State Agencies & Govt'l Affairs- House

Tags you're up here trying to the table so when I call your name just pick up your name tag and go to whatever seat you whatever state you choose sell the of those. Member of the most seniority is represented to the Stephen Meeks get your name tags Stephen you're good to go okay. the representative Lane Jean. I'm unanimous name tag representative Jeff Wardlaw. You're not here. you. The just go ahead and putting putting write to inform. What a representative Josh Miller and Josh is not going to be here today but we'll put him in the the the third city yeah that'll be fine right there that thank you. Representative Richard Womack. The bill or. Okay just. Find a place down there and. For me please staff and just a. Forever on the side over here. The representative Mary Bentley. Just by that put it down on this side over here. Representative Justin Gonzales. Okay. Representative to the. Rick Beck. Okay. Representative Marcus Richmond. Representative Jimmy Gazaway. His promoted side as Rick Beck. Representative Cindy Crawford. Okay. Representative Jamie Scott. Representative Nicole Clowney. Representative Jon Milligan. Representative John Kerr. Choose. Representative cannon under would. Representative mark berry and. And representative Jeremiah more. Okay committee members that'll be your sign stage for a. The ninety fourth General Assembly so H. B. in a member of this committee this time uh but it is our states and looks like we're about all here so let's just to quickly or will go around the room and rent representative makes I'll start with you just can introduce yourself a little bit of your background and you district can the. Kind of like people from a little more familiar with who you are thanks good morning representative Stephen Meeks I represent The New District forty two which is the remember are up to Fairfield Bay area I am currently chair technology and a lot of things I work on or broadband and technology and energy related looking for to working with all the session. Thank you Jean. Lane Jean I'm a district ninety nine which covers parts of Columbia Lafayette in Miller county a member seven Thurman this is my second term mental state agencies. Representative Gonzalez. Representative Justin Gonzales District eighty nine I believe it is Clarke county by county Nevada County Board to hot springs in garland county. The representative. Very. Thank you Mr chairman mark Perry District twenty six Franklin Madison portion of Carroll County and this my first term on the sexually we've been here for a second term of the sum of first term on this committee thank you Mr thank you may we are glad that all the new members on here and I will returning members from state aid she's glad to have you back but thanks for the new ones regulations prevent owners committee representative Richmond. The rep yes Walker yeah thank you Mr chairman representative Marcus Richmond district fifty two which about two thirds yell county all Scott County and so the Sebastian County. And this is my second time on this committee glad to be here. Representative. Thank you Mr chairman call County I district twenty one which is stable we picked. Thank you the represent the. Offered. Cindy Crawford thank you Mr chair I am from district fifty one which is sportsman that is south and east I also cover the great an upcoming Chaffee crossing if you haven't been there you need to comes to see what is going on it is amazing. this is my first time to be on state agencies and third term. Okay representive Underwood. can under would I represent district sixteen which isn't portions of Benton County this is my second term house my first term on state agencies thank you Mr thank you representative Jeremiah more. Thank you Mr chair Jeremiah Moore I represent districts sixty one it covers the southeast third Jackson County all of which of county eastern thirty Prairie County little over half motor county most Arkansas county is my first term in there for my first time on state agencies happy to be here thank you senator Womack. Thank you Mr Richard Womack from my live in Arkadelphia and have a very small part of Clark County what's Justin Gonzales does not represent of a big chunk of Hot Spring County now and just a little bit Garland County. Thank you representative Bentley. Thank you chairman's honor to be on this committee this is my fifth term in the house the first term on state agencies I just live a short distance from here in central Arkansas forty miles from the capitol steps to mine I cover all Perry County good portion of Faulkner County of the. Woods of selling county and a part of your county as well as honor to be here with this prestigious Committee in thank you okay let debut thank you representative Beck. Thank you Mr I read back this is my second term on on this committee I represent District sixty SQ mi not sixty five anymore district forty three which is Conway County and and a large portion of the enduring County and I'm just happy to be back on the committee led a bag representative to the Gazaway. I'm Jimmy Gazaway I represent what's now district thirty one which is just the corporate city limits of the city of Paragould which is a part of Greene County this is my fourth term to serve in the House I served on state agencies Committee