As Chair of the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs, I want to update you on some of the military issues that face our state and on topics that we've covered in the committee. As the title suggests, the jurisdiction of the committee is to review and encourage state policies relative to the well being of the armed forces in Alaska. This includes our active and reserve members and our many veterans.

Alaska faces challenges and opportunities with regard to its military. Current topics include the potential creation of a National Ballistic Missile Defense System (NMD) and the all too familiar Base Realignments and Closure (BRAC) activities. Alaska is competing with North Dakota as a potential site for the initial NMD, however, only Alaska is in a strategic location to protect all fifty states. In 1995, the BRAC Commission closed Fort Greely and the Adak Naval Air Facility. The state is now dealing with reuse of those facilities. Another round of closures is being considered for the year 2001 and possibly 2005

This session I introduced House Bill 77 which creates a Joint Armed Services Committee. This committee would provide a unified front by House, Senate, military and civilian members to monitor important military topics relative to Alaska. With an annual impact on the Alaskan economy of $1.7 billion, it is only prudent that we closely follow the military's role in the state. In addition to HB 77, the Military and Veterans Affairs' Committee has considered the following measures: HJR 8, a resolution recommending the installment of the National Ballistic Missile Defense System in Alaska and HB 80, creating a veterans' preferences for state employment opportunities. We also heard overviews from the Division of Emergency Services and considered the confirmation of Brigadier General Phillip Oates and Colonel George Cannelos.

If you would like more information about this bill or any other, please do not hesitate to contact me. Our toll-free phone number during session is 1-877-460-3783 or you can email me at Representative_Lisa_Murkowski@legis.state.ak.us. I also have a web page you may visit for more information at, http://www.akrepublicans.org/pastlegs/murkowski.htm

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