MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERAN AFFAIRS & MILITARY INSTALLATIONS

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

9:00 a.m.

El Paso Community College Transmountain Campus

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs & Military Installations was held on Tuesday, May 13, 2008, at the El Paso Community College Transmountain Campus.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Leticia Van de Putte Senator Eliot Shapleigh Senator Steve Ogden		Senator Craig Estes Senator Chris Harris

 

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The Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs and Military Installations met jointly with the Subcommittee on Base Realignment and Closure, and the House Committee on Defense Affairs and State-Federal Relations. 

 

At 9:15 a.m. Senator Van de Putte called the meeting to order.  Senators Van de Putte and Shapleigh shared presiding duties.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: 

 

Senators Van de Putte and Shapleigh made opening remarks and recognized the members present for opening remarks.  Senator Uresti was present as well as the following members of the House:  Representative Terri Hodge, Representative Tommy Merritt, Representative Norma Chavez, Representative Pat Haggerty, Representative Joe Pickett, and Representative Chente Quintanilla.

 

Senator Van de Putte asked for a motion to adopt the rules of the committee; Senator Shapleigh so moved and Senator Ogden seconded.  Without objection it was so ordered. 

 

The color guard presented the colors, the national anthem was sung, and the pledge of allegiance was recited. 

 

Senator Shapleigh recognized the families of the fallen veterans and those veterans whose families could not be present (see attached list).  The committee members present made remarks and presented Texas Flags to the families. 

 

Senator Shapleigh called for members of the public to provided invited testimony on the interim committee charges (see attached witness list). 

 

There being no further business, at 3:40 p.m. Senator Van de Putte moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

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Senator Leticia Van de Putte, Chair

 

 

 

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Jenee Gonzales Garza, Clerk