HB 247-ALASKA NATIONAL GUARD DAY  8:08:22 AM CHAIR LYNN announced that the first order of business was HOUSE BILL NO. 247, "An Act establishing July 30 each year as Alaska National Guard Day." CHAIR LYNN, as joint prime sponsor, introduced HB 247. He lauded the National Guard for the work it has done and continues to do. He noted that the National Guard had recently help the City of Cordova, when that community experienced a particularly heavy and sustained snow fall. Chair Lynn read headlines from various news reports related to the National Guard. He said the following words are associated with the National Guard: assist, deploy, perform, help, perform, rescue, save, and serve. He said the National Guard has a presence in over 75 communities throughout Alaska and, since 2003, has deployed approximately 1,500 overseas during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Chair Lynn said the proposed legislation would recognize the value and dedication of the National Guard in its role in the viability, economy, security, and overall well-being of Alaska and the United States, by creating National Guard Day on July 30 of each year. He relayed that July 30 is the day on which, in 1948, the National Guard was recognized by U.S. Congress. 8:12:45 AM LIEUTENANT GENERAL CRAIG E. CAMPBELL testified as a retired member of the Alaska National Guard in support of HB 247. He read excerpts from his written testimony (included in the committee packet), which he had previously presented to the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs. He related that the National Guard is the oldest component of the armed forces in the U.S., first organized as the militia by decree in Massachusetts in 1636. The National Guard is the only military service in the U.S. with both a federal and state role; those in the guard are under the direction of the governor of their state of residence until such times as they may be called upon by the President of the United States. He said today there are over half a million members of the National Guard in the U.S. 8:16:51 AM LIEUTENANT GENERAL CAMPBELL talked about the history of the National Guard in Alaska. He said former Governor Ernest Gruening initiated formal actions to have a National Guard in the Territory of Alaska in 1939. Soon thereafter, the U.S. was at war, and the 297th Infantry Battalion was established, which was the beginning of the Army National Guard in Alaska. Governor Gruening also established the Alaska Territorial Guard, which had over 6,600 members, mostly Alaska Native. In 2000, then Senator Ted Stevens introduced a bill finally recognizing the members of the Territorial National Guard. By 1952, he said, Alaska had both an Army and Air National Guard. LIEUTENANT GENERAL CAMPBELL said about 70 percent of those in the National Guard serves part-time and holds civilian jobs around the state; they volunteer their services when needed by the state or the federal government. He said since 2003, members of the Alaska National Guard have deployed to a number of places around the world, including: Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Kosovo, the Horn of Africa, Pakistan, and Kyrgyzstan. Further, the National Guard offers humanitarian relief and has responded following global natural disasters in Japan and Haiti, and after domestic disasters, including Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Irene. Lieutenant General Campbell pointed out that the Alaska National Guard also conducts Operation Santa Clause and conducts arctic care missions to villages. He opined that it would be appropriate to recognize July 30 each year as Alaska National Guard Day, and he asked the committee to support HB 247. 8:20:59 AM JIM KALLANDER, Mayor, City of Cordova, testified in support of HB 247. He said he declared a disaster in the City of Cordova after determining the city's health and safety was threatened by the amount of snowfall it was experiencing. He said he called the Alaska Department of Homeland Security, and the National Guard arrived in the City of Cordova just in time to help. Mayor Kallander said the storm compromised the infrastructure of many homes. He said members of the guard were Alaskan and "carried the Alaska spirit," and the community was grateful. 8:23:16 AM MARK LYNCH, City Manager, City of Cordova, testified in support of HB 247. He said when the emergency occurred, the residents of the City of Cordova had already been shoveling snow for several weeks and working hard to protect their property. He said in a period of two to three weeks, the city had received an amount of snow that would exceed the normal snowfall for an entire season. People were worn out and unable to keep up. He said there is no doubt that the city would have lost additional buildings if the National Guard had not come to its aid, and he ventured lives possibly could have been lost in those buildings. He said the city is thankful for what the National Guard did, and he stated his support of HB 247 as a way to recognize the National Guard for its service to the state and the nation. 8:25:17 AM TIM JOYCE testified in support of HB 247. He said he was a former mayor of the City of Cordova, and he was working as the public information officer during the recent snow emergency. He stated that he can attest the disaster would have been much worse without the intervention of the National Guard. He said words alone cannot express the gratitude felt for the National Guard. He posited that it is appropriate that the State of Alaska recognizes the National Guard on the date of the founding of that entity. Mr. Joyce pointed out that the employers of those in the National Guard are unsung heroes, because they allow their employees to take off from work to meet the call of the National Guard, which can put a strain on their businesses. He offered his understanding that the City of Cordova is unified in its support of the proposed legislation. 8:27:14 AM JENNIFER GIBBONS, Cordova Times, testified in support of HB 247. She described the moment she realized that the snow storm had reached a tipping point, when roofs were starting to collapse. She said the arrival of the National Guard was not only a physical relief, but also a mental boost. She said National Guard members expressed appreciation for the opportunity to help divert greater disaster. She concurred with the City Manager that lives may have been lost without the help of the National Guard, and she said the National Guard is a great example of volunteerism and "high service ethic." She opined that it is important to recognize and encourage that. 8:30:57 AM CHAIR LYNN invited further legislators to co-sponsor HB 247. 8:31:03 AM REPRESENTATIVE PETERSEN, as co-sponsor of HB 247, offered information as to how a person could join the National Guard. 8:31:48 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER noted that he belonged to the National Guard in the 1970s and proudly supports the proposed legislation. 8:32:21 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER moved to report HB 247 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, HB 247 was reported out of the House State Affairs Standing Committee.