in twenty nineteen so this is my second time on the committee it's a great Committee to serve on a lot of important issues come through here I look forward to the work that we're going to do thank you representative Scott. Thank you Mr chair I'm representative Jamie Scott I represent house district now seventy two which is North Little Rock Arjun to leave the employee all that all those great parts of the state this is my third term and my second time serving on state agencies and I think it's a great comedian thank you for your legislative every bag thank you representative million. Thank you Mr chairman Jon Milligan I represent district thirty three which is in northeast Arkansas Parker again part of Mississippi County my first time on on this committee and I look forward to serve on the with AGL with the chair in the last year. The representative a car. Yes I'm not represent John Kerr I represent the great people and House District fifteen which a central Rogers my second term my first time on this committee look for doing great things for the people of Arkansas. Thank you Sir this time I'd like to introduce our vice chair and that's representative Mark McElroy. Thank you so much Mister chair representative for district sixty two which is part of the state county Arkansas accounting portions Amman roll County all of Phillips County ala Lee County part of St Francis County in Bolivar county Mississippi. I have a great of a district is because a congressional district but I look forward to serving on this committee with the my chair representative Tosh I've heard good things about this committee and unlike many pearl just glad to be here. One representative wide Taschen Miller chair of the committee and I mental state agencies this to me might feel tired most agencies I've been the chair of this committee for the the last two terms and this B. three times and I appreciate to speak or in trust me with this responsibility this is a great committee and I look forward to sharing this committee once again represent the southern part of Craighead county of. A big portion of Poinsett county and also part of Jackson County and a little bit about my background I'm a former member of the Arkansas state police I retired from that agency as a troop commander well as a captain over troop B. and it's a great honor for me to serve as the chair of this agency and I welcome all of you to this to this committee and it is that some of you have said it is a great committee we will have a lot of legislation to come through here and we have an extremely important responsibility to do. To do the right thing and that's take care of business and the if it's a good bill that we need to get it out of here that that's a bad one then this is what we need to stop it so I'll be depending on this committee to be able to do just that this time I think we we've got a great staff and I'd like to introduce them and we're going to rely on them a lot as we always do and do it immediately to my right is is my analyst Carly Cooper well we're glad to have been glad to have you back she was with us last year did a fabulous job also April Sullivan were you that April there's a April would Preciado you and our attorney Committee attorney is Michelle Davenport I don't think Michelle is here today so those of you that's been on the committee before you know that that you know ever chairs deferred and and I know you understand that I run a a really a structured committee of you know I just try to keep things moving try to keep things in order and you know if you feel like you need to visit with another committee member that I'd appreciate it if you go hi this petition over here take that conversation outside also want to welcome all of you there in attendance here today and if you're a if you're representing an agency here today like bill for the a or DHS or who whatever about me if you'd like to stand up and introduce yourself will we be glad to just recognize you for being in attendance today if you feel comfortable doing that. Okay seeing none that I understand that Israel will want to give you that opportunity it was a sign up sheet just out the door so anytime we have a bill on the agenda and and you're here and you like to testify for against that bill you need to you need to sign up election it is right outside the door or just sign up and then the staff will pick that up to give it to me and when that bill is being hired out make sure that you have the opportunity to to to to speak for against the bill also those of you in attendance or one thing that I don't allow is the chair of this committee and that impairs orders committee what those committee is in progress and move to committee members are seated at the table and we're taking care of the stage business I don't allow people in the audience to come up and have any kind of conversation with these committee members if you feel like you need to talk to one of them then you need to do that before this committee starts all or a all right after it's over with but not not what the committee is in progress so appreciate you respecting that also committee members you know that When I run the committee you know what we have debate on anything already does keep you have any questions and what I would like for you to do and I know ever