MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERAN AFFAIRS
and Military Installation
Tuesday, March 21, 2000
2:00 p.m.
City Hall Chambers, City of Killeen, TX
*****
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, March
21, 2000, in the City Hall Chambers, City of Killeen, TX
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Carlos F. Truan Senator Eliot Shapleigh
Senator Troy Fraser
Senator Steve Ogden
Senator Leticia Van de Putte
*****
The Chair called the meeting to order at 2:05 p.m. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted:
The Chairman, Senator Carlos F. Truan, made opening remarks and
recognized Senator Fraser, representing the Killeen area, and
Senator Van de Putte to make statements. The Chair called on
the Honorable Fred Lathan, Mayor of the city of Killeen. The
Mayor welcomed the committee to Killeen and introduced His
Eminence, Cardinal Luis Aponte Martinez. Cardinal Martinez was
presented keys to the city and the Mayor read a proclamation
naming March 18-22, 2000, Cardinal Aponte Martinez Day.
His Excellency, Cardinal Luis Aponte Martinez gave the
benediction.
The Chairman called on Lt. General Leon J. LaPorte, United
States Army, Commander III Corps.
General LaPorte praised Lt. Governor Rick Perry for taking the
initiative in Texas and appointing the Committee on Veteran
Affairs and Military Installations and naming the Dean of the
Texas Senate the Chairman. General LaPorte briefed the committee
on issues that were important to the mission of deployment,
giving priority for a highway from Ft. Hood to the Port of
Corpus Christi to rapidly move troops and equipment.
The Chair called on Mr. David Barr, Chairman of the Greater
Killeen Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Barr spoke on housing and quality of life issues.
Senator Truan called on Colonel David B. Hall, United States
Army, Ft. Hood Garrison Commander. Colonel Hall addressed the
educational needs of the soldiers and their families.
Lt. General (Ret.) Pete Taylor, United States Army, member of
the Texas Strategic Military Planning Commission, testified on
the needs of the military in Texas.
The Chairman called Mr. John C. Ferrier and Mr. Thomas Roberts,
representing the area veterans, who spoke on the need for state
veteran cemeteries.
Chairman Truan called on Mr. Theron L. Johnson, representing
Chapter 147, Disabled American
Veterans, who also spoke on the need for a veterans cemetery
in the Central Texas area.
The Chair called on Mr. Don Christian, Director of Aviation for
the City of Killeen who testified on the civil-military joint
use of Fort Hood's Robert Gray Army Airfield.
Ms. Jane Caldwell was next to testify. The Chairman called on
Ms. Caldwell, Director of Grants and Special Programs for the
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, who gave an overview
of the Hazelwood Act.
The Chair called on Dr. Ronald Swanson, Director, Center for
College Readiness, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board,
who spoke on the Texas Academic Skills Program (TASP) and its
relationship to military students in Texas.
Chairman Truan called on Mr. George J. Wankawellen, Jr.,
testifying on making the transition from military life to
civilian life easier by utilizing programs available through the
Texas Workforce Commission's local offices.
Mr. Buck Prewitt, Chairman of the Temple Economic Development
Corporation, was called by Senator Truan to talk about the work
force development and the importance of the military in the
workforce of Central Texas. Also testifying was Susan Kamas,
Executive Director of the Central Texas Workforce Board
The Chair called on Mrs. Virginia Green, a veteran's widow, who
spoke in favor of the creation of veterans cemeteries in the
area.
The Chair called on Mr. Roger P. O'Dwyer, Adjutant, Veterans of
Foreign Wars, Post 8577, requesting that the tobacco lawsuit
monies be appropriated for an interest bearing trust fund to
build veteran homes and cemeteries in Texas.
The Chair recognized Mr. Horace Grace representing himself to
testify on improving the relationship between the Texas
Workforce Commission and Project Transition at Ft. Hood in
obtaining funding for training programs for recently discharged
military personnel who are now living in Texas.
The Honorable Mary Gauer, Mayor of the City of Harker Heights
thanked the Committee for holding the hearing in Killeen and
touring the base of Ft. Hood.
There being no further testimony, the meeting was recessed until
further call of the Chair, on a motion by Senator Fraser.
There being no objection, the meeting was recessed until further
call of the Chair at 5:00 p.m.
___________________________-
Carlos F. Truan, Chairman
_________________________________
Alice Breard, Committee Clerk
List of Witnesses in Order of Testimony
The Honorable Fred Latham
Mayor, City of Killeen
907 Roof Street
Killeen, TX
254/526-4093
Lt. General Leon J. LaPorte
Commanding General
United States Army
Ft. Hood, TX 76544
287-2205
Mr. David Barr
Chairman, Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce
P. O. Box 10040
Killeen, TX 76547-0040
254/554-9796
Colonel David B. Hall
United States Army
Garrison Commander
Ft. Hood, TX 76544
287-2205
Lt. General Pete Taylor
United States Army, Retired
Texas Strategic Military Planning Commission
Rt. 3, Box 3789L
Belton, TX 76513
254/698-4955
Witness list, continued:
Mr. John C. Ferrier
215 W. Ave. G.
Copperas Cove, TX 76522
(254-681-2689
Mr. Thomas G. Roberts
2010 Continental Drive
Killeen, TX 76543
254/699-8200
Mr. Theron L. Johnson
Chapter 147, DAV
1212 Bennie Drive
Killeen, TX
254/634-7918
Mr. Don Christian
Director of Aviation
City of Killeen
1525 Airport Drive
Killeen, TX 765443
254/699-7710
Jane Innis Caldwell
Director, Grants & Special Programs
TX Higher Education Coordinating Board
7715 Chevy Chase
Austin, TX 78752
512/427-6455
Dr. Ronald Swanson
Director, Center for College Readiness
TX Higher Education Coordinating Board
7745 Chevy Chase Drive
Austin, TX 78751
512//483-6330
Mr. George J. Wankawellen, Jr.
2311 Caprice Dr.
Killeen, TX 76543
254/699-3516
Mr. Buck Prewitt, Chairman
Temple Economic Development Corp.
5 S. 5th
Temple, TX 765501
254/773-8332
Ms. Susan Kamas, Executive Director
Central Texas Workforce Board
P.O. Box 450
Belton, TX 76513
254/939-00887
Mr. Roger P. O'Dwyer, Adjutant
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 8677
P. O. Box15
Copperas Cove, TX 76522
254/547-1516
Mr. Horace Grace
P. O. Box 10065
Killeen, TX
254/526-9200
Mrs. Virginia Greene
1708 Chippendale
Killeen, TX
634-8010
The Honorable Mary Gauer
Mayor, City of Harker Heights
901 S. Ann Blvd.
Harker Heights, TX 766548
254/699-2301