HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS May 13, 1999 5:10 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Lisa Murkowski, Chair Representative John Coghill, Vice Chair Representative Jeannette James Representative Pete Kott Representative Sharon Cissna Representative Richard Foster MEMBERS ABSENT Representative Gail Phillips Representative Eric Croft COMMITTEE CALENDAR CONFIRMATION HEARING: Alaska Army National Guard David E. Glines, Colonel, Army National Guard of the United States (ARNGUS) - CONFIRMATION ADVANCED CS FOR SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 24(STA) am Relating to the Kosovo conflict and to Alaskans serving in the military forces in the area of the conflict. - MOVED CSSJR 24(STA) am OUT OF COMMITTEE (* First public hearing) PREVIOUS ACTION BILL: SJR 24 SHORT TITLE: KOSOVO CONFLICT SPONSOR(S): SENATOR(S) TAYLOR Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action 4/21/99 991 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S) 4/21/99 991 (S) STA 5/04/99 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 211 5/04/99 (S) MOVED CS (STA) OUT OF COMMITTEE 5/05/99 1247 (S) STA RPT CS 2DP 2NR SAME TITLE 5/05/99 1247 (S) DP: WARD, WILKEN; NR: GREEN, ELTON 5/05/99 1248 (S) ZERO FISCAL NOTE (S.STA) 5/06/99 (S) RLS AT 2:15 PM FAHRENKAMP 203 5/06/99 (S) MINUTE(RLS) 5/10/99 1324 (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/10/99 5/10/99 1328 (S) READ THE SECOND TIME 5/10/99 1328 (S) STA CS ADOPTED UNAN CONSENT 5/10/99 1328 (S) AM NO 1 ADOPTED UNAN CONSENT 5/10/99 1328 (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UNAN CONSENT 5/10/99 1328 (S) READ THE THIRD TIME CSSJR 24(STA) AM 5/10/99 1329 (S) PASSED Y19 N- E1 5/10/99 1355 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) 5/11/99 1311 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S) 5/11/99 1311 (H) MLV 5/13/99 (H) MLV AT 5:00 PM CAPITOL 120 WITNESS REGISTER DAVID E. GLINES, Colonel Army National Guard of the United States Appointee as Brigadier General Alaska Army National Guard 17712 Toakoana Way Eagle River, Alaska 99577 Telephone: (907) 694-9425 POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as Appointee as Brigadier General Alaska Army National Guard. MEL KROGSENG, Legislative Assistant to Senator Robin Taylor Alaska State Legislature Capitol Building, Room 30 Juneau, Alaska 99801 Telephone: (907) 465-3717 POSITION STATEMENT: Presented CSSJR 24(STA) am on behalf of sponsor. CAROL CARROLL, Director Administrative Services Division Department of Military and Veterans Affairs 400 Willoughby Avenue, Suite 500 Juneau, Alaska 99811 Telephone: (907) 465-4730 POSITION STATEMENT: Answered procedural questions relating to CSSJR 24(STA) am. ACTION NARRATIVE TAPE 99-10, SIDE A Number 0001 CHAIR LISA MURKOWSKI called the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting to order at 5:10 p.m. Members present at the call to order were Representatives Murkowski, Coghill, James and Cissna. Representatives Kott and Foster arrived at 5:11 p.m. and 5:14 p.m., respectively. CONFIRMATION HEARING CHAIR MURKOWSKI announced that the committee would consider Colonel David E. Glines to be appointed as Brigadier General for the Alaska Army National Guard. They would not vote for the nominee but would pass his name out of committee for full consideration of the House and Senate. (A resume was provided.) Brigadier General - Alaska Army National Guard Number 0145 DAVID E. GLINES, Colonel, Army National Guard of the United States, Appointee as Brigadier General, Alaska Army National Guard, testified via teleconference from San Francisco, California. He stated that his record should speak for itself. He has had four and a half years of regular army experience and 25 years in the Alaska Army National Guard. He believes all his past assignments have qualified him for the level of Brigadier General. CHAIR MURKOWSKI asked if he said he had been in Alaska since 1966. COLONEL GLINES answered yes. CHAIR MURKOWSKI asked whether he had been in the National Guard in other areas outside and around Anchorage. COLONEL GLINES answered that he had been assigned to the Alaska Army National Guard for about 25 years. Most of his assignments have been in Anchorage, except for a three-year assignment in Bethel as the commander out there. Number 0257 REPRESENTATIVE JAMES indicated she was impressed with his private industry accomplishments, adding that she certainly recommends him for this position. REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL noted that he also read Colonel Glines' resume and said there is no question in his mind that he will be a good addition. He asked to hear some of the Colonel's visionary aspects for the new century. He also asked what changes the Colonel would like to see. COLONEL GLINES answered that there are obviously some big things on the horizon, especially with missile defense. He believes the National Guard is an asset to the state as well as the nation. They are connected to so many parts of the state, and must maintain that connection into the next century. If they don't