committee its chairman is different but this is why I like to do it if you have a question Ali knowledge you utilize that question if you need to follow up then you'll as per permission for that follow up and what that allows the not to happen is someone to take them I can get into a dialogue with someone at the end of the table and start making his per each if you have a question as to questions have a follow up ask for a follow up allow another follow up with you and for another follow up on a look at how many people are waiting with additional questions and if there's not any that allow the next one but the but I think everybody should have that opportunity for you would respect that that would mean a lot to me and I would extremely appreciate you following those guidelines. Also in front of the because it is a hand down it has some important US session deadlines I own it if you just look at it in the kind of go over those some of already expired but some of more coming up in the near future just plays noted on Wednesday February the eighth the is the deadline to file the to file the constitutional amendments and so that's one of the important day to want to make sure you realize also this committee will you know State age usually made ever Wednesday and Friday at ten AM right here in this committee room one fifty one and obviously you know early on in the session will not be meeting on Fridays if we're not in session so we're going to have quite a bit of work low because we're going to have one day a week we've got to take care of business and that's going to be Wednesday for a while so the issue is extremely important I know there's a lot going on but you know you signed up for this committee you chose this committee and I would really appreciate it if the. If the if if point we made that if you could be and attended to me on time it would be greatly be appreciated. Representative gene you have a question. I noticed last year when we had stuff of back end up after we came in on Monday afternoon after session we we could possibly have some meetings on Monday afternoon after we get out of the house floor exactly and that's a great question and the course anytime we have a committee meeting many living in this finish from know your your chairs of other committees and you know the call of the is that the call of the chair and and I'll assure you before I let that backlog happen of a proof DO not meeting on Fridays for whatever reason then we will start meeting on Monday afternoons but that'll be at the call of the chair and I won't hesitate to make that I appreciate you bringing that up so look over that hand they'll look at some of those important dates And all of you know or should know agendas are prepared in accordance with the House rules and the agendas are prepared two days in advance sponsor notification will be sent out to members who have bills on the agenda two days before the committee meets and you know I would just encourage anybody that of places a bill on the street this committee I really would appreciate it if it's all possible sometimes it's not always possible things happen but if it's on the agenda the public sees that on the agenda and they may want to come down here to speak for against the bill and we encourage that but I just you know to have on the drive all the way down here and then the sponsor of the bill decide to last me that they don't want to run the bill that really places in the information I realized that that happens occasionally but if we can avoid that have managed to minimize that I think it would be something we need to do is basically out of respect for people around the stage of her traveling a great distance to be here to participate in this process so Hi. And the. Because John and other to live by which is pre shave you put your cell phone number on there and I'll set up a group to extra committee members got to be able to notify you if there is a call for a committee is approved representative Jean ported out and also for me to be able to keep you posted in the group to actually just fill that out and while that's going around the room he made a pretty good speech I don't hate you can add to that you have any other comment you want to make this time representative. No Sir I'm scared. Late last page you may scare maze spell It was we're glad the heavy. March been around a while he does a great job that have ms bast year. Committee members we have. Five bills have been assigned to today's agenda. And The representative Fortner he's in a no the committee meeting he's going to try to get out here just a few moments and we'll try to hang on for him let him present his bill today but also on the agenda today and and for those of you in the audience that may have been here to here any of these bills I'll go ahead and for me at this time that the. Representative Brian house bill ten thirty nine concerning the daylight savings time Hey contact me route for committee started said that he was not gonna be able to run that bill today and I apologize for that so anyways I hope none of you had to travel any great distance to be here for that bill but I do apologize for that but he just informed me shortly before we started to committee meeting so aus bill ten thirty nine will be placed back on the agenda for for next next