ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS  April 29, 2025 10:18 a.m. DRAFT MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Ted Eischeid, Chair Representative Andrew Gray Representative Carolyn Hall Representative Zack Fields MEMBERS ABSENT  Representative Dan Saddler Representative Jamie Allard Representative David Nelson COMMITTEE CALENDAR  HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 13 Urging the President of the United States to expand evacuation efforts for applicants with approved Special Immigrant Visas, including resumption of evacuation flights organized by the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts; urging the United States Department of State to secure legal protections and humanitarian assistance for Special Immigrant Visa applicants; and requesting that the United States Secretary of State provide a report to Congress regarding efforts to reinstate evacuation flights for applicants with approved Special Immigrant Visas. - MOVED CSHJR 13(MLV) OUT OF COMMITTEE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: HJR 13 SHORT TITLE: AFGHANS, SP. IMMIGRANT VISAS, ASSISTANCE SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) STAPP 03/21/25 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 03/21/25 (H) MLV 04/08/25 (H) MLV AT 10:15 AM BARNES 124 04/08/25 (H) Heard & Held 04/08/25 (H) MINUTE(MLV) 04/15/25 (H) MLV AT 10:15 AM BARNES 124 04/15/25 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED -- 04/24/25 (H) MLV AT 10:15 AM BARNES 124 04/24/25 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED -- 04/29/25 (H) MLV AT 10:15 AM BARNES 124 WITNESS REGISTER HENRY THOMPSON, Staff Representative Will Stapp Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: On behalf of Representative Will Stapp, prime sponsor, presented HJR 13 to the committee. ACTION NARRATIVE 10:18:10 AM CHAIR EISCHEID called the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting to order at 10:18 a.m. Representatives Fields, Hall, Gray, and Eischeid were present at the call to order. HJR 13-AFGHANS, SP. IMMIGRANT VISAS, ASSISTANCE  10:19:01 AM CHAIR EISCHEID announced that the only order of business would be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 13, "Urging the President of the United States to expand evacuation efforts for applicants with approved Special Immigrant Visas, including resumption of evacuation flights organized by the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts; urging the United States Department of State to secure legal protections and humanitarian assistance for Special Immigrant Visa applicants; and requesting that the United States Secretary of State provide a report to Congress regarding efforts to reinstate evacuation flights for applicants with approved Special Immigrant Visas." 10:19:50 AM CHAIR EISCHEID opened public testimony on HJR 13. After ascertaining that there was no one who wished to testify, he closed public testimony. 10:20:43 AM REPRESENTATIVE GRAY moved Amendment 1, labeled 34-LS0710\I.2, Wayne, 4/23/25: Page I, line 5, following "applicants;": Insert "urging the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services in the United States Department of Homeland Security to expedite the review of applications for Special Immigrant Visas;" Page 3, following line 16: Insert new material to read: "FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services in the United States Department of Homeland Security to expedite the review of pending applications for Special Immigrant Visas; and be it" Page 3, line 31, following "Efforts;": Insert "Kika Scott, Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Department of Homeland Security;" 10:20:54 AM REPRESENTATIVE GRAY explained that the United States Department of State estimated that there are over 133,000 people with pending visas that would be affected by the HJR 13 and said that the proposed amendment would urge the 10:22:03 AM HENRY THOMPSON, Staff, Representative Will Stapp, Alaska State Legislature, on behalf of Representative Will Stapp, prime sponsor, presented HJR 13 to the committee. 10:22:26 AM CHAIR EISCHEID removed his objection. there being no further objection, Amendment 1 was adopted. 10:22:49 AM MR. THOMPSON gave final remarks on HJR 13. 10:23:39 AM REPRESENTATIVE GRAY moved to report * out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, 10:24:28 AM ADJOURNMENT  There being no further business before the committee, the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting was adjourned at 10:24 a.m.