do that, they will likely lose touch with the people in Alaska. There are some challenges in front of them in terms of recruiting and retention, he said, but he expects to meet those. They train anybody who joins the guard with a skill, as well as some useful leadership skills. Number 0443 REPRESENTATIVE KOTT asked the Colonel if he still had his small business in Eagle River. COLONEL GLINES affirmed that. He has some commercial space in downtown Eagle River, he said, but he lists his home address as the office address. REPRESENTATIVE KOTT noted that his resume shows three promotions to first lieutenant, and he wondered how that came about. COLONEL GLINES answered that it is right out of his record. He enlisted in the regular army and went to OCS [Officer Candidate School] at Fort Benning; for some reason, his record ended up that particular way. The USAR is U.S. Army Reserve and AUS [Army of the United States] is the regular army, he said, but there is a fine distinction there. They are both federal service. Number 0620 REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER made a motion to advance the confirmation of Colonel Glines to the joint session of the House and Senate. There being no objection, the confirmation was advanced. SJR 24 - KOSOVO CONFLICT CHAIR MURKOWSKI announced that the final item of business would be CS for Senate Joint Resolution No. 24(STA) am, relating to the Kosovo conflict and to Alaskans serving in the military forces in the area of the conflict. Number 0689 MEL KROGSENG, Legislative Assistant to Senator Robin Taylor, came forward on behalf of the sponsor, stating: SJR 24 has been introduced to send a message to members of the armed services that we, as Alaskans, support them in their endeavors to bring a halt to the atrocities being carried out by Slobodan Milosevic. The resolution acknowledges the bravery and sacrifices of all military forces but, in particular, those military men and women who are Alaskans, or who are serving in Alaska, who have been called up to go to the Balkans already, or who may be called in the future. We have a tremendous number of military men and women who serve our nation here in Alaska, and we think it's very important that they know that we, as a state, support their efforts. I can tell you, as the wife of a 22-year military officer who served in Vietnam, it wasn't real pleasant when your community did not support ... what your family was doing. Number 0771 REPRESENTATIVE JAMES indicated she wants to focus on the individuals, not the particular Kosovo conflict and the possible outcome. She expressed pride in individuals' readiness to serve whenever and wherever they are instructed to serve, over which they have no control. "Having a resolution like this in front of me is painful, but it's joyful at the same time," she added. MS. KROGSENG affirmed that the resolution is strictly to send a message of support to the troops. Number 0921 REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER thanked the sponsor for bringing this forward. [Because of confusion over a bad copy, discussion ensued, along with a motion and withdrawal of that motion relating to that copy.] REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA commented that she likes the tone of the resolution, which gives her a feeling of affirmation that they are really supporting the spirit in which the troops are there. Number 1039 CHAIR MURKOWSKI referred to page 2, beginning at line 21, where it says "the Alaska State Legislature requests the Alaska Legislative Council to direct the Legislative Affairs Agency to send the following message". She asked what the procedure is for getting this message to the men and women. MS. KROGSENG answered that this same language was used in a nearly identical resolution during "Desert Storm." She expressed belief that this message would be sent to the respective service offices, which would handle it from there. She said she isn't sure how they handled it last time, but as she understands it, it worked. Ms. Krogseng suggested that copies be sent as a courtesy to Alaskan bases, as well, although that isn't included in the resolution. Number 1128 REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER recounted how on Thanksgiving in 1969, his mother sent him a pumpkin pie that was green when it arrived three weeks later. He proposed sending some pins, for example, as it is hard to walk around with a piece of paper. Number 1166 REPRESENTATIVE KOTT asked when the Legislative Council meets next. MS. KROGSENG said she'd been informed that the Legislative Council would meet the next day, Friday, May 14. She expressed hope that this will go to the House floor in time to be dealt with at that meeting. CHAIR MURKOWSKI agreed there is a sense of urgency. Number 1288 CAROL CARROLL, Director, Administrative Services Division, Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), came forward. She informed members that the DMVA, through the public information office at Fort Richardson, can coordinate getting information to the soldiers. If the Legislative