HB 37-ESTABLISHING SUSAN BUTCHER DAY 8:17:05 AM CHAIR LYNN announced that the final order of business was HOUSE BILL NO. 37, "An Act establishing the first Saturday of every March as Susan Butcher Day." CHAIR LYNN stated that he regrets he never met Susan Butcher. 8:17:05 AM REPRESENTATIVE DAVID GUTTENBERG, Alaska State Legislature, presented HB 37 as co-sponsor. He indicated that Ms. Butcher's accomplishments speak to the bill. He stated, "More people have walked on the moon than have won the Iditarod four times." He noted that the level of Ms. Butcher's accomplishment was illustrated by those who spoke at her memorial, including George Lucas, and Bill and Melinda Gates. He shared anecdotes related to her life and noted that in the committee packet is an outline of her greatest accomplishments. The proposed legislation would honor Ms. Butcher by naming the first Saturday of March - the traditional starting day of the Iditarod - "Susan Butcher Day". REPRESENTATIVE GUTTENBERG said he hopes that schools and civic organizations honor her. He highlighted her accomplishment of having taken a team of dogs to the summit of Mt. McKinley. He revealed that he has been a dog musher in the past and is amazed at what Ms. Butcher did with her dogs. He relayed that the Iditarod [committee] is planning events this year to commemorate Ms. Butcher's life, and he asked the legislature to consider adopting HB 37 as a way of recognizing the woman's accomplishments and her ability and persistence in doing the things she did. 8:21:14 AM REPRESENTATIVE LYNN said the dignity with which Ms. Butcher fought her final fight [with cancer] was another remarkable accomplishment. 8:21:41 AM REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL expressed appreciation of the bill. 8:22:08 AM REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL moved to report HB 37 out of committee with individual recommendations and [the accompanying zero fiscal note]. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked that the motion be amended to ask that the committee move the bill with unanimous "do pass." CHAIR LYNN asked if there was any objection [to moving HB 37 unanimously, with a recommended "do pass," out of the House State Affairs Standing Committee]. There being no objection, HB 37 was reported out of committee.