HB 125-LAO/HMONG VETERAN DRIVER'S LIC. & ID CARD    3:32:06 PM CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS 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." CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS opened public testimony on HB 125. 3:32:44 PM KANG YANG testified that she is speaking in behalf of Hmong community members and millennials of that community in support of HB 125. She asserted that the proposed legislation represents an incredible opportunity to honor the Hmong who spent their childhood and teen years sacrificing their lives for the lives of American soldiers. She stated that many Hmong in Southeast Asia are still being persecuted and killed for aiding Americans during the Vietnam War. MS. YANG maintained that she has spent much of her 22 years growing up in Anchorage explaining who the Hmong are and their background, even though Anchorage has one of the largest Hmong communities in America. She asserted that her parents and grandparents are thankful for the opportunity to live in America; and the proposed legislation is a small way to bring respect and honor to those that helped bring so many American family members home from the Vietnam War. 3:34:51 PM ROBERT DOEHL, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), testified that last April [2016], the Alaska Veterans Advisory Council (AVAC) looked at identical legislation introduced by Representative LeDoux [House Bill 330, introduced during the Twenty-Ninth Alaska State Legislature, 2015-2016, withdrawn on 5/2/16]. The AVAC consists of Alaskans and veterans organizations across the state. The AVAC voted to support state recognition of the Hmong as veterans, for those who served in Vietnam assisting the U.S. Armed Forces. 3:35:58 PM PAFERT LEE, Hmong America Veterans, relayed the experience of the Hmong during the Vietnam War from 1961 to 1975, their involvement with the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and statistics of casualties among soldiers of the Vietnam War. (indisc.) He maintained that the Hmong soldiers never received any benefits from the CIA or the U.S. government. (indisc.) He explained the move of the Hmong people to the U.S. in 1975. (indisc.) MR. Lee offered his support for HB 125 and said that the Hmong have waited over 42 years to receive notice for their sacrifice. He maintained that it is time for the Hmong and Lao [veterans] to be acknowledged and urged the passage of the proposed legislation. 3:40:44 PM REPRESENTATIVE BIRCH requested Mr. Lee's testimony in written form. 3:41:17 PM MAI XIONG testified that she was speaking for the Hmong people who assisted the U.S. during the Vietnam War. Many Hmong sacrificed their lives for America; and many Hmong are still hiding in the jungles [in Southeast Asia]; because of their involvement in the war they fear repercussions from the Communists. (indisc.) 3:44:31 PM CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS asked Ms. Xiong to provide written testimony to the committee. CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS, after ascertaining that there was no one else who wished to testify, closed public testimony on HB 125. 3:45:12 PM REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX expressed her support for HB 125. 3:45:23 PM REPRESENTATIVE WOOL concurred. 3:45:30 PM REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX moved to report HB 125 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, HB 125 was reported out of the House State Affairs Standing Committee.