SJR 19-NATIVE AMERICAN VETERANS' MONUMENT  9:41:18 AM CHAIR DYSON called the committee back to order and announced the consideration of SJR 19. 9:41:26 AM KALYSSA MAILE, Staff, Senator Wielechowski, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, said SJR 19 supports the American Indian Veterans' Memorial Initiative (AIVMI) and provided an overview as follows: AIVMI is an effort to secure formal recognition for the generations of Alaska Native and Native American military veterans on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. In 1994, Congress first passed the Native American Veterans' Memorial Establishment Act, allowing for the memorial to be built in our nation's capital. Since that time, support for the monument has been growing, prominent native and veterans groups have passed resolutions in support and in December of 2013, Congress unanimously passed HR 2135, reaffirming their support of this. It should be acknowledged that the Three Servicemen's Statue on the Vietnam Memorial goes a long way to honor the diversity of American Veterans, yet none of the three servicemen is representative of Native American people, and having served in every military conflict since the Revolutionary War, American Indians have established a long and distinguished legacy of military service. SJR 19 affirms the Alaska State Legislature's support of Alaska native and Native American veterans and recognizes their great sacrifices for our country. SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI noted that there are resolutions in support of AIVMI from the Vietnam Veterans of America, National Congress of American Indians, and Alaska Federation of Natives. SENATOR COGHILL asked if AIVMI's monument placement has been selected from a congressional act. 9:43:16 AM SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI answered no. He explained that the Native Americans have been trying to place a memorial on the Mall for decades. MS. MAILE specified that there are two locations that have been considered: one is on the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial site and the other is outside of the National Museum of the American Indian. She stated that two sites previously noted are acceptable to AIVMI, which is spearheaded by the Seminole Tribe out of Florida. She pointed out that SJR 19 simply supports the Memorial Initiative idea and supports Alaska's native veterans. She added that AIVMI is not funded by Congress. SENATOR COGHILL asked if there is a need for relinquishment of land and would Congress have to act. He inquired if the Alaska Legislature needs to push for the land relinquishment from the District of Columbia. MS. MAILE answered that Congress addressed the land relinquishment in 1994 and 2013. SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI remarked that Congress just needs to do it and SJR 19 pushes for the project to commence. He said the initiative is a nationwide effort to get the memorial constructed. He noted that he has spoken with representatives from AIVMI at a recent national conference that requested Alaska to pass a resolution. SENATOR COGHILL summarized that SJR 19 will add Alaska's "Voice to the chorus." He said according to SJR 19, Alaska has 5,500 natives that have served and the Legislature has to speak for them in many ways. 9:45:14 AM CHAIR DYSON remarked that Alaska's aboriginal people have volunteered and served in the highest percentage of anybody in North America. He set forth that the patriotism exhibited by Alaska Natives impresses him and he hopes that legislators will work hard to get a suitable recognition of a monument in Alaska. SENATOR GIESSEL noted that SJR 19 does not robustly call out Alaska's native veterans. She stated that it would be nice to have a line in SJR 19 that calls out the Alaska Territorial Guard. She noted having the honor to hear a Navajo Code Talker speak at a recent conference. CHAIR DYSON mentioned his passion for history and noted that the Japanese in World War II were absolutely befuddled by the Navajo Code Talkers. SENATOR GIESSEL moved to report SJR 19, labeled 28-LS1245\N with zero fiscal note and attached individual recommendations. 9:47:34 AM CHAIR DYSON announced that seeing no objection, SJR 19 passes out of the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.