MINUTES 
                                           
           SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERAN AFFAIRS AND MILITARY INSTALLATIONS 
                                           
                               Saturday, May 24, 2003 
                           11:30 a.m. or upon adjournment 
                    Senator Van de Putte's Desk, Senate Chamber 
                                           
                                       ***** 
          
         Pursuant to the suspension of the 24 hour posting rule in  
         accordance with Senate Rules 11.10 and 11.18, a public hearing  
         of the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs and Military  
         Installations was held on Saturday, May 24, 2003, at Senator Van  
         de Putte's Desk, located in the Senate Chamber. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Leticia Van de Putte, Chair     None 
         Senator Craig Estes, Vice Chair 
         Senator Troy Fraser 
         Senator Frank Madla 
         Senator Eliot Shapleigh 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The chair called the meeting to order at 12:04 p.m.  There being  
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted. 
          
         Senator Estes assumed presiding duties at 12:04 p.m.   
          
         The chair laid out HCR 101 by Representative Capelo, requesting  
         that Congress enact a Medicare prescription drug benefit, and  
         recognized the Senator sponsor, Senator Van de Putte, to explain  
         the house concurrent resolution. 
          
         The chair asked if there was anyone present who wanted to  
         provide oral testimony on HCR 101.  There being none, the chair  
         closed public testimony on HCR 101. 
          
         Senator Van de Putte moved that HCR 101 be reported to the  
         Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.   
         The motion prevailed by a record vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays, 1  
         absent and 0 present not voting. 
          
         Senator Fraser present at 12:07 p.m. 
          
         The chair laid out HCR 199 be Representative Gutierrez,  
         requesting that Congress enact legislation to define the  
         political status options available to U.S. citizens of Puerto  
         Rico, and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Van de Putte,  
         to explain the house concurrent resolution. 
  
         The chair asked if there was anyone present who wanted to  
         provide oral testimony on HCR 199.  There being none, the chair  
         closed public testimony on HCR 199. 
          
         Senator Van de Putte moved that HCR 199 be reported to the  
         Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.   
         The motion carried by a record vote of 4 ayes, 1 nay, 0 absent  
         and 0 present not voting. 
          
         Senator Van de Putte resumed presiding duties at 12:13 p.m. 
          
         There being no further business to come before the committee,  
         the chair adjourned the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs and  
         Military Installations at 12:13 p.m. 
          
         ______________________________________ 
         Senator Leticia Van de Putte,  R.Ph, Chair 
          
         ______________________________________ 
         Scott Caffey, Committee Coordinator