HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS January 28, 1993 10:00 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Rep. Richard Foster, Co-Chair Rep. Eldon Mulder, Co-Chair Rep. Mike Navarre Rep. Ed Willis Rep. Pete Kott MEMBERS ABSENT None COMMITTEE CALENDAR Informal meeting with the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Committee organizational meeting. WITNESS REGISTER LARRY PATCH, Commander Veterans of Foreign Wars HC32, Box 6518 Wasilla, AK 99654 Phone: (907)257-4746 Position Statement: Addressed the committee SGT. GEORGE PAUL Alaska National Guard P.O. Box 22515 Juneau, AK 99802 Phone: (907)463-4562 Position Statement: Addressed the committee GARY KURPIUS State Service Officer Veterans of Foreign Wars VA Regional Office 2925 DeBarr Road, Suite 3106 Anchorage, AK 99508-2989 Phone: (907)276-8213 Position Statement: Observer RICHARD CORNELIUS Veterans of Foreign Wars P.O. Box 5364 Ketchikan, AK 99901 Phone: (907)225-1000 Position Statement: Observer LEE LEWIS Veterans of Foreign Wars P.O. Box 20011 Juneau, AK 99802 Phone: (907)586-1950 Position Statement: Observer GERALD DORSHER Veterans of Foreign Wars P.O. Box 240003 Douglas, AK 99824 Phone: (907)364-3346 Position Statement: Observer ACTION NARRATIVE TAPE 93-1, SIDE A Number 000 CO-CHAIR RICHARD FOSTER called the first meeting of the House Military and Veterans Affairs Committee to order at 10:02 a.m. All members were present. CHAIR FOSTER announced the purpose of the meeting and introduced the Veterans of Foreign Wars delegation. Members of the delegation in attendance were: Larry Patch, Commander, Juneau Gary Kurpius, Service Officer, Anchorage Richard Cornelius, Ketchikan Lee Lewis, Juneau Gerald Dorscher, Juneau Sgt. George Paul, National Guard, Juneau. Number 131 COMMANDER LARRY PATCH stated that General Cox was looking at cutting the burial program from the budget and putting these funds into services offices. He said the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) supports the General's proposal. COMMANDER PATCH listed the VFW's proposal: a. Support the proposal of General Cox to cut the death gratuity. b. Support the flag desecration bill introduced by the Senate. c. Veterans Home. A need for a full skilled nursing home. Number 372 REP. MULDER introduced SGT. GEORGE PAUL from the NATIONAL GUARD in Juneau. SGT. PAUL addressed the committee by thanking them for funding an appropriation for renovation of the armory located in Juneau. An invitation was extended to the committee to view the new gym floor at the armory. Sgt. Paul stated the gym is utilized by the community of Juneau for various functions, such as youth and adult basketball, fundraising bazaars by various organizations, U. S. Coast Guard functions, and this last year it housed the Boy Scouts visiting for a week from another state. SGT. PAUL mentioned the policy for using the facility. He said there is a fee, set by the Anchorage office, if there is no volunteer from the Guards to be responsible during a function; and if there is a Guard or active military personnel, then there is no fee. SGT. PAUL announced that February 8 was the date for their Expo, which was a show of the equipment used by the National Guard. Number 419 COMMANDER PATCH stated that there are no requirements for the various services they provide, and there is no need to be a member of the VFW because they provide services to all eligible veterans and family members. Number 537 COMMANDER PATCH stated he discussed with the staff of Senator Murkowski the idea of obtaining the Best Western to be turned over to the state. He said they were looking at having the nursing home located in Mat-Su away from the Anchorage area. Number 653 CHAIRMAN FOSTER announced there would be an informal meeting of the committee at the armory on February 8 to coincide with the Expo. He asked Sgt. Paul to coordinate the meeting with Liz Walters, a member of Chairman Foster's staff. Number 754 CHAIRMAN FOSTER announced that the following bills had been assigned to the committee: HB 59, HB 75 and HJR 18. Number 767 CHAIRMAN FOSTER informed the committee that General Cox's mother was terminally ill and would not be available for a meeting until February 10 or later. Chairman Foster asked that a card signed by the committee be sent to General Cox. Number 769 CHAIRMAN FOSTER announced the next regular meeting, which was scheduled for March 8. He said Lt. General Ralston would address the committee. He asked that the Governor's conference be reserved and that an invitation be extended to all the legislators. Number 780 REP. WILLIS asked that the committee sponsor the flag bill. CHAIRMAN FOSTER asked that Bill Stolz, staff person for Rep. Willis, and Liz Walters, staff person for Rep. Foster, draft the bill for the committee to review and input. Number 806 CHAIRMAN FOSTER adjourned the meeting at 10:47 a.m.