ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS  February 20, 2018 1:32 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Chris Tuck, Chair Representative Justin Parish Representative George Rauscher Representative Lora Reinbold MEMBERS ABSENT  Representative Gabrielle LeDoux, Vice Chair Representative Ivy Spohnholz Representative Dan Saddler COMMITTEE CALENDAR  HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 15 Relating to awarding the Alaska Decoration of Honor to certain members of the military. - HEARD & HELD SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 14 Relating to awarding the Alaska Decoration of Honor to certain members of the military. - MOVED SCR 14 OUT OF COMMITTEE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: HCR 15 SHORT TITLE: DECORATION OF HONOR AWARD SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) KAWASAKI 01/19/18 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 01/19/18 (H) MLV 02/08/18 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120 02/08/18 (H) Heard & Held 02/08/18 (H) MINUTE(MLV) 02/20/18 (H) MLV AT 1:30 PM GRUENBERG 120 BILL: SCR 14 SHORT TITLE: DECORATION OF HONOR AWARD SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) COSTELLO 01/18/18 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 01/18/18 (S) STA 01/23/18 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205 01/23/18 (S) Moved SCR 14 Out of Committee 01/23/18 (S) MINUTE(STA) 01/24/18 (S) STA RPT 5DP 01/24/18 (S) DP: MEYER, WILSON, GIESSEL, EGAN, COGHILL 01/29/18 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) 01/29/18 (S) VERSION: SCR 14 01/31/18 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 01/31/18 (H) MLV 02/08/18 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120 02/08/18 (H) Heard & Held 02/08/18 (H) MINUTE(MLV) 02/20/18 (H) MLV AT 1:30 PM GRUENBERG 120 WITNESS REGISTER SENATOR MIA COSTELLO Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, presented SCR 14. ACTION NARRATIVE  1:32:26 PM CHAIR CHRIS TUCK called the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting to order at 1:32 p.m. Representatives Rauscher, Reinbold, Parish, and Tuck were present at the call to order. HCR 15-DECORATION OF HONOR AWARD SCR 14-DECORATION OF HONOR AWARD 1:32:55 PM CHAIR TUCK announced that the only order of business would be HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 15, Relating to awarding the Alaska Decoration of Honor to certain members of the military and SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 14, Relating to awarding the Alaska Decoration of Honor to certain members of the military. 1:33:36 PM SENATOR MIA COSTELLO, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor, stated that SCR 14 is unfortunate because it represents loss of life; however, it also honors families whose loved ones gave the ultimate sacrifice for the U.S. She said she and Representative Scott Kawasaki, prime sponsor of HCR 15, worked together on the two pieces of legislation, and she said they would work together once the legislation passes to ensure the medals are delivered to the families. 1:34:26 PM REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD reemphasized a statement she had made at the previous hearing of HCR 15 and SCR 14 [on 2/8/18] wherein she had talked about numerous medals being held at her office in Eagle River while she and her staff attempted to reach the recipients. She said, "It was so difficult to find some of the family members; they'd moved on." She said anything that could be done to help get the medals to the families would be helpful, because she said she knows the medals are valued by the families. SENATOR COSTELLO thanked Representative Reinbold for her efforts and said her office is working with DMVA to reach out to the families. 1:35:08 PM REPRESENTATIVE PARISH moved to report SCR 14 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, SCR 14 was moved out of the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs. [HCR 15 was held over.] 1:35:53 PM ADJOURNMENT  There being no further business before the committee, the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting was adjourned at 1:36 p.m.