Council wants to contact the DMVA, they can get the names of the people serving in the guard and the other military units from Alaska, and they can coordinate with the other military units. They could start as soon as they receive the request from the Legislative Council. Ms. Carroll offered to call the next day to tell the DMVA's public information officer that this is coming, to get a head start. CHAIR MURKOWSKI asked whether it is also possible to send Alaska flag pins or walrus pins, for example, as proposed by Representative Foster. MS. CARROLL said she could find out and, if possible, they would do it. She offered to report back the next day. Number 1369 REPRESENTATIVE KOTT asked how the message would be conveyed to any additional personnel sent there after the initial steps were taken. MS. CARROLL agreed that somehow, the DMVA would have to make sure that anyone subsequent to the initial recognition would also get that recognition. REPRESENTATIVE KOTT suggested it may be an attachment to their orders. CHAIR MURKOWSKI added, "Attached with a pin." Number 1420 REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER recounted how during the Gulf War, there was legislation to provide each person a medallion. He said it was like an Act of Congress trying to run that through, because there was disagreement about what would be on it, how big it would be, and how many there would be, for example. He said he believes a pin would be much easier. MS. CARROLL said she would see what they could do, adding that she remembers the medallions. In response to a question, she said she doesn't know how many Alaskan personnel are over there, although she had called that day. CHAIR MURKOWSKI asked if anyone else wished to testify; there was no response. Number 1523 REPRESENTATIVE KOTT made a motion to move SJR 24 [CSSJR 24(STA) am] from the committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal note. There being no objection, CSSJR 24(STA) am moved from the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs. Number 1540 CHAIR MURKOWSKI informed the committee that General Oates had invited them to tour the armory in Anchorage, visit with the youth corps, and possibly take a helicopter tour of the area. A time had not yet been scheduled, but committee members would be contacted over the interim to find out who is available. REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA inquired about committee work over the interim. CHAIR MURKOWSKI replied that there is no committee work, so far as she knows. She has spoken with persons involved with the youth corps, as well as the drug demand reduction coordinator, who would like to have committee members and other legislators go through that facility and see their operations. There has also been discussion about visiting some other armories. REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA indicated she would welcome opportunities for activities of longer duration than just an hour visit, perhaps helping the youth corps in some way, for instance. CHAIR MURKOWSKI responded that she would certainly be working to set things up, and members would be notified. She suggested the importance of having other legislators see what is going on with military matters, as well. Number 1653 REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER pointed out the budget cuts that the military has suffered over the years. In the air guard, the only state monies are for the general's salary, he noted. Expressing concern over future cuts, he proposed meeting prior to the next legislative session to investigate that. He asked what the general fund amount is. MS. CARROLL said about $8 million. The total combined budget is some $30 million dollars. CHAIR MURKOWSKI suggested there would be no opposition from the department if the committee wanted to set up an informational briefing. She recounted how she was privileged to sit through an all-day briefing in January, along with an abbreviated tour of both the youth corps program and drug demand reduction program. She encouraged setting up something like that. Number 1773 REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER emphasized changes over time in the guard, noting that in the 1960s and 1970s the guard was mostly composed of rural people. Now, they are closing down armories right and left, and the trend is toward veterans' services, youth corps programs, search-and-rescue operations, and so forth, which would never have been associated with the guard previously. Number 1837 REPRESENTATIVE JAMES mentioned that her district has an air national guard, which does refueling and active military exercises. There is a potential of their taking over Clear Air Force Station and the radar there, which will be a change for the guard. "And we're really excited about that," she added. CHAIR MURKOWSKI agreed that there is a lot happening, and that things are changing for the guard. ADJOURNMENT Number 1913 There being no further business before the committee, the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting was adjourned at 5:40 p.m.