HB 67-VIETNAM VETERANS DAY                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
9:06:10 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DYSON announced  that the first order of  business would be                                                               
HB 67 [CSHB 67(MLV) was before the committee.]                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STEVE THOMPSON,  sponsor of  CSHB 67(MLV),  noted                                                               
that the bill is an Act  that establishes March 29th of each year                                                               
as  Vietnam   Veterans  Day.  He   read  the   following  sponsor                                                               
statement:                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     In  2012, the  United States  Senate and  the President                                                                    
     designated  March 29,  as  Vietnam  Veterans Day.  This                                                                    
     year marks  the 40th  anniversary of the  withdrawal of                                                                    
     U.S. combat and combat-support units from Vietnam.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     On  March  29,  1973,  all U.S.  troops  withdrew  from                                                                    
     Vietnam, marking  an end of  the 10 year  United States                                                                    
     military  involvement.   Upon  their   return,  Vietnam                                                                    
     Veterans were  not greeted  with parades  or triumphant                                                                    
     speeches such as the ones  delivered at the end of each                                                                    
     of the  World Wars. Instead, Vietnam  veterans returned                                                                    
     home  to  silence, and  in  some  cases, to  abuse  for                                                                    
     having  served  their  country during  a  controversial                                                                    
     war.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     House Bill  67 would dedicate  March 29th of  each year                                                                    
     as Vietnam  Veterans Day in  Alaska to  commemorate the                                                                    
     military service of American  men and women in Vietnam.                                                                    
     The  day may  be observed  by suitable  observances and                                                                    
     exercises by civic groups and the public.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     I want to thank the committee for hearing HB 67 today.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DYSON asked if the vote was unanimous in the House.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON said it was.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  DYSON understood  that there  was  extensive testimony  at                                                               
that time.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON said there  was. Several Vietnam Veterans                                                               
testified. He  shared his own  experience in the army  during the                                                               
Vietnam era.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DYSON asked  if anyone wished to testify. No  one wished to                                                               
testify.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DYSON asked  if there was any  negative testimony regarding                                                               
the bill.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON said there was none.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  GIESSEL  moved to  report  CS  for  HB 67,  labeled  28-                                                               
LS0308\U, from committee with  individual recommendations and the                                                               
attached  zero  fiscal  note.  There  being  no  objection,  CSHB                                                               
67(MLV)  was  reported from  the  Senate  State Affairs  Standing                                                               
Committee.