HB 34-NAMING VIETNAM HELI. PILOTS' MEM. BRIDGE  2:31:56 PM CHAIR MYERS announced the consideration of HOUSE BILL NO. 34 "An Act naming the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots' Memorial Bridge." 2:32:34 PM REPRESENTATIVE LADDIE SHAW, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of HB 34, stated that he served two tours of duty in Vietnam. He related that he is an associate member of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association as a certified helicopter pilot and a Vietnam veteran. He credited Representative Tilton with the original idea for this bill since the bridge is in her district. However, she allowed him to sponsor HB 34 due to his helicopter pilot experience in Vietnam. He also acknowledged the work on HB 34 by Representative Tilton's staff, Health Hilyard. He informed members that every veteran signed on as a co-sponsor of HB 34. 2:34:20 PM REPRESENTATIVE SHAW related one of his personal experiences from his time in Vietnam. He referred to a photograph dated September 20, 1970, identifying the person in the lower right-hand corner of the photograph as himself. The photo emphasized the importance of helicopters to the troops in Vietnam. The Huey helicopter shown arrived within seven minutes and evacuated three of his teammates to Dang, Vietnam, but sadly, two others died. One of the injured teammates was put into an induced coma due to the severity of his wounds. He credited his teammate's survival to the radio strapped on his back and the quick evacuation. Thirty-seven years later, he crossed paths with this friend, who recovered from his injuries and worked 20 years in law enforcement. He retired as Chief of Police in Horseheads, New York. REPRESENTATIVE SHAW said he previously served as the Military and Veterans Affairs director. He reviewed several peaks in the Chugach Mountains that were named in honor of veterans, including Mount POW/MIA and Gold Star Peak. Both of those peaks look down on the bridge that HB 34 proposes to name. 2:36:27 PM REPRESENTATIVE SHAW emphasized the value of honoring these helicopter pilots. He noted that the bill carries a small fiscal note. 2:37:18 PM JOSH WALTON, Staff, Representative Laddie Shaw, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, stated that HB 34 would name bridges 1124 and 1889 the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots' Memorial Bridge. He explained that these bridges span both the north and southbound bridges over the Matanuska River at mile 30.4 of the Glenn Highway. He stated that anyone who travels from Anchorage to the Mat-Su Valley crosses over one of these bridges. He noted that members' packets contain photos of the bridges. He referred to a 1994 article, "The Coming of Age: The Role of the Helicopter in the Vietnam War," which characterized the Vietnam conflict as the first actual helicopter conflict. Several other articles emphasize the heroism of helicopter pilots, including a September 15, 2016, Time magazine article and a September 2015 Air & Space Magazine article, he said. He reviewed additional support for the bill. 2:39:46 PM LYNN KILE, President, Vietnam Helicopter Pilot Association (VHPA), Anchorage, Alaska, stated that he is a Vietnam veteran. He stated that VHPA's membership in Alaska consists of 85 pilots and crewmembers. He estimated an additional 300 pilots live in Alaska but he was unsure of the number of crewmembers in the state. MR. KILE said the story Representative Shaw mentioned was just one of many experienced by helicopter crews and pilots. The medevac helicopters flew over 500,000 missions evacuating over 900,000 soldiers and troops with an 82 percent survival rate. From logistics to medical evacuations, helicopter pilots flew thousands of missions. He said he is honored that the committee is taking up this bill. Naming these bridges represents a small token of thanks to honor the contributions these helicopter pilots made to the state and nation. He recalled that veterans did not receive a warm welcome home like WWI or WWII veterans did so now is the time to honor their contributions and sacrifices made to the nation and state by the dedication of these small landmark bridges over the Matanuska River. This landmark memorial will remind those who see it of the trials and tribulations of the Vietnam conflict and to honor those who dedicated their skills to our state and country. 2:42:24 PM SENATOR SHOWER thanked the sponsor for introducing the bill. He said his father-in-law served three tours of duty in Vietnam; and half of his academy class died in Vietnam. Further, his son was airlifted in Iraq due to significant injuries he sustained. He acknowledged the importance of helicopter evacuation because treatment can begin on board. This bill is important because the Vietnam veterans served their country but were often disrespected, he said. 2:44:55 PM At ease 2:45:15 PM CHAIR MYERS reconvened the meeting. 2:45:23 PM SENATOR KIEHL said it was his privilege to work in civilian life under four Vietnam veterans. He stated that he learned about duty and hard work from them but it cannot begin to compare with the comments and service of Senator Shower and the sponsor of the bill. He thanked them for their service. 2:46:11 PM SENATOR MICCICHE said he was honored to support HB 34. He stated that when he worked offshore in Cook Inlet he relied on helicopters. He commended the skills of the helicopter pilots who helped many survive the Vietnam War. 2:47:24 PM CHAIR MYERS opened public testimony on HB 34 and after first determining no one wished to testify, closed public testimony on HB 34. 2:47:48 PM SENATOR MICCICHE referred to the fiscal notes. He acknowledged the importance of respecting the fiscal note on bills. However, he related his understanding that bridge signs are often taken out by snowblowers, car crashes or wear and tear so replacing signs was common. Thus, he said he grapples to understand the necessity for a fiscal note to replace this sign when the department will need to replace it at some point and the sign honoring these veterans seems worthy, he said. 2:49:00 PM MR. MILLS agreed that signs are replaced but he was not certain of the mechanism to do so. He said the department provided the sponsor's office with several options. The fundamental issue of zeroing out a fiscal note was that it would escalate the number of requests to rename bridges and require numerous new signs. He related his understanding that the Department of Administration has a specialty plate mechanism whereby the costs are paid by user fees. He suggested that a similar concept could be worked out. The department cannot pursue it within this legislature's timeframe given that the legislative session was nearly over. He stated that the department believes in equal treatment but would like to address this at a later date. SENATOR MICCICHE said he hopes the legislature could create a method for people to donate privately. He said he understands how important it is for people to do so. SENATOR SHOWER also offered his support to find a way to get receipt authority so those who wished to cover the cost of signs could do so. 2:53:11 PM SENATOR SHOWER moved to report HB 34, work order 32-LS0265\A, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). CHAIR MEYERS found no objection and HB 34 was reported from the Senate Transportation Standing Committee.