MINUTES
Thursday, October 3, 2002
10:00 a.m.
Corpus Christi, 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 Thursday, October
3, 2002, in the Warren Theater, Texas A&M, Corpus Christi, 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 10:12 a.m. The
following business was transacted:
Chairman Shapleigh welcomed everyone to the committee hearing
and recognized two Representatives from the Texas House that
were participating in the hearing, Representative Judy Hawley
and Representative Gene Seaman. Representatives Hawley and
Seaman gave opening remarks. Chairman Shapleigh then recognized
special guests in the audience.
Chairman Shapleigh requested everyone stand for the Presentation
of the Colors by the Texas A&M ROTC Program. The Colors were
presented and posted. Chairman Shapleigh led the audience in
the Pledge of Allegiance.
Chairman Shapleigh then made a special presentation to Mr. Gary
Swenchonis. Mr. Swenchonis lost his son, US Navy Fireman Gary
Swenchonis, Jr., during the October 12, 2000 terrorist attack on
the USS Cole. Mr. Swenchonis was presented with a flag and a
certificate and was recognized for his sacrifice. Chairman
Shapleigh also made a special presentation to Mr. & Mrs. Rogelio
Santiago. Mr. & Mrs. Santiago lost their son, Petty Officer 3rd
Class Ronchester "Ron" Santiago, during the October 12, 2002
terrorist attack on the USS Cole. Mr. & Mrs. Santiago were
presented with a flag and a certificate and were recognized for
their sacrifice.
Chairman Shapleigh then gave an explanation of the Committee's
charges and an overview of the military installations in Texas.
He noted the importance of the military to the state and local
economies and spoke about the upcoming Base Realignment and
Closure Act (BRAC).
The Chairman then invited the following person to provide an
overview of installations in the Corpus Christi Bay Area
Military Complex:
Loyd Neal, Chairman, South Texas Military Facilities Task
Force
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 issues
relating to the Mine Warfare Center of Excellence and Naval
Station Ingleside:
The Honorable Judy Hawley, State Representative, Texas
House of Representatives and Executive Director, San
Patricio County Economic Development Corporation
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 issues
related to Naval Air Station--Kingsville:
Dick Messbarger, Member, NAS Kingsville Task Force
The witness provided oral and written 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 issues
related to Naval Aviation Training and Naval Air Station--Corpus
Christi:
Philip R. Kruse, Member, South Texas Military Facilities
Task Force
The witness provided oral and written 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 the
proposed Texas highway routes and construction plans designed to
enhance intrastate movement of military cargo and personnel to
mobilization and deployment sites:
Gary Bushell, Attorney & Consultant, Gulf Coast Strategic
Highway Coalition
The witness provided oral and written 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 the status
of implementation of HB 2125, relating to public school
admission for military personnel and dependents:
Sarah Crippen, Assistant Director of English Language Arts,
Texas Education Agency
The witness provided oral and written 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 provided testimony on the
impact of the current military mobilization on persons called to
active duty and their families and to provide comments on state
and federal statutes concerning guardsmen and make
recommendations, if necessary:
John Stanford, State Liaison, Adjutant General's Department
The witness provided oral and written testimony and responded to
questions by the members of the Committee.
There being no further questions for the witness and no
additional invited testimony, the Chair opened public testimony.
The following witness provided public testimony on a proposal
for a State Veteran's Home by the City of Taft:
Florencio "Flo" P. Sauceda, City Manager, City of Taft
The witness provided oral and written testimony and responded to
questions by the members of the Committee.
There being no further questions for the witness and no
witnesses registered or responding to the Chairman's call for
additional public testimony, the Chairman closed public
testimony.
Chairman Shapleigh made closing remarks.
There being no further business, at 1:29 p.m. Chairman Shapleigh
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
______________________
Minutes
Thursday, October 3, 2002
page 4
Senator Eliot Shapleigh, Chair
______________________
Kari McAdams, Clerk