Committee hears SJR 30 praising the military; sets amendment deadline and records public testimony

Senator Scott Kawasaki's staff member Maddie Hall presented Senate Joint Resolution 30 to the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs on April 23, describing the resolution as an expression of gratitude for the U.S. military and support for increased defense readiness through infrastructure development and public-military partnerships.

Maddie Hall told the committee that "Alaska is home to the greatest proportion of US veterans and the second greatest proportion of active active duty personnel," and described some infrastructure as "dual use," giving the National Guard Training Center as an example that supports both military and community functions. Committee members asked clarifying questions about the scope of the term "infrastructure," including whether it covers energy projects.

The committee opened public testimony and received a live online comment from a retired Air Force technical sergeant, identified in the record as Mike *****. He spoke in support of recognizing military service but used his three-minute slot to criticize Alaska public schools and urged removing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and LGBTQ-related instruction, saying those practices make Alaska less attractive to military families. His remarks were entered into the record without recorded rebuttal.

Chair Ayesha Eisheide set an amendment deadline of Monday, April 27 at 5 p.m., and the committee put SJR 30 aside for further work. The record shows committee members generally supportive of the resolution's intent; Representative Sadler said he "agree[d] with every whereas clause" and supported the measure. The committee did not take a formal vote on the resolution during this session.