MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERAN AFFAIRS
And Military Installations
Wednesday April 26, 2000
2:00 p.m.
Echo Hotel, Vista Room, Edinburg, 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 Wednesday, April
26, 2000, in the Echo Hotel, Vista Room, Edinburg, Texas
*****
Members Present Members Absent
Senator Carlos F. Truan Senator Troy Fraser
Senator Eliot Shapleigh Senator Steve Ogden
Senator Leticia Van de Putte
Chairman Truan called the meeting to order at 2p.m. There being
a quorum present the following business was transacted.
Senator Truan welcomed Mrs. Dora Gonzalez and introduced her to
the committee members. Mrs. Gonzalez is the mother of Medal of
Honor, posthumous, recipient Sargent Alfredo "Freddy" Gonzalez,
USMC, of Edinburg, Texas. Senator Truan presented Mrs. Gonzalez
with a Texas flag that was flown over the state capitol. Mrs.
Gonzalez presented the flag to Mayor Ochoa to be flown over the
park named after Sargent Gonzalez.
The Honorable Joe Ochoa, mayor of Edinburg, welcomed the
committee and guests to Edinburg.
The minutes from the previous meeting were approved on a motion
by Senator Shapleigh. There being no objections the minutes
were adopted.
The Chairman called on the Honorable Jose Eloy Pulido, Hidalgo
County Judge, to testify on the need for veteran homes and
cemeteries south of San Antonio, Texas.
Mr. Chris G. Escamilla, Hidalgo County Veteran Services officer
was next to testify on veteran services in south Texas.
The Chair called Brigadier General Michael B. Smith, Assistant
Adjutant General, Texas Air National Guard, to testify on the
Texas National Guard.. General Smith briefed the committee on
the 49th Armor Division of the Texas National Guard on the
peace keeping mission in Bosnia. For the first time a National
Guard unit is heading an international peacekeeping unit.
The Chairman called on John Sneed, representing the Texas
General Land Office on behalf of Commissioner David Dewhurst, to
testify on the General Land Office veterans loan programs.
Senator Truan called on Billy Green, Director of Human Resources
and
Administration for the Texas Veterans Commission, to testify on
state veteran cemeteries.
The Chair called Commissioner Patsy Palmquist, Texas Veterans
Commission. Senator Van de Putte thanked Mrs. Palmquist for her
work in recognizing Texas women veterans.
The Chair called Mr. Michael Olen , Texas Workforce Commission,
and Mr. Homer Ortega, local veteran's employment representative
from Edinburg to testify on programs to train veterans.
Dr. Ramiro Casso, Vice-president of South Texas Community
College, who testified on training programs for veterans at
local community colleges in the Valley. Joining Dr. Casso was
Ron Tupper, Director of the South Texas Center for Public
Health.
The Chair called Mr. Evaristo G. Flores, a veterans center team
leader for the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs who spoke on
veterans services and networking.
Senator Truan next called on Richard Hinojosa, Director of
Regional Planning, representing the Lower Rio Grande Valley
Development Council, who testified on the need for affordable
transportation services for veterans in the county.
The Chair called Salvador Salinas, Director of Cameron County
Veterans Office.
Colonel Frank Plummer, US Army retired, testified on the
veterans war memorial plan.
Jessica Idy Salina, UTPA Economic Research Associate, testified
on the Hazelwood act and the desire that full tuition coverage
be granted to veterans along with book assistance and
educational counseling for veterans receiving funds from the
Hazelwood Act.
The Chair called Colonel Gilberto Pena, Texans National Guard
veteran.
There being no further testimony the meeting was recessed until
further call of the Chair on a motion by Senator Van de Putts.
There being no objection the meeting was recessed at 5:45 p.m.
_____________________________
Senator Carlos F. Truan, Chairman
______________________________
Alice G. Breard, Committee Clerk
Witnesses in order of testimony:
The Honorable Jose Elroy Palate
Hidalgo County Judge
P. O. Box 1356
Edinburgh, Texas
956/318-2605
Mr. Chris G. Escamilla
Hidalgo County Veteran Services
100 E. Cano Street, #204
Edinburgh, TX 28539
956/318-2436
Brig. General Michael B. Smith
Assistant Adjutant General
Texas Air National Guard
2200 W. 35th Street
Austin, TX 78701
512/465-5115
Mr. John Sneed
Texas General Land Office
1700 N. Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78701
512/936-1925
Mr. Billy Green
Texas Veterans Commission
P. O. Box 12277
Austin, TX 78711
512/463-5638
Mrs. Patsy L. Palmquist
Texas Veterans Commission
310 Date Palm #22
McAllen, TX
956/631-1016
Mr. Michael Olen
Texas Workforce Commission
101 E. 15th St., Room 202-T
Austin, TX 78778
512/305-9639
Dr. Ramiro Casso
Vice President, South Texas Community College
3400 West Pecan
McAllen, TX 78501
956/928-3489
Mr. Ron Tupper
3700 N. 10th Street
McAllen, TX
956/971-8255
Mr. Richard Hinojosa
Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council
311 N. 15th Street
McAllen, TX o78501
956/682-3481
Mr. Salvador Salinas
Director of Cameron County Veterans Office
964 E. Harrison
Brownsville, TX 78521
56/544-0811
Col. Frank Plummer
8609 N. Ware Road
McAllen, TX 78504
956/631-2511
Ms. Jessica Idy Salinas
1201 W. University
Edinburgh, TX 78539
956/318-2610
Mr. Gilberto S.Pena
711 S. Texas
Weslaco, TX 78596
956/969-2436