SJR 14-MILITARY PERSONNEL CUTS & BASE CLOSURES    9:05:36 AM CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI announced the consideration of SJR 14, which he said highlights the strategic importance of Alaska's bases and military personnel. SENATOR PASKVAN moved to adopt the proposed committee substitute (CS) for SJR 14, labeled 27-LS1299\M, as the working document. CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI objected for discussion purposes. KENDRA KLOSTER, staff to Senator Bill Wielechowski, sponsor, presented SJR 14. The resolution is a result of the base realignment and closure process in 2005 and a recent possibility of another round of closures in 2013 and 2015. She related that it is important that the legislature show support for Alaska military bases and personnel. There will also be a cut of $487 billion over the next 10 years for military bases. The Alaska military force is of great importance to Alaska's economy and strategic location. Thirty-two military installations and more than 23,000 active duty members and 37,000 active duty family members contribute to about 13 percent of the state's economy. CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI noted there was one proposed amendment. 9:07:27 AM LUKE HOPKINS, Mayor, Fairbanks North Star Borough, thanked the committee for hearing the resolution. He reported on the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) process from 2005 which resulted in pushing back realignment for Eielson Air Force Base. He voiced concern about another BRAC round. He stressed the strategic importance of Eielson Air Force Base in the world theater. He asked the committee to consider this issue and support the resolution. CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI agreed that the resolution was of great importance to Fairbanks. He requested information about Mayor Hopkins' proposed amendment. MAYOR HOPKINS related that he talked to Senator Coghill about language that would highlight the importance of interior Alaska. CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI thanked the mayor. 9:11:21 AM C.W. FLOYD, Special Assistant for Military and Veterans Affairs, Office of Senator Mark Begich, offered to answer questions on SJR 14. CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI requested more information about the BRAC process. MR. FLOYD explained that BRAC would require Congressional approval. A list of military bases under consideration would be developed and reviewed. In 2005, the BRAC committee came to Alaska to take testimony regarding the reduction of Eielson Base. He noted that currently the Congressional climate does not support domestic BRAC in light of all alternatives. CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI asked what affects the 2005 BRAC had on Alaska. MR. FLOYD replied that it brought out facts and dispelled rumors about costs. Cost savings implications were found to be significant. The strategic importance was highlighted, as well as future development opportunities, especially as related to environmental impacts, unmanned aerial vehicles, and the global reach of the training centers. 9:18:05 AM CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI asked about Secretary of Defense Panetta's prediction that $487 billion in military cuts are expected over the next ten years. He wondered how that would affect Alaska. MR. FLOYD opined that it was too soon to speculate on that issue. SENATOR PASKVAN recalled heating costs being a concern during the 2005 hearings. He said it was found that there was a leveling of BTU consumption by including air conditioning in cost comparisons of bases. MR. FLOYD said he assumed it was so, but did not know. He offered to find out. 9:19:50 AM JIM PALMER, Senator Lisa Murkowski's Office, agreed that Congress is not in favor of a BRAC process at this time. Any downsizing of the military in Alaska would not be a good idea for America, given the strategic position of Alaska's bases to Asian Pacific theaters. He noted that the governor, the legislature, and the Congressional delegation would be working closely together on this issue. He voiced concern about the possibility of moving F-16's from Eielson to Elmendorf. CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI noted widespread support on the legislative level. He asked if moving the F-16's was a precursor for upcoming BRAC rounds. MR. PALMER said that would be speculation on his part. He pointed out that moving the jets from Eielson would make it easier to put the base in a BRAC situation. 9:23:29 AM CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI withdrew his objection to adopting the CS for SJR 14. There being no further objection, version M was before the committee. SENATOR PASKVAN moved to adopt Amendment 1: WHEREAS the northern most U.S. Air Force base in North America is located in central Alaska is home to Red Flag North exercises that provide access to the Joint Pacific Range Complex training space for combined Allied joint training including extensive live weapons fire, live ordinances, and controlled UAV airspace and overland supersonic flight; and WHEREAS the Pacific Air Bridge is supported by Alaskan Based KC-135 tankers with 24 million gallons of jet fuel storage supplied by a central Alaska refinery via direct pipeline; and WHEREAS the state of Alaska has invested $80 million of its own capital funds in the last two years to provide the military exclusive direct ground access to JPARC which is adjacent to a central Alaska Air Force base; and There being no objection, Amendment 1 was adopted. CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI spoke of the importance of Alaska's strategic location. He said the economic impact of 13 percent is an important factor for retaining military bases in Alaska. 9:25:27 AM SENATOR PASKVAN referred to a previous comment on BRAC and the choice of closing domestic and international bases. He stressed that domestic bases should be considered last for a BRAC process because of the tremendous economic impact closing them would have on communities. SENATOR PASKVAN moved to report CSSJR 14, version M, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations. There being no objection, CSSJR 14(STA) moved from the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.