HJR 17-HMONG VETERANS MILITARY BURIAL RIGHTS  1:37:18 PM CHAIR TUCK announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 17, Encouraging the United States Congress to pass legislation giving full military burial rights to Hmong veterans of the Vietnam War. CHAIR TUCK, after ascertaining that no one wished to testify, closed public testimony on HJR 17 [which had been opened on 1/25/18]. In response to a question from Representative Reinbold, he confirmed that testimony heard at the previous hearing on HJR 17 was in the committee packet. 1:38:43 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER inquired as to when Congress would be deciding on this issue. MAGDALENA OLIVEROS, Staff, Representative Geran Tarr, Alaska State Legislature, on behalf of Representative Tarr, prime sponsor, stated that S1179, the Hmong Veteran Service Recognition Act, is a resolution introduced in Congress in May 2017 by Senator Lisa Murkowski, and she offered her understanding that Representative Dan Sullivan supported the Act. She said HJR 17 would serve as a show of support from Senator Murkowski's state legislature. Ms. Oliveros pointed out that this is not the first time Senator Murkowski has introduced this topic, but S1179 is the current version in Congress. 1:40:08 PM REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER moved to adopt Amendment 1 to HJR 17, labeled 30-LS0723\D.1, Bannister, 1/23/18, which read as follows: Page 2, line 24, following "veterans;": Insert "and  WHEREAS Senator Lisa Murkowski has introduced in the United States Senate a bill relating to the burial of Hmong veterans;" REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER objected for the purpose of discussion. REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER stated that Amendment 1 would add language to HJR 17 to explain that Senator Murkowski introduced [the Hmong Veteran Service Recognition Act]. He said, "I just thought that it might fit well with what we're trying to do there, since it was our Senator that moved it." 1:40:46 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER removed his objection. There being no further objection, Amendment 1 was adopted. 1:41:22 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER moved to report HJR 17, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal note. 1:41:40 PM The committee took an at-ease from 1:41 p.m. to 1:42 p.m. 1:42:20 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER withdrew his previous motion. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER restated the motion to report HJR 17, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal note. There being no objection, CSHJR 17(MLV) was reported out of the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs.