HJR 21-MILITARY RETIRMENT BENEFITS    1:39:18 PM CO-CHAIR LEDOUX announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 21, Opposing cuts to retirement benefits owed to members of the armed services of the United States; and urging the United States Congress to approve legislation allowing members of the armed services of the United States to receive promised retirement benefits. 1:39:45 PM REPRESENTATIVE BOB LYNN, Alaska State Legislature, prime sponsor, introduced HJR 21. He paraphrased from a prepared statement as follows: I believe our troops expect an attack on a military battlefield. Our troops, active and retired, shouldn't have to suffer an attack by Congress on our military. I'm sorry to say that Congress has enacted legislation - signed by the President - that will cut the cost of the living allowances - or COLA - to military retirees, retirees that include wounded veterans and disabled veterans. It was a bipartisan outrage in the name of compromise. ... Everybody knows there is no shortage of places where Congress should, and could, cut spending. There is simply no excuse for our government to breaking the de facto contract between the USA and our wonderful warriors. So that's why I sponsored this joint house resolution .... 1:42:16 PM CO-CHAIR LEDOUX opened public testimony on HJR 21. There being no one who wished to testify, public testimony was closed. 1:42:58 PM REPRESENTATIVE HIGGINS related his personal experience is that the government has whittled down benefits to military members and retirees, especially medical benefits. The government spends money on frivolous issues and he agreed that the contract with those who serve should be honored. REPRESENTATIVE HUGHES noticed [from supporting documents found in the committee packet] the amount of savings to [the government] is $6 billion, but the impact on individuals is between $70,000 and $80,000. She agreed with the previous speaker and expressed her support for the resolution. CO-CHAIR FOSTER added that military members do not make high wages, and he expressed his support for the resolution. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG expressed his support and thanked all those who have served in the military. CO-CHAIR LEDOUX expressed her support for the resolution. 1:46:17 PM REPRESENTATIVE HUGHES declared a conflict of interest. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG objected for the record. He pointed out - according to [supporting documents found in the committee packet] - that the term "veteran" in the resolution is limited to those who have been disabled or who have served more than 20 years, thus for those who served less, there is no conflict. He asked the sponsor for clarification. REPRESENTATIVE LYNN said [HJR 21] is for retirees and those with a medical retirement. 1:47:27 PM CO-CHAIR FOSTER moved to report HJR 21 out of committee with [individual] recommendations and no attached fiscal notes. There being no objection, HJR 21 was reported from the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs.