1-1 By: Haggerty (Senate Sponsor - Shapleigh) H.C.R. No. 134 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House April 23, 1999; 1-3 April 26, 1999, read first time and referred to Committee on 1-4 Veteran Affairs and Military Installations; May 7, 1999, reported 1-5 adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following 1-6 vote: Yeas 4, Nays 0; May 7, 1999, sent to printer.) 1-7 COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.C.R. No. 134 By: Shapleigh 1-8 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-9 WHEREAS, The debt of gratitude that the nation owes to the 1-10 men and women who have served in the United States armed forces is 1-11 immense; these brave veterans have defended the values that our 1-12 country holds dear, many facing perils of life and limb to carry 1-13 out their duties; and 1-14 WHEREAS, Throughout the years, the people of the United 1-15 States have chosen to reward veterans for their service; various 1-16 federal and state programs designed to assist veterans with many 1-17 aspects of their lives, such as obtaining an education, buying a 1-18 home, and receiving quality medical care, have been created to show 1-19 appreciation for their efforts; and 1-20 WHEREAS, One of the most innovative programs of this nature 1-21 is state-owned veterans homes; these facilities represent a unique 1-22 partnership of veterans organizations, health care providers, and 1-23 governmental entities at the local, state, and national level 1-24 working together to provide affordable, quality long-term care for 1-25 veterans; and 1-26 WHEREAS, While some states have funded state-owned veterans 1-27 homes since the end of the Civil War, Texas has only recently begun 1-28 to support such homes; under authority granted by the 75th 1-29 Legislature, the Veterans' Land Board is currently establishing 1-30 four state veterans homes and has secured funding from the United 1-31 States Department of Veterans Affairs to cover over half of the 1-32 construction costs; and 1-33 WHEREAS, Although the construction of these veterans homes is 1-34 a positive step, Texas is challenged by a growing aged veteran 1-35 population, and several additional regions will soon need long-term 1-36 care facilities to serve veterans in their area; and 1-37 WHEREAS, The need for additional state veterans homes was 1-38 documented by the Needs Analysis and Feasibility Study conducted by 1-39 the Texas Veterans Commission; and 1-40 WHEREAS, Given that Texas will need a total of 42 veterans 1-41 homes to meet projected long-term care demands, the Veterans' Land 1-42 Board should be ever vigilant in monitoring where strong need for 1-43 such homes exists and should take action to ensure that funding is 1-44 available; now, therefore, be it 1-45 RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas 1-46 hereby urge the Veterans' Land Board to request funding from the 1-47 United States Department of Veterans Affairs for funds for future 1-48 construction of veterans homes throughout the State of Texas as the 1-49 need arises; and, be it further 1-50 RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official 1-51 copy of this resolution to the chairman and members of the 1-52 Veterans' Land Board. 1-53 * * * * *