Committee advances Vietnam memorial resolution, moves several agency bills; votes recorded

BISMARCK — At its Friday meeting the House Government and Veterans Affairs Committee voted unanimously to pass House Concurrent Resolution 3005 seeking inscription of 74 sailors from the USS Frank E. Evans on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in Washington, D.C., and took formal committee positions on several other measures.

House Concurrent Resolution 3005: Representative Mary Schneider of District 21 urged the committee to press Congress to add the names of the 74 lost crew members who died after the June 3, 1969 collision of USS Frank E. Evans. Schneider highlighted two North Dakotans named among the lost: Patrick Gene Glennon of Pheasanton and Robert James Seal of Grand Forks, and said the resolution seeks to "inscribe these sailors' names on the memorial dedicated to those who lost their lives because of the Vietnam War." Jim Nelson, a Navy veteran and director for the North Dakota Veterans Legislative Council, testified he was aboard a nearby ship the night of the collision and recounted the rescue and recovery effort. Senator Richard Marsley (testifying in support) and Lonnie Wong, the state Commissioner of Veterans Affairs, also urged a due pass. Representative Christie moved for a unanimous pass; Representative Van Winkle seconded. The committee recorded a voice and roll call; the roll call on the motion showed 14-0 in favor.

Key facts presented in testimony: the collision occurred June 3, 1969; 74 American sailors were killed when the Australian carrier HMAS Melbourne collided with the Evans; proponents argue the deaths resulted directly from the Evans’s combat-support mission and should be treated as Vietnam conflict casualties. Witnesses noted prior congressional requests to the Department of Defense to add names and said DOD has jurisdiction over criteria for adding names to the memorial.

House Bill 1264 (Whitestone Hill/State Historical Society): Representative Jim Greenach told the committee the bill’s budget request was moved to the State Historical Society’s budget and asked that the committee recommend do not pass so the project proceeds through appropriations. A do-not-pass motion was recorded and approved 14-0; the committee noted the project remains viable through the State Historical Society budget process.

House Bill 1233 (Emergency Commission; appropriation process): Representative Mike Lefebvre, the bill sponsor, described technical changes intended to consolidate code and require the Budget Section to approve more categories of transfers and federal/special fund acceptances. He and Legislative Council staff said the bill would let the Legislature set biennial caps and better integrate special and federal funds with the state appropriation process. The committee approved a do-pass recommendation; roll call recorded the motion carrying by recorded vote (committee notation: 13-0).

House Bill 1146 (PERS technical amendments): The committee considered amendments from the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) staff and accepted two amendments including one changing a required term to a permissive term ("must" to "may") and adding an emergency clause requested by PERS. After amendment the committee returned a do-pass recommendation; roll call recorded the motion carrying (committee notation: 12-0).

Other committee business: the panel heard briefings and set follow-up tasks for interim materials on several bills. Where the committee recommended do not pass, sponsors or staff noted funding or the program’s administration had been transferred to another agency or budget vehicle, so the committee did not obstruct the underlying projects but instead redirected them to the correct budget process.

Votes at a glance (committee recommendations): • HCR 3005 (Frank E. Evans names): unanimous recommendation to pass (14-0). • HB 1264 (Whitestone Hill funding move to State Historical Society): committee recommended do not pass (14-0); project moved into State Historical Society budget process. • HB 1233 (Emergency Commission / budget section updates): committee recommended do pass (recorded as 13-0). • HB 1146 (PERS technical changes): committee recommended do pass as amended (recorded as 12-0).

The committee’s recommendations are advisory to the full House and accompany bills and resolutions as they move through the legislative process.