MINUTES 
                                           
                               Tuesday, June 4, 2002 
                                     10:00 a.m. 
                        Abilene Civic Center, Abilene, 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 Tuesday, June 4,  
         2002, in Abilene, 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 10:00 a.m.  The  
         committee clerk called the roll, and 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 led the audience in the  
         Pledge of Allegiance. 
          
         Chairman Shapleigh welcomed everyone to the committee hearing  
         and recognized the Members of the Committee.  Senator Fraser  
         also made opening remarks.  Chairman Shapleigh then recognized  
         the special guests in the audience. 
          
         Chairman Shapleigh then recognized The Honorable Victor G.  
         Carrillo, Taylor County Judge, for welcoming remarks.  Judge  
         Carrillo made welcoming remarks and then gave an overview of the  
         number of veterans that reside in Taylor County.  He also  
         informed the Committee that local officials will be looking at  
         encroachment issues pertaining to Dyess Air Force Base and the  
         surrounding communities. 
          
         The following members arrived after the roll was called:   
         Senator Leticia Van de Putte 
          
         Chairman Shapleigh introduced Senator Van de Putte and Senator  
         Van de Putte gave some opening remarks. 
          
         Following Senator Van de Putte's opening remarks, Chairman  
         Shapleigh invited The Honorable Grady Barr, Mayor of Abilene, to  
  
         make some welcoming remarks.  Mayor Barr welcomed the Committee  
         to Abilene.  He then gave an overview of actions the city has  
         taken to help Dyess Air Force Base reduce operating costs and  
         maintain a positive relationship between the city and the base. 
          
         Chairman Shapleigh then made a special presentation to Mr. Bill  
         Libby for his service in the military and his continued  
         commitment to veterans causes after his retirement.  Mr. Libby  
         was presented with a flag and a certificate for his service to  
         our country and our state.  Chairman Shapleigh also made a  
         special presentation to Ms. Anna Maria Martinez Vedro.  Ms.  
         Vedro lost her brother, Evaristo Martinez III, in Vietnam.  Ms.  
         Vedro is a teacher and this loss has influenced her teaching.   
         She teaches history and makes it a priority to promote  
         patriotism, appreciation for the military and connects students  
         with local veterans, especially Vietnam Veterans.  Ms. Vedro was  
         also presented with a flag and a certificate. 
          
         Chairman Shapleigh gave an explanation of the Committee's  
         charges and stated the importance of the military on our state's  
         economy. 
          
         The Chairman then invited the following person to provide a  
         briefing on the current and proposed economic development  
         actions for Abilene and the Dyess Air Force Base to include  
         major facility and infrastructure construction as identified by  
         local military and/or community strategic economic development  
         plans: 
          
              Celia Davis, Chair, Military Affairs Committee, Abilene  
         Chamber of Commerce 
          
         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 witness to provide testimony on new  
         mission and economic development initiatives being explored by  
         the City of San Angelo and Goodfellow Air Force Base to partner  
         in ways that both can benefit: 
          
              Johnny Fender, Member, Texas Strategic Military Planning  
                   Commission and Citizen of San Angelo 
          
         The witness provided oral testimony and 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 current  
         and proposed economic development actions for Wichita Falls and  
         Sheppard Air Force Base to include major facility and  
         infrastructure construction as identified by local military  
         and/or community strategic economic development plans: 
          
              Tim Chase, President & CEO, Wichita Falls Board of Commerce  
  
         and Industry 
          
         The witness provided 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 witness to provide testimony on veterans  
         benefit programs for which the Department of Veteran Affairs has  
         primary responsibility and to address the overall adequacy of  
         federal veteran benefit programs and process for review and  
         customer feedback: 
          
              Carl E. Lowe III, Director, Department of Veteran Affairs,  
         Waco Region 
          
         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 the following witness to provide testimony on state  
         veteran benefit programs for which the Texas Veterans Commission  
         has primary oversight authority and assess their success in  
         meeting veterans' needs: 
          
              James E. Nier, Executive Director, Texas Veterans  
         Commission 
          
         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 the following witness to provide testimony on the status  
         of implementation of HB 2125 relating to public school admission  
         for military personnel and dependents: 
          
              Hugh Hayes, Deputy Commissioner, Texas Education Agency 
          
         The witness provided 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: 
          
              James S. Duncan, Chairman, Texas Veterans Commission 
          
         The following witness was called to respond to questions raised  
         during testimony by James S. Duncan: 
          
              James E. Nier, Executive Director, Texas Veterans  
         Commission 
          
         The Chairman continued public testimony: 
          
              Jimmy D. DeFoor, Veterans Service Officer, Taylor County  
  
         Veterans Service Office 
              Hubert E. Smith, Commander, Disabled American Veterans 
          
         There being no other witnesses registered or responding to the  
         Chairman's call for public testimony, the Chairman closed public  
         testimony. 
          
         Chairman Shapleigh then laid out the May 23, 2002 minutes.   
         Senator Fraser moved the adoption of the minutes.  There being  
         no objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         Chairman Shapleigh made closing remarks. 
          
         There being no further business, at 1:34 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