Juneau -- The Alaska House of Representatives Monday, by a unanimous vote, approved House Bill 77, sponsored by Representative Lisa Murkowski (R-Anchorage). HB 77 would establish the Joint Armed Services Committee as a permanent interim committee of the Alaska Legislature.

"Alaska is being considered as a site for the deployment of a National Ballistic Missile Defense System. In addition, the Clinton Administration is planning another round of Base Realignments and Closures," said Murkowski. "This committee would present a unified front by House, Senate, military, and civilian members to monitor, in a timely manner, these and other military topics that affect Alaskans."

The Joint Armed Services Committee would consist of five senators and five representatives, as well as five non-legislators jointly appointed by the Senate President and the Speaker of the House. The five non-legislators would include: one member recommended by the Alaska chapters of the Associations of the Army, Air Force and Marines and the Navy League; one member recommended by the 17th Coast Guard District Auxiliary; one member recommended by the Mayor of Anchorage; one member recommended by the Mayor of the Fairbanks North Star Borough; and one member recommended by the Adjutant General of Alaska.

"On the one hand there is the potential of new missile sites, but on the other hand there is the offsetting threat of possible base closures or consolidations," Murkowski said. "The military has an annual impact on the Alaska economy of approximately $1.7 billion. The Joint Armed Services Committee will give us the platform from which to take a leading role in monitoring military-related events."

A Notice of Reconsideration was filed, so the bill may be considered again before moving on to the Senate.

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= Lisa Murkowski, 81 K