HB 175 - APPROP: WOMEN IN MILITARY SERVICE MEMORIAL JAY NELSON, AIDE TO REP. CLIFF DAVIDSON, stated that HB 175 was a bill that would provide $15,000 in state funding towards the construction of the Women In Military Service Memorial in Washington, D.C. He stated that this memorial was conceived after the Gulf War due to the large amount of women who participated in that war and in the military as a whole. MR. NELSON said that U.S. Senator Frank Murkowski was a big supporter of the construction of the Women In Military Service Memorial. He that U.S. Senator Frank Murkowski introduced legislation for this memorial in Washington, D.C., and has raised funds for this memorial. MR. NELSON noted that the total cost of the memorial would be about $14 million and that states were giving money to show support for female personnel. He stated that the memorial has received money from industry and countries in the Gulf area. He said five states have donated to the memorial. REP. KOTT asked what happens to the appropriated sum of money that comes from the general fund for half of this memorial if it is not utilized towards the construction of this memorial. MR. NELSON responded that the states' contributions would only be a small part of the total construction cost. He stated that this project started back in 1988 and they have actually spent somewhere around $7 million to $8 million on the design phase, developing the public computer system, and the public exhibition area. He noted that their authority was to expire once it was extended by two years. Theoretically their authority will expire this fall if they do not raise the money, but since they have raised 50 percent of the money, the only thing left is the construction part. He stated that their authority to receive funds would be extended if that was a problem. MR. NELSON explained that U.S. Senator Frank Murkowski will introduce legislation that will allow for the authorization of coins to be issued by the Mint for the purpose of raising money for this memorial. Any extra money for this project will be used to maintain the data base that they have been developing for all women veterans. REP. KOTT asked if all veterans would be recognized or just the ones that participated in the Middle East Crisis. MR. NELSON stated that all women veterans would be recognized. REP. KOTT asked how the allocation was determined and was it equitable as compared to what other states have given towards the memorial. MR. NELSON stated that this would be up to the legislature to decide. REP. FOSTER remarked that there was about 77,000 veterans in Alaska. MR. NELSON said there were about 5,000 women veterans in Alaska. CHAIRMAN MULDER stated that the way he saw the issue was that this committee would decide whether this was a good or bad idea and for the Finance Committee to decide whether it was the appropriate amount. JOELLE HALL, INTERN FOR REP. FRAN ULMER, she stated that she was a veteran of the U.S. Army, U.S. Army reserve, and the Alaska National Guard. She said this bill is a good idea to honor the women who have come before and in the future and it is an investment. She stated that the memorial that had been attempted before had faced various stumbling blocks and this was a good way of going about that - by recognizing all women who have ever served. She stated that she thought it was important that Alaska participate. REP. FOSTER asked to move HB 175 out of committee with individual recommendations. CHAIRMAN MULDER asked for any objections. REP. KOTT responded yes, for the purpose of discussion. REP. KOTT asked if she would be willing to pay three dollars to have her name engraved. MS. HALL responded that she would; it would be a great honor. REP. KOTT asked how much should Alaska appropriate for this memorial. MS. HALL stated that each state would have to look at it in terms of its fiscal ability to pay, but the state should also look at how many veterans are in the state. REP. KOTT said that he agreed and withdrew his objection. CHAIRMAN MULDER ordered the bill out of committee with individual recommendations.