HJR 9-ELIZABETH PERATROVICH COMMEMORATIVE COIN  4:00:53 PM CO-CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 9, Requesting the United States Secretary of the Treasury to mint not less than 5,000,000 $1 coins honoring Elizabeth Peratrovich under the Native American $1 Coin Act. 4:01:29 PM CO-CHAIR FIELDS moved to adopt Amendment 1 to HJR 9, labeled 31- LS0573\A, which read as follows: Page 2, line 16, following "Treasury" insert: "; The Honorable Lisa Murkowski, United States Senate; the Honorable Dan Sullivan, United States Senate; The Honorable Don Young, United States House of Representatives" There being no objection, Amendment 1 was adopted. 4:02:26 PM CO-CHAIR FIELDS, in response to Representative Vance, stated that the amendment would add the three names to the end of the list of names to whom copies of the resolution would be sent, shown on page 2, beginning on line 12. 4:03:32 PM CO-CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS opened public testimony on HJR 9. 4:03:54 PM DICK HANSCOM, Fairbanks Coin Club, testified that the reason the state and the congressional delegation need to act on HJR 9 is because the U.S. mint has not issued a dollar coin into circulation for about five years. He stated that because of the historical significance of this coin to the state, it would be beneficial for the coin to be circulating, educating Alaska's young people, and all Alaskans. Using the coin would honor Elizabeth Peratrovich and educate people about Alaska's Anti- discrimination Act [of 1945]. 4:04:54 PM PAULETTE MORENO, President, Alaska Native Sisterhood (ANS), testified that Elizabeth Wanamaker Peratrovich was a past ANS grand president; her courageous words at a time of critical injustice affected the life that all enjoy today. Her [indisc.] will be highlighted during the 75th anniversary [of the Alaska Anti-Discrimination Act] in 2020. Ms. Moreno relayed that in 2020, the release of the $1 coin will bring attention not only throughout the state, but throughout the nation and the world. Ms. Moreno invited the committee to join the 75th anniversary celebration (indisc.) to ensure that Alaska Native people and their rights are accepted for the intelligence they possess of all matters of this great land. She mentioned that the proposed resolution came from the youth of Alaska by way of the 4-H club, who want clear access not only to the coin but to the hope to hold the coin that reflects one of Alaska's most important stories. The ANS and Alaska Native Brotherhood (ANB) has been advocating for history to highlight her story. They are currently working with school superintendents throughout Alaska to add curriculum, national recognition with all the legislatures, and the Alaska [congressional] delegation to collectively draft a bill in 2020 not only to highlight the achievement of Elizabeth Peratrovich, but to carry her work forward. She said, "It is said that a child will lead the way." She stated that ANS and ANB express their gratitude to all contributors to the introduction of HJR 9. 4:08:48 PM LIBERTY SKELLIE, 4-H, testified that in the 1940s, women were barely working outside the home; for Elizabeth Peratrovich, a Native woman, to talk to legislators about civil rights was extremely (indisc.). (indisc.--poor sound quality) She relayed that she supports the proposed resolution because it would honor Elizabeth Peratrovich and the important things she did. 4:09:47 PM STEPHEN BRUNANSKI, President, Fairbanks Coin Club, testified that Elizabeth Peratrovich is an ideal role model for young people of Alaska. To honor her life and the bravery it took for her to stand up to discrimination that she faced (indisc.--poor sound quality). He said that each time this coin is handled within a commercial transaction creates an opportunity for conversation. He offered that if the U.S. Department of Treasury would release the coin into circulation, the opportunities for discussion about anti-discrimination would be multiplied. He remarked at how Alaska children would feel having a coin with the face of a fellow Alaskan. He maintained that the coin deserves to be distributed to a much wider audience than just coin collectors. He stated, "Let's put it in circulation." 4:11:28 PM CO-CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS, after ascertaining that there was no one else who wished to testify, closed public testimony on HJR 9. 4:11:48 PM REPRESENTATIVE STORY expressed that she is pleased at the introduction of the bill and has great admiration for Elizabeth Peratrovich. She mentioned that the 4-H youth met with her and expressed that they wanted the coin to be put into circulation. 4:12:40 PM REPRESENTATIVE VANCE expressed her appreciation for the introduction of the proposed legislation, requested by Alaska youth; it signals that youth can engage in their government and be a voice for the next generation on anti-discrimination. She maintained that the coin would serve to communicate the message to other areas of the world. 4:13:37 PM CO-CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS commented there is "no more organic democratic process in motion" than the response of Representative Johnson to the request from the youth. 4:14:11 PM CO-CHAIR FIELDS moved to report HJR 9, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal note. There being no objection, CSHJR 9(STA) moved out of committee.