MINUTES
Thursday, May 23, 2002
10:00 a.m.
Killeen Civic and Conference Center, Killeen, 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 Thursday, May 23,
2002, in the Killeen Civic and Conference Center, Killeen, 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 10:02 a.m. The
committee clerk called the roll, and there being a quorum
present, 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 lead the audience in the
Pledge of Allegiance.
Chairman Shapleigh welcomed everyone to the committee hearing,
and recognized the Members of the Committee. Senators Fraser
and Van de Putte also made opening remarks. Chairman Shapleigh
then recognized the special guests in the audience.
Chairman Shapleigh welcomed Representative Dianne White Delisi
and Representative Suzanna Gratia Hupp as special guests and
each of the Representatives made some welcoming remarks.
Chairman Shapleigh then recognized The Honorable Jon Burrows,
Bell County Judge, and The Honorable Maureen Jouett, Mayor of
Killeen, for welcoming remarks. Each provided welcoming remarks
and gave an overview of the unique relationship building actions
that bonded Fort Hood to its surrounding communities. Judge
Burrows made special comments concerning the new joint use
airport and the proposal for a state veterans cemetery located
in Killeen. Mayor Jouett made remarks concerning strategic
planning for the community.
Chairman Shapleigh then made a special presentation to Sergeant
Major C. W. "Buck" Buchanan, US Army (Ret.) and Chief Warrant
Officer Alexander Vernon, US Army (Ret.) for their service in
the military and their continued commitment to veterans causes
after their retirement. Both Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Vernon were
presented with a flag and a certificate for their service to our
country and our state. Chairman Shapleigh also made a special
presentation to Mrs. Sara Moxley. She is an Army wife who
spends countless hours as a champion for the family needs of
soldiers. Mrs. Moxley was also presented with a flag and a
certificate.
Chairman Shapleigh gave a brief overview of the Committee
Charges and stated the importance of the defense industry in
Texas.
The Chairman then invited the following person to provide a
briefing on the current and known future missions of Fort Hood
as well as the Army's five-year major facility and
infrastructure construction plans for Fort Hood:
Major General George Higgins, Deputy Commanding General,
III Corps & Fort Hood Army Base
The following witness was called to respond to questions raised
during testimony by Major General Higgins:
Colonel Bill Parry, Garrison Commander, III Corps & Fort
Hood Army Base
The witnesses provided oral testimony and responded to questions
by members of the Committee.
There being no further questions for the witnesses, the Chair
invited the following witness to provide testimony on the Red
River Army Depot and its current and future missions as well as
its five-year major facility and infrastructure construction
plans:
Dennis L. Lewis, Business Manager, Red River Army Depot
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 panel to provide testimony on the role of
the Texas Strategic Military Planning Commission in assessing
the status of State Military Installations in the current BRAC
environment with regard to military/civic cooperative planning
initiatives:
William J. Ehrie, Chairman, Texas Strategic Military
Planning Commission
Ralph Gauer, Vice Chairman, Texas Strategic Military
Planning Commission
The panel provided oral testimony and responded to questions by
members of the Committee.
There being no further questions for these witnesses, the Chair
invited the following witness to provide testimony on Charges #
2, 3, and 4:
Douglas E. Oldmixon, Executive Secretary, Texas Veterans
Land Board
Senator Fraser assumed the chair.
The witness provided written and oral testimony and responded to
questions by members of the Committee.
Senator Shapleigh resumed the chair.
There being no further questions for the witness, the Chair
called Patrick Krishock, Deputy Executive Director, Texas Bond
Review Board, to provide testimony on the anticipated effects of
the Veterans Land Board's increased bonding authority on the
State's bond rating and the Bond Review Board's role in
approving bond issuance.
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 Mayor Jouett to provide testimony on the City of
Killeen's proposal for a state veterans cemetery to be located
in the Killeen area.
The witness provided oral testimony and presented a brief video
that was part of the proposal. The witness also 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 SB 1159, including an update on new memorandums of
understanding with other state agencies:
James E. Nier, Executive Director, Texas Veterans
Commission
The witness provided written and oral testimony and responded to
questions by members of the Committee.
Chairman Shapleigh laid out the April 22, 2002 minutes. Senator
Van de Putte moved the adoption of the minutes. There being no
objection, it was so ordered.
Chairman Shapleigh then invited the following witness to
provided testimony on the implementation of HB 2125 and to
include any recommendations for future legislation:
Dr. Mary M. Keller, Executive Director, Military Child
Education Coalition
The witness provided written and 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:
Theron L. Johnson, Commander, W.R. Hold Chapter 147, DAV
Gene Wentworth, Central Texas Chapter of the Retired
Officers Association (TROA)
Susan Jones, CEO, Heights Mortgage Connection Inc.
Rosco A. Anderson, Retired E-7
There being no other witnesses registered or responding to the
Chairman's call for public testimony, the Chairman closed public
testimony.
Chairman Shapleigh made closing remarks.
There being no further business, at 2:13 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