Wednesday also House bill ten twenty five and a C. R. one thousand more that's representative right and I have not heard from him So I'm not sure that if. Those bills going to be hard today or not but. Without any objection from the Committee moving the agenda around a little bit we do have in our presence representative Eubanks to here's put to present H. C. R. one thousand to represent Eubanks. If you make sure recognized president you. Your bill. Thank you Mr chair representative Jon Eubanks District forty six the day I'm presenting a house concurrent resolution dealing with the plight of a a navy officer who is currently in jail in Japan I want to give you a little bit of background on the what took place and what's taken place over the last year and a half and actually try to explain my part in this. On may twenty ninth of twenty twenty one lieutenant navy lieutenant bridge Alcona is his wife written in his three children went up on Mount Fuji he's stationed in Japan four day outing when it was coming down he blacked out mid sentence talking to his daughter and there was an accident and and tragically to Japanese nationals died because of the result of that accident. Lieutenant outcome this was arrested and eventually charged with negligence he was he was held in solitary confinement for twenty six days it was denied medical treatment and after the exam he was not it examined at the scene of the accident he was denied legal counsel the department of defense officials have acknowledged in private correspondence that there were so photo which is status of forces agreement violations but it continued to mislead Congress and tell them that there were not any now I know Representatives very and and Richmond are familiar with the a status of forces agreements that we have the United States has with various countries around the country round the world excuse me It was finally able to make bail get bail and he was released was not allowed to leave the country. The. Recieved legal counsel both from the navy and some by an attorney that's familiar with the the Japanese law and culture it is normally. An accepted practice that restitution be made in a case like this and and that's what took place normally if restitution is made the family will ask the judge for leniency that did not happen restitution was made to the the amount of one point six million of which eight hundred thousand was from the insurance. In fact they did the exact opposite and ask for the harshest sentence allowed and so he was sentenced to three years in prison which she started serving this past August. Thank compound that the navy was gonna cut off all day and benefits to his family. Senator Lee from Utah had an amendment put on the on this a bill at the end of the year and the Senate passed at that pass that unanimous unanimous leave forcing the department of defense to continue the pay and the benefits for the family. Senator Elliots send a letter along with nineteen other US senators including Bozeman and cotton from Arkansas to the prime minister of Japan requesting that they take a hard look at this and. Resolve the issue and at the very least transfer of the tenant outcome is to United States the ambassador to Japan rom Emanuel has been also working on this case. California congressman Mike Levin. Draft a letter to the president Biden and I'm happy to say that all four of our congressmen also signed on to that letter asking the president to intervene and get Lieutenant outcome is returned to United States. The reason I'm involved in this case is lieutenant outcome is graduated from the US Naval Academy with my son and his his best friend. And he's been working tirelessly for the almost two years now to help Get him his friend released and returned back to the United States. Lieutenant outcome this is been to my my home I've taken into a razorback football game I've known M. twelve thirteen years now He doesn't drink he doesn't smoke it and if I could I'd like to read what the his commanding officer has has said about him. You're recognized to read that we would thank you if I could the prince got a small. Hang on. My number one of twenty eight highly can competitive lieutenants. Best warfare tactics instructor instructor on my staff already screen for DH of float which I'm not familiar with maybe Representive Richmond could address talk about that. He led the development of the surface a S. W. manual which consolidates and updates existing A. S. W. A. T. T. F.. Provided. Advanced tactical training under way under way at the A. S. W. slash S. U. W. team leader aboard U. S. bank USS Pinckney during and there's some technical stuff here his in depth knowledge of advanced sonar systems improve the tactical proficiency and technical expertise of the A. S. W. A. team. Deselect this war fighter for Lieutenant Commander and screen for early command Regis a future DDG commanding officer. He's he's got an exemplary record he has served this country well I'm afraid that we are not necessarily serving him and his family well so the purpose of this resolution if you go ahead and read it is have this sat. Today's a. And to ask. All of those that are listed on here from the president on down to investigate not only this situation but to also re evaluate the status of forces agreement that