HB 125-LAO/HMONG VETERAN DRIVER'S LIC. & ID CAR  1:51:50 PM CHAIR TUCK announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 125, "An Act relating to a veteran's designation on an identification card or a driver's license for Hmong veterans and Lao veterans." 1:52:21 PM REPRESENTATIVE GERAN TARR, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor, said HB 125 would recognize Hmong veterans in Alaska for their service to the U.S. by authorizing a designation on their driver's licenses. She informed the committee Hmong veterans served during the time of the Vietnam War in what is now known as the secret war, when intensified war actions were taken in Laos. She noted many Hmong individuals who were recruited to serve the U.S. military were very young, yet more than 50 years later, Hmong veterans have not received the benefits promised to them. Representative Tarr stressed the bill is an opportunity to recognize service by Hmong veterans before it is too late REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER urged for the photos provided in the committee packet to be made available to the public. REPRESENTATIVE TARR, in response to Chair Tuck's question about the ages of the recruits, said some were as young as 10 years of age. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked what evidence is required to prove one's status as a Hmong or Laos veteran. REPRESENTATIVE TARR said federal documentation substantiates military service; she deferred the question to Robert Doehl, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER directed attention to the bill on page 1, lines 8-10, and page 2, lines 11-13, which read [in part]: a Hmong veteran or Lao veteran who served in military operations in support of the United States in the Kingdom of Laos between February 28, 1961, and May 15, 1975. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER pointed out references on page 1, [line] 13 and on page 2, lines 1 and 16, state "a Hmong veteran or Lao veteran," and asked whether all five references are complete. REPRESENTATIVE TARR said yes. She offered to clarify the aforementioned language with Legislative Legal Services, Legislative Affairs Agency. 1:59:05 PM CHAIR TUCK opened public testimony on HB 125. 1:59:32 PM PASERT LEE stated his support for HB 125, and noted that during the Vietnam War, from 1961 to 1975, the Hmong and Lao people worked very hard for America. He recognized the vast number of people's lives lost during the war in different parts of Vietnam. He offered to bring evidence to prove the truthfulness of the losses. He stated his hope that the American people would support the bill for the Hmong and Lao veterans' license plates and identification cards. He urged the Senate and House to support the bill. MR. LEE related after fighting for America he has lived in the U.S. for almost 42 years and [the Hmong people] have not received any [recognition]. He emphasized that HB 125 would recognize the heavy and painful years of 1961-75 for the Hmong and Lao people. He told some of the efforts and actions of the Hmong and Lao soldiers during the war. He explained the Hmong people who fought for the U.S. lost their country, homeland, and much more. He urged the Senate, House, and chair to open their eyes to look at the bill for the Hmong and Lao people. 2:04:00 PM WILSON VANG testified in Hmong translated by Seng Her. Mr. Wilson Vang said he served with CIA during the Hmong Veteran secret war from 1961-1975 in North Vietnam. During that time his leaders were John Kennedy and President Nixon. He stated that Hmong veterans lost their land, which caused him to come to America. He offered his support of HB 125 because it helps recognize all the service of Hmong and Lao veterans in the war. He explained that in America, the Hmong people are not recognized, and this bill would help begin that process. 2:08:16 PM XAISHOUA VANG testified in Hmong translated by Seng Her. He stated that he was born June 3, 1957 and was requested to join the war from 1968 to 1975 and protect the [Hmong nation] by John Kennedy, President Nixon, General Vang Pao, and others. He said part of the reason why [the Hmong people] have migrated to the U.S. is because of the loss of their country. Right now, their country is not under the control of their people. Mr. Xaishoua Vang offered his impression that [since the war], the Hmong and Lao veterans have not been recognized for their involvement in the war. He remarked, "Today I come here to support HB 125, and ask for the representatives through the chair to support HB 125." He urged the committee members, as leaders of the state, to recognize the importance of HB 125. 2:13:25 PM TONGLOU VANG testified in Hmong translated by Seng Her. He said he was born August 10, 1933 and served in the war from 1961-75. While involved in the war in 1965, he received injuries in his chest and left leg. Many lives were lost in the local community because of the Vietnam soldiers. Afterwards in 1975, the Americans and General Vang Pao and leaders departed the area and the surviving Hmong community was left with nothing. He explained that without any leaders, [the Hmong soldiers] had to seek other shelters, which has led to the most recent gorilla war. He noted that during a six-month long training mission away from his family time he lost many relatives and family members. He requested that the state leaders support of HB 125 and recognize the service in this war. He expressed that [the Hmong people] would not forget the committee's actions. 