the  Hmong community in Alaska is  vibrant, active, and                                                               
deeply  engaged  in  supporting  both  Anchorage  and  their  own                                                               
members.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:25:18 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KAWASAKI opened public testimony on SJR 10.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
4:25:41 PM                                                                                                                    
REPRESENTATIVE   DAVID   NELSON,   District  18,   Alaska   State                                                               
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska,  testified in support of  SJR 10 and                                                               
stated that the  sacrifices of Hmong veterans  during the Vietnam                                                               
War were  vital to U.S.  efforts and  must not be  overlooked. He                                                               
said after  the war, many  faced brutal retaliation from  a north                                                               
Vietnamese  army,  forcing  hundreds  of  thousands  to  flee  as                                                               
refugees. He said 50,000 now live  in the U.S., including many in                                                               
Alaska,  which  has  the third-largest  Hmong  population.  These                                                               
veterans and  their families continue  to preserve  their culture                                                               
and contribute to society. He  stated that honoring them with the                                                               
Congressional Gold  Medal is a bipartisan,  bicameral effort that                                                               
recognizes  their  legacy.  Alaska has  long  acknowledged  their                                                               
service, including designating May  15 as Hmong American Veterans                                                               
Day.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
4:28:06 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KAWASAKI closed public testimony on SJR 10.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
4:28:16 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KAWASAKI solicited the will of the committee.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:28:19 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR BJORKMAN moved to report  SJR 10, work order 34-LS0618\A,                                                               
from committee with individual  recommendations and attached zero                                                               
fiscal note(s).                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:28:37 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KAWASAKI found no objection and SJR 10 was reported from                                                                  
the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.