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
March 25, 2010
Senator Davis' District Newsletter Vol. 3 (Veterans' Topics)
February 16, 2010
Statement Regarding VAMI Interim Charges
December 9, 2009
Veterans Cash Sales Top $5.3 Million in First Month
October 19, 2009
Van de Putte and Turner Unveil Veterans Cash Lottery Scratch Off
July 31, 2009
Texas Increases Higher Education Benefits for Veterans and Their Families
June 10, 2009
Senator Van de Putte Continues Efforts on Military Sustainability
May 30, 2009
Texas Enacts the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children
May 6, 2009
Senator Van de Putte Statement on the Hazlewood Legacy Act
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
February 24, 2009
Van de Putte and Herrero To Allow College Benefits to be Transferred to Children
January 27, 2009
Senator Van de Putte Files Resolution to Pay Tribute to Texans Wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan on Wounded Warrior Day
November 12, 2008
Senator Van de Putte and Representative King file bill to help military children
November 10, 2008
Senator Van de Putte and Representative Corte File Legislation to Improve the Absentee Voting Process for Deployed Servicemembers
October 10, 2008
TEA provides support to regions expecting student enrollment surges due to base realignments - PDF Format
October 6, 2008
DoD Revises Purple Heart Eligibility Criteria to Allow Award to POWs Who Die in Captivity - From DoD
September 16, 2008
Senator Van de Putte Holds Veteran Affairs and Military Installations Committee Hearing
September 16, 2008
Senator Leticia Van de Putte honors the Legacy of Dr. Hector P. Garcia
September 8, 2008
Veteran Affairs and Military Installations and Defense Affairs and State Federal Relations to hold interim hearing in San Antonio, Texas
September 3, 2008
State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, Chair of the Texas Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs and Military Installations, to be awarded medal by National Guard Association of the United States
August 20, 2008
Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, Chair of the Texas Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs and Military Installations, Responds to Gov. Perry's call for Higher Education Benefits for Veterans and their Families
June 25, 2008
Senator Van De Putte Applauds Efforts Of U.S. Department Of Education & U.S. Department Of Defense
April 4, 2008
Sen. Van de Putte Welcomes New Director of Veteran Affairs and Military Installations (VAMI) Committee
March 31, 2008
Wounded Warrior Day in San Antonio: Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs and Military Installations to hold hearing
Important News and 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 - From DoD
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
Secretary of State's Military and Overseas Voter Services
From the Texas Secretary of State's Website
The Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act of 2008
Factsheet - PDF Format
Veterans' Court Forum Resources
March 30, 2010
Veterans' Court Forum Document 1
March 30, 2010
Veterans' Court Forum Document 2
March 30, 2010
Veterans' Court Forum Document 3
March 30, 2010
Harris County Veteran Court Presentation
Photo Gallery
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Senator Leticia Van de Putte with John Jay Science and Engineering Academy Senior Joseph Cuellar. Senator Van de Putte has selected Joseph Cuellar to receive the District 26 Texas Armed Services Scholarship.
The Texas Armed Services Scholarship was created during the 81st Legislative Session to provide scholarships to young men and women who participate in a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program in preparation for service in the Texas Army, Air National Guard, or U.S. Armed Forces. Each State Senator was able to nominate one student from their district for this prestigious award.
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| Senator Van de Putte receives the National Guard Association of the United States' Charles Dick Medal of Merit on September 3, 2008. The award was presented by the Adjutant General of Texas Lieutenant General Charles Rodriguez and the National Guard Association of Texas (NGAT) Executive Director Ray Lindner. |
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Video/Audio Archives [ 80th | 79th | 78th | 77th | 76th ]
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81st Session Interim
81st Regular Session
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Player Download Site
Hearings and Committee Handouts
Reports
The following reports are available for download:
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.
Committee Archives