MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS & COMMERCE
Subcommittee on Workforce Development
Tuesday, September 10, 2002
10:00 a.m.
Fort Worth, Texas
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a joint public hearing of the Senate Committee on
Business & Commerce, Subcommittee on Workforce Development, and
the Governor's Task Force for Economic Growth was held on
Tuesday, September 10, 2002, at Hillwood Properties at Alliance
Airport, Fort Worth, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Troy Fraser, Chairman Senator John Carona
Senator Mike Jackson Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.
Senator Leticia Van de Putte Senator Eliot Shapleigh
*****
Senator Troy Fraser, Chairman, called the Senate Business and
Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Workforce Development to
order, and Ross Perot, Jr., Chairman, called the Governor's Task
Force for Economic Growth to order at 10:15 a.m. The following
business was transacted.
Chairman Fraser thanked everyone for traveling to Fort Worth for
the second hearing of the Subcommittee on Workforce Development.
He stated that he was very honored that the subcommittee was
able to meet jointly with the Governor's Task Force for Economic
Growth, and he thanked Chairman Perot for hosting the joint
hearing at his Hillwood facility. Chairman Fraser mentioned
that one of the state's economic development tools, the Smart
Jobs program, was dissolved in sunset legislation last session.
The Chairman's intent, through this subcommittee, was to assess
the impact to Texas of the loss of that program and to assess
the need for creation of a new program and/or an expansion of
current programs.
Chairman Perot welcomed the subcommittee members present,
including Senator Jane Nelson. Senator Nelson made opening
remarks and welcomed everyone to her district.
Chairman Fraser introduced Texas House of Representatives
members present, including Representatives Charlie Geren and Jim
Keffer, who welcomed everyone to the district.
Chairman Fraser advised that at the first meeting, the
subcommittee heard from various agencies involved in workforce
development and job training. Their message was that any new
program should have clearly defined benchmarks for program
evaluation and a clearly defined focus. The subcommittee would
hear from the stakeholders at this hearing.
Chairman Perot called the first invited witness, Mayor Kenneth
Barr, City of Fort Worth, who welcomed everyone to north Fort
Worth, and noted some issues of importance for the area.
Upon completion of Mayor Barr's testimony, Chairman Perot called
the following witnesses, who welcomed everyone and presented
their testimony on behalf of the Metro Eight Chambers coalition.
These witnesses were:
Jan Hart Black, President, Greater Dallas Chamber, and
Bill Thornton, President, Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce.
Following the Metro Eight Chambers panel, the Chairman called
the Aerospace Panel to present their testimony. The panelists
were:
William Looke, Executive Director, Texas Aerospace
Commission, Austin,
Vernon Broomall, Corporate Vice President, Vought Aircraft
Industries, Dallas,
Diana Cross, President, ICE Contractors, Inc., Mesquite,
Arnold Vedlitz, Associate Dean, George Bush School, College
Station, and
Roger Williams, Director Administration, Bell Helicopter,
Amarillo.
The JSF Panel was then called to testify. The panelists were:
Ralph Heath, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Fort Worth, and
Joseph Maly, President Fort Worth Opportunity Center, Fort
Worth.
At 12:30 p.m., Chairman Perot announced a brief lunch break. At
1:05 p.m. the subcommittee and Task Force reconvened.
Chairman Perot then called Jim and Ellen Ellison, representing
the Green Industry and Texas Nursery & Landscape Association,
Brenham, Texas, to present their testimony.
Following the above testimony, Chairman Fraser called Bill
Hammond, President of the Texas Association of Business, to
testify.
The Chairman then called General Terry Dake, Senior Vice
President, U. S. Government & International Military Programs,
Bell Helicopter, Fort Worth, to present testimony on the V-22.
Following General Dake's testimony, the Airline Industry Panel
was called to testify. The panelists were:
Dan Hagan, American Airlines, Dallas,
Nene Foxhall, Vice President State and Civic Affairs,
Continental Airlines, Houston, and
Joseph Lopano, Executive Vice President Marketing, DFW
Airport, Dallas.
Upon completion of the Airline Industry Panel's testimony, the
Chairman called the final witnesses:
Ron Lehman, Commissioner Representing Employers, Texas
Workforce Commission,
Austin, and
Bill Ehrie, Texas Strategic Military Planning Commission,
Abilene.
There being no further business, at 3:07 p.m. Chairman Fraser
moved that the subcommittee stand recessed subject to the call
of the chairman. Without objection, it was so ordered.
Chairman Perot moved that the Governor's Task Force for Economic
Growth also be recessed.
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Senator Troy Fraser, Chairman
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Barbara Henderson, Clerk