HJR 19-SUPPORTING INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE  4:43:15 PM CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 19, "Supporting widespread infrastructure investment in the state." 4:43:48 PM REPRESENTATIVE KAUFMAN directed the committee's attention to page 1, lines 6 and 7, of the text of HJR 19, which read as follows: WHEREAS the state received a grade of C- when last reviewed by the American 7 Society of Civil Engineers in 2017; and REPRESENTATIVE KAUFMAN shared that average capital spending in the 10 years before the 2017 review was approximately $1 billion per year. He wondered how the state could spend $10 billion on infrastructure over 10 years and end up with a grade of C-. CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ responded, "The state of Alaska has a history of building things but not always maintaining them." She shared the example of the Port of Alaska at Anchorage, which has not been maintained and is well beyond its original, planned lifespan. She pointed out that the average capital budget over the past five years was $123 million per year, with most of it intended to attract federal highway money. She explained that the money has been used to build new infrastructure, mostly roads, instead of being used to maintain current infrastructure. REPRESENTATIVE KAUFMAN commented that the state can't afford projects that don't serve the public good or are difficult to maintain due to design or execution. In consideration of HJR 19, he said, there may be the need for a stronger statement regarding the quality of production. CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ expressed agreement with the need to maintain projects and noted that HJR 19 doesn't address maintenance. She said that specific projects from the 2017 report include several projects for which federal funds can be used such as the Port of Alaska and water and sewer infrastructure. REPRESENTATIVE KAUFMAN mentioned the importance of delivering value. 4:48:55 PM The committee took an at-ease from 4:48 p.m. to 4:49 p.m. 4:49:48 PM CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ opened public testimony on HJR 19. After ascertaining that no one wished to testify, she closed public testimony. 4:50:13 PM REPRESENTATIVE NELSON moved to adopt Conceptual Amendment 1 to HJR 19, to add the word "Senate" in between "U.S." and ";" on page 3, line 11. 4:50:17 PM CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ objected for the purpose of discussion, then removed her objection after seeking clarification. There being no further objection, Conceptual Amendment 1 was adopted. 4:51:00 PM REPRESENTATIVE SCHRAGE moved to report HJR 19, [as amended], out of committee with individual recommendations. There being no objection, CSHJR 19(L&C) was reported out of the House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee. 4:51:19 PM The committee took a brief at-ease. 4:51:42 PM CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ noted that the motion to report HJR 19 out of committee did not reference [that the committee had amended the proposed joint resolution]. She asked Representative Schrage to restate the motion. 4:51:46 PM REPRESENTATIVE SCHRAGE moved to report HJR 19, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations. There being no objection, CSHJR 19(L&C) was reported out of the House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.