CSHJR 25(STA)-SUPPORTING VETERANS HOME OWNERSHIP ACT                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:01:31 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR THERRIAULT announced HJR 25 to be up for consideration.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
HANNAH   McCARTY,   Staff   to  Representative   Beth   Kerttula,                                                               
introduced  HJR 25  with the  explanation that  Alaska is  one of                                                               
five  states that  participates in  the Veterans'  Home Ownership                                                               
Program, which  allows the  state to issue  tax exempt  bonds and                                                               
use the proceeds to make low  interest home loans to veterans who                                                               
served before  1977 and apply  within 30 years of  leaving active                                                               
duty.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MS. McCARTY  explained that  without congressional  action, fewer                                                               
veterans  would qualify.  She related  that  about 11,700  Alaska                                                               
veterans have benefited  from the program since 1983  but just 57                                                               
veterans  qualified  in  the  last fiscal  year.  Repeal  of  the                                                               
qualifying  date was  inserted into  the tax  reconciliation bill                                                               
last year, but  the U.S. Senate version of the  bill doesn't have                                                               
the language. The  bill is currently in  conference committee and                                                               
HJR 25 urges passage.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR KIM ELTON  stated that this program allowed him  to buy a                                                               
home several years earlier than  would have been possible without                                                               
such a program.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR THOMAS WAGONER urged support for the program.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR CHARLIE HUGGINS expressed support for veterans.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:05:17 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  WAGONER motioned  to report  CSHJR 25(STA)  and attached                                                               
fiscal  note(s) from  committee with  individual recommendations.                                                               
There being no objection, it was so ordered.