HB 374-NAMING DOUTHIT VETERANS' MEMORIAL BRIDGE CHAIRMAN KOHRING announced that the first matter before the committee was HOUSE BILL NO. 374, "An Act naming the David Douthit Veterans' Memorial Bridge." Number 014 REPRESENTATIVE KEN LANCASTER, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor of HB 374, said that the Soldotna City Council asked him to bring HB 374 forward and characterized it as a fairly straightforward bill. He said the bill would name the bridge over the Kenai River the David Douthit Memorial Bridge. Representative Lancaster said that the bill was widely supported by the community of Soldotna and within the military community throughout the state. REPRESENTATIVE LANCASTER told the committee that David Douthit grew up in Soldotna next door to him. Mr. Douthit was killed February 27, 1991. Mr. Douthit served as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army, and he was the only Alaskan killed in the Persian Gulf War. His wife Jesse, young daughter Rebecca, parents, and brothers and sisters. Number 037 REPRESENTATIVE WILSON asked if there were plans to put names on the bridge. REPRESENTATIVE LANCASTER said that to his knowledge, it was not. Number 070 NITA DOUTHIT, mother of David Douthit, testified via teleconference. She said the Douthit family wanted to thank Representative Lancaster for sponsoring the bill, and she called him a good family friend. She said Mr. Douthit's daughter Rebecca would be honored by the bridge being named in his memory. She said it would honor all veterans, as David would have approved. She thanked the committee for its consideration and the time spent on the matter. CHAIRMAN KOHRING said it was an honor to have the legislation before the committee, and he expressed his gratitude for Mr. Douthit's service to the country. Number 090 TOM BOEDEKER, City Manager, City of Soldotna, testified via teleconference. He expressed the city's wholehearted support of the bill. He thanked the committee for its action. Number 102 REPRESENTATIVE SCALZI moved to report HB 374 out of committee with individual recommendations and zero fiscal notes. CHAIRMAN KOHRING asked if there would be signage put up on the bridge. Number 105 DENNIS POSHARD, Legislative Liaison, Office of the Commissioner, Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, testified before the committee. He said that the department intends to put a sign on either end of the bridge with the new name. Number 120 CHAIRMAN KOHRING asked if there was any objection to moving the bill. There being no objection, HB 374 was moved out of the House Transportation Standing Committee. REPRESENTATIVE OGAN said that to his knowledge, there was no sign on a bridge that he had brought forth legislation to name [in a previous year].