05/06/2025 10:15 AM House MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS

                HJR 21-2025 YEAR OF THE SOLDIER                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
10:58:35 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR EISCHEID announced that the final order of business would                                                                 
be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 21, "Encouraging the United States                                                                
Congress to designate 2025 as the Year of the Soldier."                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
10:59:01 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DAVID  NELSON, Alaska State Legislature,  as prime                                                               
sponsor, presented  HJR 20 to  the committee. He  paraphrased the                                                               
sponsor statement to  HJR 20 [included in  the committee packet],                                                               
which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     House  Joint  Resolution   21  encourages  Congress  to                                                                    
     designate  2025  as  the  Year  of  the  Soldier.  This                                                                    
     designation honors the  unwavering dedication, courage,                                                                    
     and sacrifice  of the  men and women  who serve  in the                                                                    
     United States  Army. Since the  US Army was  founded on                                                                    
     June 14th,  1775, our soldiers have  stood as guardians                                                                    
     of freedom,  defending our nation  and its  ideals both                                                                    
     at home and abroad.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Throughout   our   history,  American   soldiers   have                                                                    
     answered the  call to serve with  valor and commitment.                                                                    
     From  the Revolutionary  War  to present-day  missions,                                                                    
     they  have faced  adversity  with  resilience and  have                                                                    
     upheld  the highest  standards of  military excellence.                                                                    
     Their contributions have  been instrumental in securing                                                                    
     peace,  providing   humanitarian  aid,   and  promoting                                                                    
     stability around the world.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Designating 2025 as the "Year  of the Soldier" provides                                                                    
     an   opportunity  for   our   nation  to   collectively                                                                    
     recognize  and  celebrate   the  invaluable  role  that                                                                    
     soldiers  play  in   safeguarding  our  freedoms.  This                                                                    
     designation    encourages   educational    initiatives,                                                                    
     community events, and  public ceremonies that highlight                                                                    
     their service and sacrifices. Moreover,  it serves as a                                                                    
     reminder  of our  collective responsibility  to support                                                                    
     soldiers and their families,  ensuring they receive the                                                                    
     care and recognition they deserve.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     I  urge my  colleagues to  support this  resolution and                                                                    
     join  in honoring  the bravery  and  dedication of  our                                                                    
     soldiers. Let  us celebrate the  250th Birthday  of the                                                                    
     United  States Army  by reaffirming  our commitment  to                                                                    
       those who have given so much in the service to our                                                                       
     country.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
11:01:56 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SADDLER asked  if the  250th anniversary  for the                                                               
United  States Army  would be  more  fun than  the USMC  birthday                                                               
celebrations.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
11:02:59 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
BERNARD AOTO,  Former Member, U.S.  Army, gave  invited testimony                                                               
on HJR 21.   He shared his background in  serving with the United                                                               
States Army and explained that  the proposed legislation would be                                                               
seen  as a  great honor  for those  who have  served in  the U.S.                                                               
Army.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
11:04:39 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  EISCHEID   shared  his   appreciation  for   the  proposed                                                               
resolution.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  NELSON added  that it  is "well  known" that  the                                                               
first female army veteran was  Deborah Samson, a woman who fought                                                               
in the revolutionary war.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
[HJR 21 was held over.]                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
11:06:26 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
There being no  further business before the  committee, the House                                                               
Special Committee  on Military &  Veteran's Affair's  meeting was                                                               
adjourned at 11:06 a.m.