04/11/2009 08:00 AM House STATE AFFAIRS

HJR 31-SUPPORT SOLDIERS' BURIAL DESIGNATIONS                                                                                  
8:05:11 AM                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LYNN announced  that the first order of  business was HOUSE                                                               
JOINT RESOLUTION  NO. 31,  Urging the  United States  Congress to                                                               
pass the Honor the Written Intent of our Soldier Heroes Act.                                                                    
[Before the committee was CSHJR 31(MLV).]                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
8:05:51 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JOSH  TEMPEL,  Staff,  Joint Veterans'  Caucus,  Senator  Charlie                                                               
Huggins,  Alaska  State  Legislature, stated  that  the  proposed                                                               
resolution  relates  to  Congressional  legislation,  H.R.  1633,                                                               
which  pertains  to a  soldier's  ability  to designate  [someone                                                               
other than  a family  member] to receive  his/her remains  in the                                                               
event he/she  dies in active  duty.   In response to  Chair Lynn,                                                               
Mr. Tempel directed attention to  a "fact sheet" [included in the                                                               
committee  packet],  and he  indicated  that  the $100,000  death                                                               
gratuity  payment  would  still  be made  to  the  parent,  blood                                                               
relative,  or  adoptive  relative,  but a  soldier  could  select                                                               
anyone for direct disposition of  remains - the two factors would                                                               
be separate.   Mr. Tempel also indicated that the  result of this                                                               
separation  would prevent  those  with low  scruples from  taking                                                               
advantage of  a soldier,  would appease  an estranged  parent who                                                               
would still get the $100,000,  and would allow the soldier's body                                                               
to be placed in  the care of the person he/she  chose for such an                                                               
event.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
8:08:46 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  LYNN, after  ascertaining that  there was  no one  else to                                                               
testify, closed public testimony.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
8:09:00 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SEATON  moved  to  report CSHJR  31(MLV)  out  of                                                               
committee  with individual  recommendations and  the accompanying                                                               
fiscal  notes.   There  being  no  objection, CSHJR  31(MLV)  was                                                               
passed out of the House State Affairs Standing Committee.