SJR 14-MILITARY PERSONNEL CUTS & BASE CLOSURES  1:59:29 PM CO-CHAIR THOMPSON announced that the final order of business would be CS FOR SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 14(STA) Urging the United States Department of Defense to protect military bases and military personnel in the state for the defense and protection of the state and the nation. 1:59:44 PM SENATOR BILL WIELECHOWSKI, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor, introduced CSSJR 14, saying the resolution urges the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to protect military bases and military personnel in Alaska for the defense and protection of the state and the nation. He stressed the purpose of the resolution is not necessarily to protect Alaska's economy, but is for the security of the nation. Senator Wielechowski further explained the resolution is in response to two possible base realignment and closure rounds expected in the next few years. Base closures are authorized by Congress through a process called Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), defined by DOD as the congressionally authorized process to reorganize its base structure around the world to more efficiently and more effectively support our forces and increase operational readiness and facilitate new ways of doing business. He pointed out that the first step during the BRAC process in 2005 was a threat assessment of the future national security environment, followed by the development of a force structure plan to meet those threats, and then implementation of mandated selection criterion. In 2005, it was suggested to consolidate Elmendorf Air Force Base and Fort Richardson Army Base, and to close Eielson Air Force Base (Eielson AFB). The consolidation created Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, but the closure of Eielson AFB was prevented by intervention from the community. However, Eielson AFB may still be the base most threatened with closure. Senator Wielechowski noted there is a separate resolution opposing the transfer of the F-16 Aggressor Squadron from Eielson AFB to Elmendorf Air Force Base. Returning to CSSJR 14, he advised the message that needs to be heard is: Alaska is sitting at the top of the world and is within nine hours of 95 percent of the industrial world; has the best joint training spaces available within the U.S. armed forces; has the largest overland instrumented training range in the world; and has the shortest deployment route to eastern and central Asia. Furthermore, Eielson AFB supports the North American Aerospace Command (NORAD) and ground-based missile defense systems; protects sovereign air space; secures the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS); serves as an air bridge to the Pacific theatre; is critical in defense of the Pacific; has few environmental constraints; has a self-contained fuel supply; has seismic detectors; has huge storage capacity; has long runways; and has self-contained water and power supplies on base. Senator Wielechowski concluded that the resolution makes clear that Alaska is very important to the security of the U.S. 2:05:00 PM CO-CHAIR THOMPSON observed the resolution does not specify either base, but addresses all of the bases and personnel. REPRESENTATIVE AUSTERMAN expressed his support of the resolution. He noted there is no reference to the U. S. Coast Guard although it is the first line of defense. SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI acknowledged the critical importance of the Coast Guard to national security, and pointed out that it is not considered in BRAC rounds. REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA opined the security of Alaska is special and unusual because of its large land area and the enormous quantity of its resources. Also, Alaska has neighbors who may covet its resources. She related that DHS&EM has been surveying rural and coastal communities looking for "weak points," so they can give warning. The bases also serve in this way. She urged that any analysis of the security of the nation should begin with Alaska. 2:09:27 PM SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI advised that the federal government is reevaluating where threats lie, and they lie in the Pacific theatre near Alaska; in fact, Alaska is within nine air hours of 95 percent of the industrial world. There are two air routes from North America to eastern and central Asia - through Hawaii and Guam or through Alaska - and the route through Alaska is 1,800 miles shorter. He concluded that the nation needs to be prepared to defend the country and the state. REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA recalled that Alaska has the largest percentage per capita of veterans. She said it is important to remember that human resources are critical to the defense of the state and to prepare for possibilities. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER expressed his support of the resolution and said it defends the value of Alaska's military to the nation. He reviewed some of the statements in the resolution and opined it would be a big mistake to reduce the military presence in Alaska. Representative Saddler said he was looking forward to discussing these points with the Pentagon delegation. As a cross sponsor, he noted the importance of the principle to defend all bases and all missions in the state, due to Alaska's strategic position. 2:13:35 PM CO-CHAIR THOMPSON, hearing no further questions from the committee, opened public testimony. 2:13:57 PM MCHUGH PIERRE, Deputy Commissioner, Office of the Commissioner/Adjutant General, DMVA, stated that the resolution is consistent with the message of DMVA, which is that Alaska holds strategic value to the focus of the military that is now on the Asia/Pacific area, as announced by the President. REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA asked how the resolution could affect and help veterans living in the state. MR. PIERRE said the resolution clearly supports the logistics needed to defend Alaska. He referred to the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex (JPARC), and noted that smaller bases around the state are needed to support larger training bases. 2:16:16 PM LUKE HOPKINS, Mayor, FNSB, gave a short history of Eielson AFB. Mr. Hopkins expressed his hope that the resolution would be passed out of committee, as he has been informed that other states are sending messages to Congress and DOD supporting their positions; however, Alaska is in a great position for rapid deployment and JPARC training, and also has superior strategic importance. He cautioned that the relocation of the F-16 Aggressor Squadron from Eielson AFB is based on savings from questionable information. Mr. Hopkins concluded that the resolution imparts an urgent message to the flight assessment team. CO-CHAIR THOMPSON supported funds being placed in the governor's supplemental budget to hire a consultant firm to help the state research the actual savings. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked if FNSB engaged the services of lobbyists or advisors in this issue. MR. HOPKINS said yes. The borough assembly has authorized $120,000 to hire a consulting firm in Washington D.C. - which has experience with the 2005 analysis used by the Air Force - and a local economist to advise on housing and local information. These analyses will be provided to Alaska's congressional delegation. In further response to Representative Saddler, he said the consultants are Information Insights, Northern Economics, and Public Private Solutions Group. 2:22:21 PM CO-CHAIR THOMPSON, after determining no one else wished to testify, closed public testimony. 2:22:29 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER moved to report CSSJR 14(STA) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSSJR 14(STA) was reported from the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs.