MINUTES
Wednesday, August 21, 2002
9:00 a.m.
Capitol Extension Auditorium
*****
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, August
21, 2002, in the Capitol Extension Auditorium at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Eliot Shapleigh None
Senator Carlos F. Truan
Senator Troy Fraser
Senator Leticia Van de Putte
Senator Craig Estes
*****
The chair called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted:
Chairman Shapleigh welcomed everyone in attendance and noted
that this was a joint hearing with the House Committee on State,
Federal and International Relations and the Texas Strategic
Military Planning Commission. Chairman Jerry Madden and
Chairman William Ehrie also made opening remarks.
Chairman Shapleigh requested everyone stand for the Presentation
of the Colors by the National Guard Honor Guard. The Colors
were presented, the National Anthem was sung, and the Senate
Committee Director led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Chairman Shapleigh then explained the importance of having each
of the committees participate in this special hearing focusing
statewide attention on the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC)
process and gave an overview of the day's agenda.
Chairman Shapleigh then invited the following individual to
provide a briefing on the history of the BRAC process:
Josue Robles Jr., Commissioner, Texas Strategic Military
Planning Commission
The witness provided oral testimony.
Following Mr. Robles presentation, Chairman Shapleigh invited
the following witness to provide a briefing on the BRAC process:
Gary Bushell, Attorney & Government Consultant, South Texas
Military Facilities Task Force
The witness provided oral and written testimony.
Chairman Shapleigh then called the following witness to provide
a briefing on the current BRAC status and criteria that are
being proposed:
David Davis, Chief of Staff, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
The witness provided oral testimony.
Chairman Shapleigh then called the previous three witnesses back
to respond to questions from the committee members. The
witnesses responded to questions.
There being no further questions for the witnesses, at 10:37am
Chairman Shapleigh recessed the meeting for a break.
Chairman Shapleigh called the meeting back to order at 10:50am
and Chaplin/LTC Stephen Vaughn gave the invocation.
Following the invocation, Chairman Shapleigh called on the
following witness to provide an overview of Texas Air Force
Installations:
William J. Ehrie, Chairman, Texas Strategic Military
Planning Commission
The witness provided oral testimony.
Chairman Shapleigh then invited the following witness to provide
an overview of Texas Amry Installations:
James P. Maloney, Member, Texas Strategic Military Planning
Commission
The witness provided oral testimony.
Senator Shapleigh called the following witness to provide an
overview of Texas Navy Installations:
Richard Messbarger, Executive Director, Greater Kingsville
Economic Development Corp.
The witness provided oral testimony.
After the overview of Texas Military Installations, Chairman
Shapleigh invited the following witness to discuss State and
Federal Issues concerning BRAC:
Ed Perez, Executive Director, Office of State-Federal
Relations
The witness provided oral and written testimony.
At 12:00 p.m. Senator Shapleigh moved that the committee stand
recessed until 1:30 p.m.
At 1:32 p.m. the committee reconvened.
Chairman Shapleigh then gave an explanation of the breakout
sessions and at 1:35 p.m. the participants went to the breakout
sessions.
Following the breakout sessions, the participants gathered back
in the Capitol Extension Auditorium at 2:50 p.m. and the
Committees continued with testimony.
Chairman Shapleigh invited the following witness to provide
testimony on the economic development practices of Brooks
City/Base:
Tom Rumora, Director, Brooks City-Base
The witness provided written and oral testimony.
Chairman Shapleigh then called the following witness to provide
testimony on the economic development practices of the Abilene
and Dyess AFB community:
Celia Davis, Chair, Military Affairs Committee, Abilene
Chamber of Commerce
The witness provided oral testimony.
Chairman Shapleigh called the following witness to provide
testimony on the economic development practices of the Killeen
and Fort Hood community:
Fred Latham, President, Killeen Economic Development
Corporation
The witness provided written and oral testimony.
Chairman Shapleigh then called the following witness to provide
testimony on the effects of closing the Kelly AFB:
Paul Roberson, Former Executive Director, San Antonio
Greater Kelly Development Authority
The witness provided oral testimony.
Chairman Shapleigh called the following witness to provide
testimony on the effects of closing Beeville NAS:
Jose L. Aliseda, Jr., Bee County Judge and Member, Texas
Strategic Military Planning Commission
Minutes
Wednesday, August 21, 2002
page 4
The witness provided oral testimony.
Chairman Shapleigh, Chairman Madden and Chairman Ehrie then led
a panel discussion on how the state can best prepare for BRAC
and how communities can assist their local bases.
The Chairmen then made closing remarks, as did members of the
Senate and House Committees.
There being no further business, at 4:38 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