MINUTES
Tuesday, June 4, 2002
10:00 a.m.
Abilene Civic Center, Abilene, Texas
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Veteran
Affairs and Military Installations was held on Tuesday, June 4,
2002, in Abilene, Texas
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Eliot Shapleigh Senator Craig Estes
Senator Troy Fraser Senator Carlos F.Truan
Senator Leticia Van de Putte
*****
The chair called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. The
committee clerk called the roll, and the following business was
transacted:
Chairman Shapleigh requested everyone stand for the Presentation
of the Colors by the Military Honor Guard. The Colors were
presented and the Committee Director led the audience in the
Pledge of Allegiance.
Chairman Shapleigh welcomed everyone to the committee hearing
and recognized the Members of the Committee. Senator Fraser
also made opening remarks. Chairman Shapleigh then recognized
the special guests in the audience.
Chairman Shapleigh then recognized The Honorable Victor G.
Carrillo, Taylor County Judge, for welcoming remarks. Judge
Carrillo made welcoming remarks and then gave an overview of the
number of veterans that reside in Taylor County. He also
informed the Committee that local officials will be looking at
encroachment issues pertaining to Dyess Air Force Base and the
surrounding communities.
The following members arrived after the roll was called:
Senator Leticia Van de Putte
Chairman Shapleigh introduced Senator Van de Putte and Senator
Van de Putte gave some opening remarks.
Following Senator Van de Putte's opening remarks, Chairman
Shapleigh invited The Honorable Grady Barr, Mayor of Abilene, to
make some welcoming remarks. Mayor Barr welcomed the Committee
to Abilene. He then gave an overview of actions the city has
taken to help Dyess Air Force Base reduce operating costs and
maintain a positive relationship between the city and the base.
Chairman Shapleigh then made a special presentation to Mr. Bill
Libby for his service in the military and his continued
commitment to veterans causes after his retirement. Mr. Libby
was presented with a flag and a certificate for his service to
our country and our state. Chairman Shapleigh also made a
special presentation to Ms. Anna Maria Martinez Vedro. Ms.
Vedro lost her brother, Evaristo Martinez III, in Vietnam. Ms.
Vedro is a teacher and this loss has influenced her teaching.
She teaches history and makes it a priority to promote
patriotism, appreciation for the military and connects students
with local veterans, especially Vietnam Veterans. Ms. Vedro was
also presented with a flag and a certificate.
Chairman Shapleigh gave an explanation of the Committee's
charges and stated the importance of the military on our state's
economy.
The Chairman then invited the following person to provide a
briefing on the current and proposed economic development
actions for Abilene and the Dyess Air Force Base to include
major facility and infrastructure construction as identified by
local military and/or community strategic economic development
plans:
Celia Davis, Chair, Military Affairs Committee, Abilene
Chamber of Commerce
The witness provided written and oral testimony and responded to
questions by the members of the Committee.
There being no further questions for the witness, the Chair
invited the following witness to provide testimony on new
mission and economic development initiatives being explored by
the City of San Angelo and Goodfellow Air Force Base to partner
in ways that both can benefit:
Johnny Fender, Member, Texas Strategic Military Planning
Commission and Citizen of San Angelo
The witness provided oral testimony and responded to questions
by members of the Committee.
There being no further questions for the witness, the Chair
invited the following witness to provide testimony on current
and proposed economic development actions for Wichita Falls and
Sheppard Air Force Base to include major facility and
infrastructure construction as identified by local military
and/or community strategic economic development plans:
Tim Chase, President & CEO, Wichita Falls Board of Commerce
and Industry
The witness provided oral testimony and responded to questions
by the members of the Committee.
There being no further questions for the witness, the Chair
invited the following witness to provide testimony on veterans
benefit programs for which the Department of Veteran Affairs has
primary responsibility and to address the overall adequacy of
federal veteran benefit programs and process for review and
customer feedback:
Carl E. Lowe III, Director, Department of Veteran Affairs,
Waco Region
The witness provided written and oral testimony and responded to
questions by members of the Committee.
There being no further questions for the witness, the Chair
invited the following witness to provide testimony on state
veteran benefit programs for which the Texas Veterans Commission
has primary oversight authority and assess their success in
meeting veterans' needs:
James E. Nier, Executive Director, Texas Veterans
Commission
The witness provided written and oral testimony and responded to
questions by members of the Committee.
There being no further questions for the witness, the Chair
invited the following witness to provide testimony on the status
of implementation of HB 2125 relating to public school admission
for military personnel and dependents:
Hugh Hayes, Deputy Commissioner, Texas Education Agency
The witness provided oral testimony and responded to questions
by members of the Committee.
The Chairman called persons who registered as public witnesses
to provide testimony. The following public witnesses provided
oral testimony before the Committee:
James S. Duncan, Chairman, Texas Veterans Commission
The following witness was called to respond to questions raised
during testimony by James S. Duncan:
James E. Nier, Executive Director, Texas Veterans
Commission
The Chairman continued public testimony:
Jimmy D. DeFoor, Veterans Service Officer, Taylor County
Veterans Service Office
Hubert E. Smith, Commander, Disabled American Veterans
There being no other witnesses registered or responding to the
Chairman's call for public testimony, the Chairman closed public
testimony.
Chairman Shapleigh then laid out the May 23, 2002 minutes.
Senator Fraser moved the adoption of the minutes. There being
no objection, it was so ordered.
Chairman Shapleigh made closing remarks.
There being no further business, at 1:34 p.m. Chairman Shapleigh
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
______________________
Senator Eliot Shapleigh, Chair
______________________
Kari McAdams, Clerk