HJR 16-HMONG VETERANS MILITARY RIGHTS  4:58:28 PM CHAIR SHOWER announced the consideration of HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 16 Encouraging the United States Congress to pass legislation granting the Hmong veterans of the Vietnam War access to the same veteran benefits received by United States veterans. He opined that many Americans do not understand or appreciate the service the Hmong people provided during the Vietnam War. He noted that Vietnam veteran Representative Laddie Shaw saw half of his college class die in Vietnam. The point is that many of the Hmong who served in combat alongside U.S. service members put their lives on the line and saved an uncalculated number of lives. They were fierce warriors who served with distinction. 4:59:57 PM REPRESENTATIVE DAVID NELSON, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of HJR 16, introduced the legislation reading the following sponsor statement: [Original punctuation provided.] HJR 16 encourages the United States Congress to fulfill the promises made to the Hmong soldiers during the Vietnam War and grant them access to the same veterans' benefits received by the United States veterans. In the 1960's over 100,000 Hmong soldiers were recruited by the United States Central Intelligence Agency to help the United States soldiers in the fight against communism. The Hmong warriors fought to intercept and prevent the flow of troops and supplies along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, and approximately 40,000 were killed as they supported and protected United States Armed Forces during combat missions. The Hmong warriors were heavily outnumbered, however continued to fight, gather critical intelligence about enemy operations, and continued to undertake rescue missions to save the lives of downed United States pilots. The Hmong soldiers suffered acts of retribution and atrocities at the hand of the Pathet Lao and North Vietnamese causing many to flee to Thailand. These soldiers became refugees because the United States government encouraged them to fight on behalf of the United States. The Hmong people fought bravely in what was called the "Secret War", and for their loyalty were promised access to the same veteran benefits as those received by the United States veterans. The Hmong people have put their faith and trust in the United States government, and we are requesting that the promises made to those who risked everything for our country be honored. We must recognize how much the Hmong veterans gave and lost for our country and support HJR 16. 5:01:49 PM SENATOR HOLLAND requested more specific details on the benefits he was requesting. REPRESENTATIVE NELSON replied Hmong veterans have recently been granted the option to be buried at national cemeteries and the resolution is requesting veteran affairs benefits including hospital access and being allowed on military bases to shop at the Post Exchange (PX). CHAIR SHOWER opined that the nation should keep the promises it makes to people who are asked to serve alongside the U.S. military. That has not always happened and that needs to change because it has created an environment of mistrust. He asked Representative Shaw if he would like to talk about what he saw during the Vietnam War and why this is important. 5:04:22 PM REPRESENTATIVE LADDIE SHAW, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, stated that as a Navy SEAL during the Vietnam War he served in the Mekong Delta and the Hmong community was his lifeline. He continued to state: When we went out to gather intel, we seldom went out without a Hmong soldier with us. They would even convince the Viet Cong to turn over and be a Kit Carsen scout for us to benefit our intel gathering. And as was noted, the amount of Hmong soldiers that gave their lives, the retribution as we were leaving in 1975, probably took just as many family lives by the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese as soldiers that were lost. When I was director of the Division of Veterans Affairs back in my state employment days, we spent about two years to get benefits for the Alaska Territorial Guard. Talk about soldiers forgotten; these were men who left their families at 14 or 15 years old to serve their country and to sacrifice basically for their homeland the coast of Alaska. And we ended up getting full military and veteran's benefits for the Alaska Territorial Guard. We were able to bring together their time as Territorial Guardsmen and some active duty time that they had put with the National Guard. And one of our individuals, Sam Herman, was 74 years old when he finally got a retired military ID card. The emotions to this day were absolutely overwhelming. REPRESENTATIVE SHAW said we gave benefits to one group of people that sacrificed for this country and we should do it for the Hmong people who are just as if not more deserving. He thanked the committee for the opportunity to comment. CHAIR SHOWER noted that public testimony was not noticed for the bill and asked committee members if it was permissible to waive public testimony and move the bill today. SENATOR COSTELLO offered her belief that public testimony could be opened and closed after discerning whether or not anyone wanted to testify. She added that the committee could take a brief at ease and ask those who may know. CHAIR SHOWER said he wanted this to be transparent and follow the rules. 5:08:04 PM At ease 5:09:47 PM CHAIR SHOWER reconvened the meeting. He explained that he called the at ease to check on procedures to ensure he was following the rules to move the resolution. He asked the sponsor if he had closing comments. 5:09:57 PM REPRESENTATIVE NELSON drew attention to the support and oppose letters in the packets. He said the Hmong community in Alaska has written many letters in enthusiastic support of the resolution. It is extremely meaningful to the Hmong veterans who served during the Vietnam War. He noted the supporting letters include some personal stories. CHAIR SHOWER noted that he mentioned support and oppose, but he saw no letters in opposition to the resolution. REPRESENTATIVE NELSON clarified that there were no letters in opposition to HJR 16. CHAIR SHOWER mentioned the zero fiscal note. REPRESENTATIVE NELSON agreed. 5:11:10 PM CHAIR SHOWER restated that moving HJR 16 was not planned but "everybody agrees that's the best course of action." He solicited a motion. SENATOR COSTELLO moved to report HJR 16, work order 32-LS0795\B, from committee with individual recommendations and attached zero fiscal note(s). 5:11:31 PM CHAIR SHOWER found no objection and HJR 16 was reported from the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.