2:18:40 PM XIAGE VANG testified in Hmong translated by Seng Her. He detailed that he was born in 1945 and now is 75 years old. He thanked the chair and the committee members for hearing him. He explained that in 1961 President Kennedy and the King of Laos discussed a written declaration of the participation engagement with the Hmong and Lao people; troops were involved in the war to help protect the nation. During that time, troops were given supplies such as a radar to track down and control the war. [There was a brief discussion in Hmong about radar.] MR. XIAGE VANG explained that because of the radar given to [the Hmong people], they were better able to identify their situation; unfortunately, the radar was lost. He stated that in that area, bodies have been identified and have not been retrieved, which has caused the Hmong people to migrate to another area. He requested that the chair, the leaders, and everyone recognize HB 125 as something of importance to him and the Hmong and Lao veterans. He asked that the bill be moved forward and presented to the other leaders of the state. He thanked the committee for hearing the bill. 2:26:55 PM MAI XIONG testified in support of HB 125 to recognize Hmong and Lao veterans with license plates and IDs. She said the bill would benefit the Hmong people who helped win the war. She explained that the war was very difficult with many casualties and was the reason many Hmong and Lao individuals came to America. She added that she wants more people to know about the efforts of the Hmong people because the generation of veterans is passing. She asked the committee to "pass bill for the Hmong veterans, because that is the only thing we want to get." 2:28:32 PM SAIVIT VONGRATSAMY testified in Laos translated to Hmong by Pasert Lee and to English by Seng Her. He noted the need to honor people's commitment, which HB 125 does. He thanked the committee for hearing his testimony. 2:32:02 PM SAMAK VONGVILAY testified in Laos translated to Hmong by Pasert Lee and to English by Seng Her. He informed the committee that in the war he was a soldier and a cook for the leaders. He stated that HB 125 is very important to him and for the recognition of the Hmong and Lao veterans. 2:34:32 PM ROBERT DOEHL, Deputy Commissioner, Office of the Commissioner, Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs, stated DMVA's support for HB 125 which recognizes those who have made substantial sacrifices in service to the U.S. and who also brought many American service members to safety. He advised there is an established method to verify a veteran's status. 2:35:44 PM VERDIE BOWEN, Director, Veterans Affairs, Office of Veteran Affairs, Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs, expressed his support for HB 125. He provided a brief history of the 30,000-member Hmong army that faced 70,000-100,000 soldiers of the North Vietnamese Army along the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos, suffering huge losses of life. In response to Representative Saddler's question as to the number of Hmong veterans [in Alaska], he estimated 30-40 veterans would receive veterans' status on their driver's licenses. He said in April 2016, the Alaska Veteran Advisory Council, Office of Veterans Affairs, DMVA, voted in support of individuals receiving the veteran designation, and also related a statement of personal insight into the service of the Hmong veterans. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER restated his intent to use the definition of Hmong veteran and Lao veteran [text previously provided]. MR. BOWEN indicated his agreement. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked whether the federal certification of Hmong or Lao veteran status would suffice for the purposes of the proposed legislation. MR. BOWEN explained Hmong and Lao veteran status was designated on their entrance visas at the time the veterans entered the U.S.; the Office of Veteran Affairs would utilize a program similar to that utilized for veterans of the Alaska Territorial Guard. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER questioned whether the verification would be an efficient process, given the age of the entrance visas. MR. BOWEN explained Hmong veterans' groups in Anchorage have already established the service of their members. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER stated his support for [HB 125]. 2:40:41 PM MAI RAMIREZ-XIONG informed the committee she was speaking on behalf of her father, Lieutenant Colonel Xiong. She spoke of what the Hmong people have done for the country after immigrating. Ms. Ramirez-Xiong related her father has done much for this country and HB 125 would demonstrate some understanding by the American people, because many are unaware of the service of the Hmong people to a country unknown to them. Ms. Ramirez- Xiong said she is a U.S. citizen and urged that her father and other Hmong veterans receive their well-earned recognition. 2:43:12 PM BEDY XIONG expressed her strong support of HB 125 because Hmong veterans have not been recognized. 2:44:45 PM ZOUNEE YANG said both of her dads served in the Vietnam War at a very young age and she wants HB 125 to pass. The bill is small gratitude for all the Hmong and other tribes involved and would make them happy. Ms. Yang stated she is first generation [U.S. citizen] and wants to be able to teach her children about their grandparents' history of service with the U.S. military, which may not be taught in school. 2:46:38 PM LUCKY XIONG said his father served from 1961-1965 and stated his support for HB 125. Mr. Xiong expressed his belief that veterans deserve recognition for their sacrifices, and the bill would clearly identify and respect those who served. 2:47:41 PM CHAIR TUCK, after ascertaining no one else wished to testify, closed public testimony on HB 125. 2:48:40 PM REPRESENTATIVE TARR stated her intent to provide additional written testimony to the committee. [HB 125 was held over.]