we have with Japan. The other reason I'm bringing this forth right now is because the Japanese prime minister is scheduled to be in DC this week and family and friends across the country are going to be gathering at the the Japanese embassy in DC and the the Japanese consulates in various Cities around the country. The tenant okay Mrs wife has been interviewed on fox news on CNN if anybody happen to see the editorial that was in the Wall Street journal this past week and everybody seems to be an agreement. That. Lieutenant Alkhan is. Should not be imprisoned for what was a medical emergency that caused an accident I do not want to diminish the fact that two people died. But. It wasn't from negligence it was from a medical situation that caused him to black out after coming off of Mount Fuji so I'm asking that this committee and then if it gets through this committee for the the House. Two passes resolution senator hill is my My sense co sponsor. His involvement is because his son as a navy helicopter pilot I talked about the ridge graduating with my son for the Naval Academy ritual at navy surface warfare my son went marines aviation Senator hill has a connection here as well he's talked to his son about it and it was it was sort of a. Strange situation here a few months ago I drove up I flew up to Washington DC to meet with our Congress people congressional that delegation and to be involved in one of the demonstrations that was outside the White House and while I was standing in line to get my rental car there was a young lady there that I started talking to. She happened to be military police station in Okinawa and she was familiar with it and a lot of the service people that serve overseas are following this because they're concerned whether the navy department advance our government is going to protect them in situations such as this so once again I would I would appreciate a good vote and I'm willing to take any questions. Committee members heard presentations representative Eubanks. Are there any questions for from committee. The representative Richmond you're recognized for a question. Thank you Mr chair represent Eubanks a. No it's been thirty years since I've been in Okinawa. But when I was there there was this general added to the the Japanese officials that this so for agreement was a suggestion. Your son ever mention his time there. The general added to that some of the Japanese seem to have that we're still an occupational force and not there as someone as a partner to defend yes Sir my son has been served in Okinawa on two different occasions and he would agree with that assessment that the even though we are allies and it it and that. Agreement that we have with Japan is extremely important that. The local sentiment is that that they're not really crazy about the United States military being. Follow up Mr you're recognized. Was there any additional information outcome or anything about the black out as far as any kind of medical examination that would of the indicated what possibly happened. The navy. Medical personnel doctor of finally was able to examine Lieutenant out conus after he was able to get out after the twenty six days of solitary confinement and it was their assessment that it was the changing out the two from coming off Mount Fuji that because the situation. Thank you Mr thank you representative Eubanks. Representative bill you're recognized for a question thank you Mr chairman president Eubanks did did you say that the the lieutenants of Pam the pay benefits and allowances been restored to the dependents yes Sir the the Amendment was passed not only in the Senate but the House concurred so yes thank you thank you Mr. Questions from committee members. None. The. One signed up to speak for against the bill. I have no one signed up to speak for against bill representative thanks. I have a motion the merry motion. I have a motion do pass any discussion on the motion. J. none. All in favor say aye All opposed say no regulation resolutions passed representative may make brochure which presentation and I hope all goes well thank you Mr chair thank you committee I will be notifying the family that the first part of this has. Past so thank you very much we appreciate you bringing it before thank you. The representative Fortner might make it in ten. Hold on just. What we're checking represents board also committee members as you know when the bill's been on the agenda. Roger does your present the bill will move it to the next scheduled committee meeting after three times as chair of the committee I move that bill to the deferred list and wants to go to the park latest up because sponsor was near present the bill that it's a little bit more difficult to get it off the deferred list back on the agenda but there is a process to do that so just to for information for you all is committee that's what will operate here. We get our representative Porter I know he was going to try to make it when he wrapped up his committee and I apologize for that you probably just got tied up there so Read it back really good edition business for this committee today no Sir thank you Sir well you think it is thank you also need to cover all right committee members thank you have a very good first meeting I appreciate you being here and we are adjourned.