HB 37-ESTABLISHING SUSAN BUTCHER DAY  CHAIR MCGUIRE announced the consideration of HB 37. [HB 37 (EFD ADD) was before the committee.] REPRESENTATIVE DAVID GUTTENBERG, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor of HB 37, said the bill establishes the first Saturday of March as Susan Butcher day. She was larger than life in his world. When he attended her memorial service he realized "how much of a person she was on a national level and what she was doing for Alaska." George Lucas and [Bill and Melinda] Gates attended the memorial. Besides being a phenomenal musher, Susan was an American most of us only read about in history books. Her family downplayed that role. She was very down-to-earth. HB 37 is a good thing to do for the state and the nation. CHAIR MCGUIRE introduced David Monson and noted that he has spent a year testifying for this legislation. She welcomed him and thanked him for his efforts. DAVID MONSON, Husband of Susan Butcher, said if he had the choice he wouldn't be here; "I would be at home with her." Life doesn't give you those choices. He always imagined her at 80 years of age and walking determinedly down the street telling people to get out of the way because she had something important to do. In 50 years she probable got more out of life than most. He wondered how he could condense his 25 years with her into two minutes. "I can't do it." 9:08:19 AM MR. MONSON said he has learned from the letters that came from other people; she wasn't just "Susan the musher," she was the representation of Alaska and the inspiration for young people. He said he was humbled that so many people, including military leaders and national media people, thought so highly of her. Melinda [Gates] said Susan helped her find her voice as a woman. It really struck him that he heard from many women who were inspired by Susan to do whatever it was that they wanted to do. One said, "If you can be out there on the trail … then I can walk across the room … because I have arthritis." A seven-year- old girl said she was going to grow up to be a doctor, "and I know that, because you could do something that you weren't supposed to be able to do." When Susan first started racing, people didn't want her to win because she was doing something that women were not supposed to be doing. She never complained about that but just wanted to do her best. When she failed, she tried and tried again. She had been attacked by a moose and put out of the race, and she came back without regrets, and she won. Over the years, that sent a message, he opined. 9:10:37 AM MR. MONSON said Susan was genuine. We met six different presidents, and she treated them the same as any plumber or anyone. She wasn't afraid to say what she thought. You knew where she stood. It is difficult to be here to talk about her, but "when I see how much she inspired others, and when I see what she did in a very positive way to bring the image of Alaska of hard work, dedication, self reliance, and love of the wilderness to the people in the United States and in the world - - she really served a mighty role in presenting our state in the most positive way and bringing many, many people … to Alaska." It served the state well, and it will continue, he stated. She was a role model. "My children were very, very lucky to have her; I was lucky to have her." The state was lucky to have her. It took a year to get here, but in that year, he learned things about Susan that he did not know. It gave him time to pause and read what people had to say about her. "Sometimes life gives you what you need, and maybe this was it." 9:12:59 AM REPRESENTATIVE JAY RAMRAS, Alaska State Legislature, said he used one of Susan Butcher's dogs in a television commercial in 1986. He used to do food drops for her during races. He knew her and David for years. On behalf of the state, Susan Butcher was such a transcending figure of self reliance, and she is good for the brand of Alaska and the support of dog mushing, which has its critics. Recognizing Susan is good for gender equality and for everyone in Alaska. At her funeral Herbie Nayokpuk was not in good health, but he spoke, and Representative Ramras saw "passing Alaska history." Susan had a unique ability to bridge the Native and non-Native world. 9:15:38 AM REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS said she had a certain majesty connecting the two cultures and connecting Alaska to the lower 48. This is an appropriate honor and will pay dividends to Alaska. Alaska needs more legends because it doesn't have any Paul Reveres. 9:16:40 AM JOHN BINKLEY, Former State Senator, said his family has known Susan for many years. She was caring for musk ox and his family loaned her a garage. He once served in this body and she and David were constituents. Mr. Binkley said he helped promote the Iditarod. When Susan and David moved to Fairbanks they became a part of his [tourism] operation, giving visitors a glimpse of life in Alaska. The Iditarod was brought to Alaska by Joe Redington, but Susan brought the Iditarod to the rest of the world. She embodied and represented Alaskans around the world, showing we are independent people and regardless of gender "you can compete equally." Alaskans should be proud of her, and HB 37 is a way to keep that alive. 9:19:40 AM CHAIR MCGUIRE said that some people have asked about other Iditarod mushers, and if there should be an Iditarod Day instead. She spoke of the Elizabeth Peratrovich gallery, and without a specific day honoring her, her story and legend would be lost. Chair McGuire didn't know who Peratrovich was at first, and then she learned her story about standing up in that gallery to speak about Native rights, and making Alaska ahead of the civil rights movement. That was incredible. A Susan Butcher Day sends a story too. MR. BINKLEY said Susan transcends the Iditarod itself. The race was her platform, but it was more about the personification of her to the rest of the world about Alaska. It is not the accomplishments in the race itself, and that is why it should be a Susan Butcher Day and not be diminished to all who have been involved in the Iditarod. 9:22:25 AM SENATOR BUNDE said he understands not wanting to clutter up the statutes with specific days, but Susan was extraordinary. CHAIR MCGUIRE noted that that debate has gone on, but Susan is a role model, an Alaska story, a national story, and a positive story about the race. 9:23:43 AM SENATOR FRENCH moved to report HB 37 from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There being no objection, HB 37(efd add) moved out of committee.