HB 357-NAMING THE INSOOK BAIK BRIDGE  1:07:43 PM CHAIR HOPKINS announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO 357, "An Act naming the Bragaw Street overcrossing of the Glenn Highway the Insook Baik Bridge; naming the Congressman Don Young Bridge; and relating to signage and informational displays for the bridges." 1:07:53 PM REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS opened public testimony on HB 357. 1:08:24 PM PHILLIP MOON, representing self, stated that he had been a family friend of Insook Baik's family for over a decade. He said that she is a loving family member and has a high level of integrity and work ethic. He said that she is heavily involved in charitable activities, including a Thanksgiving food drive in Anchorage, Alaska, and overseas disaster relief. 1:10:04 PM PETER BAIK, representing self, stated that he is the son of Insook Baik and fully supports HB 357. He said that renaming the bridge would provide a symbol of hope to the community for what it means to be a good neighbor. He said that she sacrificed her time and spent long hours running her store and caring for her children as a single mother. She has served the community of Mountain View for decades. 1:12:47 PM JOHN PHARR, representing self, stated that he has known Insook Baik for 30 years and described her as an astute businesswoman. He said that she has used the money gained from her business to support her community and help charitable causes. She has set up Thanksgiving food drives and undertaken missionary trips to areas in which her own safety was at risk in order to help the people of those areas. 1:14:54 PM JACKIE KEMP, representing self, stated that she is the daughter of Insook Baik. She said that her mother immigrated to the United States from South Korea in the 1980s to provide a better life for her children. She said that Insook Baik chose to stay in Alaska due to the sense of community she felt. Insook Baik raised her three children to be proud of their Korean heritage and of their place as Alaskans. She said that Insook Baik taught her children to be thankful to God for what they have and uses that belief as the basis for her charitable contributions. She provides meals to those in need at Thanksgiving as a sign of thankfulness for where she is now and where she came from, and to inspire the community to give back to those in need. She said that Insook Baik is a picture of what it means to live the American Dream. 1:18:42 PM JOSHUA KIM, representing self, stated that he is the former pastor of First Korean Presbyterian Church which is attended by Insook Baik. He said that during his time as her pastor, he saw her as a dedicated woman to her children and her community. He said that her service stemmed from her thankfulness that although she came to the United States with nothing, she was blessed and became successful. He said that she has served the people of Mountain View during Thanksgiving every year since 2008 or 2009. 1:22:42 PM SUN OH, representing self, stated that she has known Insook Baik for 35 years as a fellow member of her church. She said that Insook Baik has a heart that overflows with love for her children and her community. She posited that Insook Baik deserves to have the bridge named after her for her service to the community. 1:25:12 PM JUDY KIM, representing self, stated that she is the wife of the First Korean Presbyterian Church's pastor and has known Insook Baik for 25 years. She described Insook Baik as a perfect mother and a perfect worker. She said that Insook Baik is the leader of the church's woman's group and is well respected within it. She is a woman of prayer that always goes to God with her troubles. She stated that naming the bridge after Insook Baik would be a great encouragement to the Korean community in Anchorage. 1:27:56 PM LISA RUSH, Alaska Black Caucus, stated that she was representing the Alaska Black Caucus, which supports naming the bridge after Insook Baik. She said that the mission of the Alaska Black Caucus is to support education and political and economic well- being for the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) community. She said that Insook Baik is an example to the community of Mountain View of what it means to be a good citizen. 1:29:50 PM KEY GETTY, President, Korean American Community of Anchorage, stated that the Korean American Community of Anchorage was founded in 1973. She said that many Korean Americans give their time, talents, and money in order to help make the community a better place. She said that Korean American involvement in the community in Anchorage has helped lessen its experience with Asian and Pacific Islander (API) discrimination. She said that Insook Baik is a key part of the Korean American community in what it means to give back, and naming the bridge after her would give hope to the community. 1:34:22 PM ROWENA ELLIS, representing self, stated that she has known Insook Baik for 14 years and described her as a loving and caring person. She said that naming the bridge after her would be a great way to honor her contributions for the community. 1:34:59 PM CHAIR HOPKINS closed public testimony on HB 357 after ascertaining nobody else wished to testify. 1:35:14 PM REPRESENTATIVE GARAN TARR, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor of HB 357, stated her gratefulness for the testifiers in sharing their experiences with how Insook Baik has contributed to the community of Mountain View, in Anchorage, Alaska. 1:35:43 PM REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN moved to report HB 357 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, HB 357 was reported out of the House Transportation Standing Committee.