HJR 18-SUPPORTING MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ Number 0066 CHAIR LYNN announced that the committee would hear HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 18, Supporting the men and women of the United States armed forces in the military action to free Iraq and to protect the world from Saddam Hussein. Number 0101 CHAIR LYNN, sponsor of HJR 18, in response to a question from Representative Masek, pointed out that President Bush is referenced on page 2, lines 8-10, and noted that the President is the Commander in Chief for the armed forces. He also expressed the desire to have this resolution read at a rally on Friday, March 28, at 4:30 p.m. [at which the governor and possibly the lieutenant governor would speak]. Number 0262 REPRESENTATIVE MASEK moved to report HJR 18 out of committee; she requested unanimous consent. Number 0290 REPRESENTATIVE FATE objected, requesting discussion. REPRESENTATIVE MASEK withdrew her motion. Number 0332 REPRESENTATIVE FATE expressed reservations not about the subject matter, but about some of the resolution's language. For example, he said, he doesn't think the intent is to free Iraq. He suggested the issue of national security was omitted from the statement of intent at the beginning, and that this war isn't just to protect the world from Saddam Hussein. He voiced concern that it could be taken wrong by others, both citizens and people in other countries. Rather than hurry it through, he requested discussion of those issues. Number 0450 CHAIR LYNN pointed out that Representative Dahlstrom had potential substitute language, which he hadn't seen yet. [No at-ease was called, but several minutes passed while copies were made.] REPRESENTATIVE MASEK suggested adopting as a proposed committee substitute (CS) the language provided by Representative Dahlstrom. Number 0788 REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM read her proposed CS in its entirety. An undated and unnumbered document, it read [original punctuation provided]: HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION No. 18 A RESOLUTION Supporting the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: WHEREAS, the men and women of the United States Armed Forces are currently engaged in military action in Iraq; and WHEREAS, the government of Saddam Hussein has posed a threat to national security and world peace for many years, attacking other nations and breaching international laws and understandings; and WHEREAS, Iraq has not only attacked other nations, it has used chemical weapons of mass destruction against its own Kurdish population; and WHEREAS, Iraq has failed to comply with the United Nation's Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1441 calling for it to declare any weapons of mass destruction programs within its borders; and WHEREAS, Iraq has attempted to shoot down surveillance planes patrolling the no-fly zone; and WHEREAS, the United States and coalition Armed Forces are now engaged in military action to protect the world and to enforce the demands of the United Nations resolutions involving Iraq; and WHEREAS, the men and women of the United States and Coalition Armed Forces are sacrificing their personal safety for freedom for Iraqi people and peace in the region; and WHEREAS, some United States and Coalition Armed Forces have already made the ultimate sacrifice; and WHEREAS, the United States and Coalition Forces are leaving their families to travel halfway around the world to assist in bringing peace to a country that has for many years only known tyranny; BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature expresses its support for President George W. Bush's decision in taking military action against the regime of Saddam Hussein in Iraq; and be it FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Alaska State Legislature expresses its support to the men and women of the United States and Coalition Armed Forces who are currently involved in Operation Iraq Freedom and other such operations around the world. COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States; the Honorable Richard B. Cheney, Vice President of the United States and President of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Bill Frist, Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Thomas Daschle, Minority Leader of the U.S. Senate, the Honorable J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House of Representatives; and to the Honorable Ted Stevens and the Honorable Lisa Murkowski, U.S. Senators; and to the Honorable Don Young, U.S. Congressman. CHAIR LYNN suggested adding General Tommy Franks to the list of recipients, wherever he would fit according to rank. REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM concurred. Number 0985 CHAIR LYNN announced that he had no problem with this version. He then pointed out that the penultimate paragraph should say "Iraqi Freedom", whereas now it reads "Iraq Freedom". Number 1083 REPRESENTATIVE FATE proposed adding [to the fifth "WHEREAS" clause"], where it says "no-fly zone", that the no-fly zone was imposed by the United Nations. CHAIR LYNN concurred. Number 1145 REPRESENTATIVE WEYHRAUCH moved [to adopt Representative Dahlstrom's version] as a proposed committee substitute (CS). [No objection was stated, and it was treated as adopted with the foregoing suggestions incorporated.] REPRESENTATIVE WEYHRAUCH began discussion of an amendment. He referred to the [fourth-from-last] "WHEREAS" clause in the proposed CS, which read: WHEREAS, the United States and coalition Armed Forces are now engaged in military action to protect the world and to enforce the demands of the United Nations resolutions involving Iraq; and REPRESENTATIVE WEYHRAUCH pointed out that it almost repeats the first "WHEREAS" clause. He questioned whether the engagement is to protect the world and whether this legislature can speak for the world. He also suggested that a fair number of people might disagree that the purpose is to protect the world. He suggested that the U.S. is there to enforce the demands [of the United Nations] and to make sure there are no weapons of mass destruction. CHAIR LYNN mentioned protecting the United States of America. REPRESENTATIVE FATE pointed out that the resolution says "has posed a threat to national security". He concurred with Representative Weyhrauch about deleting [the fourth-from-last "WHEREAS" clause]. Number 1276 CHAIR LYNN announced that without objection, the [fourth-from- last "WHEREAS" clause] was deleted. Number 1279 REPRESENTATIVE MASEK moved to report CSHJR 18 [the unofficial version adopted earlier], as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHJR 18(MLV) was reported from the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs.