Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs and Military Installations
NOTE: This is archived committee information from the 81st Legislative Session.
Committee Information
CHAIR
Leticia Van de Putte
VICE-CHAIR
Jeff Wentworth
MEMBERS
Brian Birdwell
Wendy Davis
Craig Estes
Eliot Shapleigh
DIRECTOR:
Brent Turner
CLERK:
Felicia Wright
TEL:
(512) 463-2211
FAX:
(512) 463-7683
LOCATION:
Sam Houston Building, 345
Video/Audio — Archives
81st Session Interim
- September 30, 2010 — Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs & Military Installations, Senate Select Committee on Veterans Health; Road Meeting: San Antonio (audio only).
- August 24, 2010 — Road Meeting: El Paso (audio only). NOTE: Due to technical difficulties, the audio level is somewhat low during the inital 15 minutes.
- June 17, 2010 — Road Meeting: Fort Worth (audio only).
- May 12, 2010
81st Regular Session
- May 21, 2009 — Audio only.
- May 20, 2009
- May 14, 2009 — Audio only.
- May 13, 2009
- May 7, 2009 — Audio only.
- May 6, 2009
- April 22, 2009 — (Audio begins after 30 seconds)
- April 16, 2009 — Audio only.
- April 15, 2009
- April 8, 2009
- April 1, 2009
- March 26, 2009 — Audio only.
- March 25, 2009
- March 4, 2009
Press Items, Written Testimony, Handouts, and other Resources
Important Updates
- November 10, 2010 – Updated list of Texans fallen in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom
- August 19, 2010 – USA4MilitaryFamilies: Department of Defense Best Practices Website
- January 26, 2010 – Texas Armed Services Scholarship
- December 7, 2009 – Lt. Governor Dewhurst Announces Select Interim Charges for Veterans Affairs and Military Installations Committee
- November 5, 2009 – Van de Putte Statement on Ft. Hood Murders
- August 27, 2009 – 100% Disabled Veterans' Property Tax Exemption Q&A
- SB 93 Hazlewood Legacy Fact Sheet
- August 27, 2009 – Veteran & Military Bills Passed - 81st Session
- July 2008 – The Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act of 2008
Press Room
- August 2, 2010 – Facts and Figures on Drawdown in Iraq - From The White House
- July 16, 2010 – Senator Wendy Davis Named To Select Committee On Veterans Health
- July 15, 2010 – Statement: Welcoming New Committee Members
- May 28, 2010 – Van de Putte Helps Award Grant to Local Veteran
- May 26, 2010 – Local Student Selected to Receive Texas Armed Services Scholarship
- May 13, 2010 – Van de Putte Hires New Committee Director
- March 30, 2010 – Legislators Host Veterans Court Forum
- February 16, 2010 – Statement Regarding VAMI Interim Charges
- December 9, 2009 – Veterans Cash Sales Top $5.3 Million in First Month
- May 4, 2009 – Press Conference regarding SB 421 / HB 1299, relating to the fund for veterans' assistance and the creation of a lottery game to benefit the fund
- March 20, 2009 – Military Child Month Art and Poetry Contest Application
Hearing: September 30, 2010
• Agenda
Interim Charge 2
- Invited Testimony
- Maj. Gen. Jose Mayorga
- Toni-Marie Van Buren
- Max Burke
Interim Charge 9B
- Invited Testimony
- Sam Shore
- Mak Carmona
- Phylis Speedlin
Hearing: August 24, 2010
• Agenda
Interim Charge 9
- Panel 1
- Richard E. Dayoub
- Matthew McElroy
- Thomas S. Moore
- Maj. Michael Blackburn (File 1, File 2, File 3, File 4)
- David Dahl
- James Rickel (File 1, File 2)
Hearing: June 17, 2010
Hearing: May 12, 2010
• Agenda
Interim Charge 6
- Invited Testimony
- Jim Nier
- Paul Moore
- Beth Wick
- Sam Shore
- Reagan Miller
- LTG David McIlvoy
- Toni-Marie Van Buren
Review of Management of Nursing Homes for Texas Veterans
- Invited Testimony
- Jerry Patterson (File 1, File 2, File 3, File 4)
- Veronda Durden (File 1, File 2, File 3)
Interim Charge 4
Veterans' Court Forum Resources — March 30, 2010
Interim Charges
- Study veteran employment and veteran-owned small business issues, including the usefulness of creating a veteran-specific employment database to target job openings tailored to the skill sets of Texas' returning veterans. Include an assessment and recommendations to best implement the veteran employment database.
- Examine the potential risk factors for returning service members, which may contribute to an increase in domestic violence and child abuse cases. Additionally, determine best practices, including funding options, to ensure that specific counseling related to these risk factors is available to and provided for returning service members and their family members during the initial reunion phase.
- Examine the use of the new GI Bill by veterans and their families in conjunction with the changes made to the Hazlewood Act during the 81st Legislature, Regular Session, as the number of service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan continues to rise. Include an assessment and recommendations on how the programs can be maximized to better serve veterans and their families.
- Study the specific needs of female veterans and service members and whether they are met. Make recommendations for improving services.
- Study the value of enhancing training requirements for Veterans County Service Officers (VCSO) to improve veterans service at the local level, especially in rural areas. Make recommendations on how to best use technology for training purposes and expanding accreditation of VCSO.
- Study the advantages of centralizing call center activities for referral to benefits providers (e.g., TVC, TVLB, VA, DSHS, Suicide Prevention Call Centers, etc.), including the costs associated with maintaining multiple call centers, the potential savings of consolidating reporting systems, and any options for obtaining federal funds. Make suggestions to streamline the process for veterans to obtain resources and benefits.
- Inventory and assess veteran workforce programs offered by state agencies (i.e., TVC, TWC, TAG), and include the usefulness of creating a veteran-specific employment database, which would target job openings tailored to the skill set of Texas' returning veterans as well as job training for spouses. Make recommendations to allow agencies to work more effectively and for efficient implementation of a veteran employment database.
- Consider the mission of the State Guard and the numbers of volunteers within the State Guard. Make recommendations to incentivize recruitment and retention of volunteers to the State Guard.
- Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs & Military Installations, 81st Legislature, Regular and Called Sessions, and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, and/or complete implementation. Specifically, review the following:
- Monitor implementation of constitutional amendments relating to veterans issues;
- Monitor the implementation of $5 million for mental health services programs for veterans, the military and their dependents, following the Ft. Hood tragedy;
- Monitor and analyze the closure process for the following installations and communicate with district Senators and communities: Naval Station Ingleside; Brooks City-Base, San Antonio; and Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant.
- Monitor and analyze the realignment of the various installations across the state, including but not limited to, Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Fort Bliss in El Paso, and Red River Army Depot in Texarkana.
