HJR 20-HIRING OF APPRENTICES/VETERANS  10:40:23 AM CHAIR EISCHEID announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 20, "Encouraging the United States Congress to establish hiring goals for apprentices and veteran apprentices." 10:40:56 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 20 urges the United States Congress to establish hiring goals for apprentices and veteran apprentices for U.S. Department of Defense construction projects. United States veterans and their families face immeasurable risks and sacrifices during their service to our country. Members of our armed forces are put through the most rigorous training in the world. This ensures that all individuals that pass through it come out well- educated, highly trained, and strongly motivated. They learn discipline and a number of skills which make them highly valuable in the workforce. In 2024, 65% of the unemployed veterans were age 18- 54, meaning that the majority of unemployed veterans are in their prime working age. Veterans face many challenges when transitioning back into civilian life. Some of these challenges can be made easier by requiring hiring goals for certain Department of Defense projects. HJR 20 would encourage the U.S. Congress to establish a goal for the hiring of veterans who participate in qualified apprenticeship or postsecondary programs. This goal should be no less than 10 percent of the total workforce employed in the performance of the project. Department of Defense construction projects offer a prime opportunity for veterans to further their careers while providing the DOD with qualified, mature, and motivated employees. It is our duty to take care of those who stood ready to defend this country. 10:42:49 AM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked how the bill sponsor obtained the 10% number with regards to veteran unemployment. REPRESENTATIBE NELSON answered that the 10% figure in the proposed legislation represented a goal, not a requirement that the state would have to meet. 10:44:05 AM REPRESENTATIVE ALLARD asked if the goal of HJR 20 was to bring the veteran unemployment rate up from 4.6% REPRESENTATIVE NELSON explained that HJR 20 would be urging the United States Congress to establish the 10% goal explained earlier. 10:46:06 AM CHAIR EISCHEID asked if there is any information regarding the ratio of journeymen-apprenticeship ratios. 10:47:03 AM REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS answered that apprenticeship to journeymen ratios are uniform and one-to-one across the entire country. 10:47:40 AM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked Representative Nelson how he best saw the United States Congress solving the issue of veteran unemployment. 10:48:59 AM REPRESENTATIVE HALL asked if there are any specific numbers related to the unemployment rates of Alaskan veterans. REPRESENTATIVE NELSON replied that he would follow up with information after the committee meeting. 10:51:57 AM KYLE KAISER, President & Founder, Viper Transmissions, gave invited testimony on HJR 20. He spoke to the importance and positive impact that a construction apprenticeship had on both his and other servicemembers' lives after exiting the military and encouraged the committee's support of HJR 20. 10:57:36 AM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER commented that he is proud to be a co- sponsor of HJR 20. [HJR 20 was held over].