SJR 16-MILITARY PENSIONS  1:18:51 PM CO-CHAIR SADDLER announced that the final order of business would be SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 16, Urging the United States Congress to approve legislation allowing members of the military to receive promised retirement benefits. 1:19:02 PM SENATOR BILL WIELECHOWSKI, Alaska State Legislature, explained SJR 16 came about after the Defense Business Board, U. S. Department of Defense (DoD), suggested a plan to convert military retirement from the current 20-year vesting system to a retirement system similar to a 401(k) arrangement. He acknowledged that an appropriate retirement system for military service members can be a controversial issue; however, this resolution simply asks that all service members should be allowed to maintain the retirement system they were promised at the time they signed up for service. Currently, a military service member who serves for 20 years can retire with a percentage of their pension, thus this resolution is about keeping promises made to active duty military members. He noted that in the committee packet was a copy of a bill in Congress sponsored by Congressman Don Young which supports this issue. Senator Wielechowski advised that Alaska has thousands of active duty military members and constituents in his district support the resolution. 1:21:05 PM REPRESENTATIVE LYNN declared a conflict of interest. REPRESENTATIVE MILLER objected. CO-CHAIR SADDLER indicated Representative Lynn would be required to vote. REPRESENTATIVE LYNN said he supports the resolution, explaining that those who enlisted should get what they were promised and, in effect, they have a contract with the federal government. SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI agreed. REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON observed that one who joined the military at 17 years of age and served 35 years would be required to wait several more years for their retirement. He said, "This isn't the way that we're supposed to do things in the United States." 1:23:29 PM CO-CHAIR SADDLER opened public testimony. 1:23:47 PM MCHUGH PIERRE, Deputy Commissioner, Office of the Commissioner/Adjutant General, Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs (DMVA), said the department strongly supports the resolution. Within DMVA, there are 1,800 full-time National Guard members, of which 800 are of active guard and reserve (AGR) status, are paid in active duty status, and are eligible for all benefits. The department believes the commitments made to these members should be honored and they should receive the retirement package promised to them at the time they joined the military. CO-CHAIR SADDLER understood the concern of the DoD about the cost of retirement for military members, and whether those who serve less than 20 years should have some benefit. REPRESENTATIVE LYNN observed a service member with a disability can retire earlier. 1:26:19 PM CO-CHAIR SADDLER held over SJR 16.