HB 246-NAMING CERTAIN BRIDGES  1:03:47 PM CHAIR KOOKESH announced that the first bill before the committee would be CSHB 246(FIN). RACHEL KALLANDER, Staff, Representative Bill Thomas, explained HB 246 on behalf of the sponsor. The bill would name fifteen bridges and two airports after prominent Alaskans. She read from the following sponsor statement: Cordova is located in the Copper River Valley and its residents have a strong sense of duty, duty to country and duty to their people. It is that sense of duty that has spurred the people of Cordova to serve in every major war of the 20th century. It is also that sense of duty that compelled an Eyak elder to nearly singlehandedly preserve the Eyak language for future generations. It is also this sense of duty that prompted the City of Cordova to ask the state to name 15 of its unnamed Cordova-area bridges after some of their finest residents. In honor of the brave young men who served and made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, the City of Cordova has requested that 14 of their unnamed bridges be named for each of the sons that they have lost. They are: World War I  James Bennet William M. Jones Steve Green Lucian Platt Matthew Anderson W.H. Mumby John W. Jones World War II Patrick B. Burchett Norman D. Osbourne Leonard F. Olson Vietnam  David Henry Elisovsky David Allen Lape Warren Allen Paulsen Michael Dean Banta The City of Cordova has also requested that the bridge over the Eyak River be named after Marie Smith Jones. Marie Smith Jones was an Eyak elder who worked tirelessly to preserve the Eyak language. She left behind one of the most comprehensive records of any aboriginal language that exists today. 1:05:56 PM CYNTHIA ERICKSON, staff, Representative Alan Dick, presented information related to HB 246. She related information about the Koyukuk Station Veterans' Airport and the Minto-Al Wright Airport. The Koyukuk Airport is located on the Yukon River thirty miles west of Galena and 290 air miles from Fairbanks. The original village of Koyukuk, primarily all Koyukon Athabascan Indians, was established around 1867. It used to be called Koyukuk Station, because a military telegraph line was constructed along the North side of the Yukon, and Koyukuk became the site of the telegraph station. In naming the airport, the residents also wish to honor the many Native military veterans who have served their country. She related that the Minto-Al Wright Airport is named after an Athabascan aviator born in 1925 and raised in the Minto Flats. Al Wright joined the army and afterwards obtained his pilot's license with the G.I. Bill. She related her experience last year interviewing Al Wright who is 86 and still flying. 1:08:27 PM SENATOR KOOKESH asked if there was any opposition to the bill. MS. KALLANDER said no. JERRY MCCUNE, President, Cordova Fishermen United, testified in support of HB 246. He called the legislation a good approach to honor fallen veterans and Ms. Jones. SENATOR KOOKESH closed public testimony. 1:09:55 PM SENATOR MENARD moved to report CSHB 246, version M, from committee with individual recommendations and the attached fiscal note. CHAIR KOOKESH announced that without objection, CSSB 246(FIN) was reported from the Senate Transportation Standing Committee.