MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERAN AFFAIRS
and Military Installation
Friday, July 28, 2000
2:00 p.m.
U.S.S. Inchon
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate
Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on
VETERAN AFFAIRS was held on Friday, July 28, 2000,
aboard the U.S.S. Inchon, Ingleside Naval Station,
Texas
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Carlos F. Truan Senator Troy Fraser
Senator Steve Ogden
Senator Eliot Shapleigh
Senator Leticia Van de Putte
*****
Senator Carlos F. Truan, Chairman, called the meeting
to order at 2:10 p.m. There being a quorum present,
the following business was transacted:
The Chairman recognized Representative Judy Hawley and
asked her to join the committee members at the table.
After opening remarks, Chairman Truan presented a Texas
flag flown over the state capitol to Captain Dan
Hartwell, commanding officer of the USS Inchon. A
Texas flag was also presented to Mr. and Mrs. Paul
Alaniz, Sr., gold star parents who lost their son in
Viet Nam
The Honorable Arnold Gonzales, city councilman for the
City of Corpus Christi, welcomed the committee and
guests to Corpus Christi.
Chairman Truan recognized Rear Admiral Jose L.
Betancourt, Commander Mine Warfare Command, to welcome
the Committee to Ingleside Naval Station and the USS
Inchon to testify. Admiral Betancourt presented
testimony on the high insurance rates in the State of
Texas and other needs of the personnel of the United
States Navy.
Lt. General Leon J. LaPorte, Commanding General United
States Army III Corps at Fort Hood testified on the
strategic deployment highway to connect Ft. Hood, TX,
with the port of Corpus Christi to enable the rapid
deployment of troops and equipment to problem areas in
the world
The Chairman next called on Mr. Al Luedecke, Director
of Transportation Planning & Programing Division, Texas
Department of Transportation, Mr. Billy Parks, Corpus
Christi District Engineer, and Mr. Richard Skopik,
District Engineer for the Waco District to testify on
the plan for the military deployment route. the
estimate to construct the twenty-five (25) miles is
$100 million in construction costs and in the cost for
acquiring the right-of-way. The twenty five mile
stretch of highway is the weak link in the existing
route to the ports of Corpus Christi and Beaumont.
Mr. Al Speight, Manager of Military Deployment for the
Port of Corpus Christi Authority testified on the
ability of the port to diversify and be ready for the
transport.
Captain Elizabeth R. Barker, Commanding Officer, Naval
Hospital Corpus Christi testified on a partnership
between the Navy Hospital community.
Brig. General Wayne D. Marty, Assistant Adjutant
General, Texas Army National Guard, reported on the 700
men and women serving in Bosnia from the Texas National
Guard.
Mr. Dick Messbarger, Executive Director, Kingsville
Economic Development Council and Mr. Jim Berry,
Executive Director of the Bee Development Authority,
"Chase Field" testified on economic development of
closed bases. It was brought out in testimony that the
State of Massachusetts had spent $100 million in 1993
to retain their military bases and the State of
Mississippi had appropriated $65 million to keep their
bases operational.
The Chairman called Mr. James Christoferson, Director
of the Office of Defense Affairs, Austin, Texas, as a
resource witness.
The Chairman called Mr. Abel Chapa, Vice-President of
the Texas County Veterans Service Officers and Mr. Adan
Alaniz, Jr., Nueces County Veterans Service Officer for
the Department of Veteran Affairs to testify on the
need for state veteran cemeteries, veteran homes, and
the Hazelwood Act for educational benefits.
There being no further testimony, Chairman Truan
recognized Senator Van de Putte who moved that the
Committee stand recessed until further call of the
Chair. There being no objections, the Committee was
recessed at 4:50 p.m.
_____________________________
Carlos F. Truan, Chairman
___________________________________
Alice G. Breard, Committee Clerk
Witnesses in Order of Testimony:
The Honorable Arnold Gonzales
Corpus Christi City Council
P. O. Box 9277
Corpus Christi, TX 78469-9277
Rear Admiral Jose L. Betancourt
Commander Mine Warfare Command
325 Fifth St. S.E.
Corpus Christi, TX 78413
(361) 961-4860
Lt. General Leon J. LaPorte
Commanding General
Fort Hood, TX., US Army
6791 Patton Drive
Fort Hood, TX 76544
(254) 287-2206
Mr. Billy Parks, P.E.
District Engineer, Corpus Christi District
Texas Department of Transportation
1701 SPID
Corpus Christi, TX 78416
(361) 808-2220
Mr. Al Luedecke, P.E.
Director, Transportation Planning and Programming
Division
Texas Department of Transportation
125 E. 11th Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 486-5000
Mr. Richard Skopik, P.E.
District Engineer, Waco District
100 S. Loop Drive
Waco, TX 76704
(254) 867-2701
Mr. Al Speight
Port of Corpus Christi Authority
Manager of Military Deployments
P. O. Box 1541
Corpus Christi, TX 78403
800-580-7110 x 165
Captain Elizabeth R. Barker, NC/USN
Commanding Officer, Naval Hospital Corpus Christi
10651 E. Street
Corpus Christi, TX 78418
(361) 961-2685
Brig. General Wayne D. Marty
Assistant Adjutant General (Army)
Texas National Guard
P. O. Box 5218
Austin, TX 78763
(512) 465-5115
Mr. Dick Messbarger
Executive Director
Kingsville Economic Development Council
635 E. King
Kingsville, TX 78363
(361) 592-6438
Mr. Jim Berry
Executive Director
Dee Development Authority - "Chase Field"
P. O. Box 1448
Beeville, TX 78104
Mr. James Christoferson, Director
Office of Defense Affairs
1700 N. Congress
Austin, TX
(512) 842-6728
Mr. Abel Chapa, Vice President
Texas County Veteran Service Officer
1707 Morgan Avenue
Corpus Christi, TX 78404
(361) 883-8407
Mr. Alan Alaniz, Jr.
Veterans Services Representative
Department of Veteran Affairs
5283 Old Brownsville Road
Corpus Christi, TX
(361) 855-6488