HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

VETERANS' AFFAIRS

 

 

January 13, 2005  Hearing Room C

8:30 A.M.                               Tapes 1 – 2

(Corrected 7-8-05)

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:            Rep. Donna Nelson, Chair

Rep. Phil Barnhart, Vice-Chair

Rep. Debi Farr, Vice-Chair

Rep. Brian Boquist

Rep. Scott Bruun

Rep. Dave Hunt

Rep. Betty Komp

 

STAFF PRESENT:                  Jim Stembridge, Committee Administrator

Erin Seiler, Committee Assistant

 

MEASURES/ISSUES HEARD:

                                                Adoption of Committee Rules - Organizational Meeting

                                                Veterans’ Issues - Informational Meeting

   

 

TAPE/#	Speaker	Comments
TAPE 1, A
003	Chair Nelson	Opens the meeting at 8:30 a.m. Opens an organizational meeting for the adoption of committee rules.
ADOPTION OF COMMITTEE RULES - ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
007	Jim Stembridge	Committee Administrator. Submits and summarizes proposed Committee Rules (EXHIBIT A).
060	Rep. Barnhart	Asks if rule number one, the 24-hour-notice provision, conflict with the 48-hour-agenda notice provision.
066	Stembridge	States that placing "rule change" item on the committee agenda would still be subject to 48-hour requirement, while the actual wording of the change proposed would be subject to 24-hour requirement.
107	Rep. Barnhart	MOTION:  Moves to ADOPT the proposed Committee Rules dated 01/13/05.
		VOTE:  7-0-0
	Chair Nelson	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED.
110	Chair Nelson	Closes organizational meeting for the adoption of committee rules.
119	Holly Robinson	Deputy Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel. Explains the responsibilities of legislative counsel.
141	Rep. Komp	House District 22. Summarizes goals for the Committee.
151	Rep. Boquist	House District 23. Explains that the goals of the Committee are to take care of returning soldiers and help reintegrate into their communities.
172	Rep. Barnhart	House District 11. Summarizes goals for the Committee.
219	Rep. Bruun	House District 37. Summarizes goals for the Committee.
245	Rep. Hunt	House District 40. Summarizes goals for the Committee.
262	Rep. Farr	House District 14. Summarizes goals for the Committee.
294	Chair Nelson	House District 24. Summarizes goals for the Committee.
348	Chair Nelson	Introduces the Committee staff.
TAPE 2, A
046	Chair Nelson	Closes the organizational meeting for adoption of committee rules. Opens an informational meeting on Veterans’ Issues.
VETERANS’ ISSUES - INFORMATIONAL  MEETING
059	Jim Willis	Director, Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA). Explains the purpose, benefits, and services provided by ODVA.
098	Willis	Summarizes the Oregon veteran population by conflict.
135	Willis	Explains the “system” of veterans’ assistance and identifies the specific programs and services provided by ODVA.
181	Rep. Barnhart	Verifies that the cost of the Veterans’ Home Loan Program is $200 million dollars for all participating states.
190	Rep. Boquist	Addresses the importance of supporting all Oregon soldiers and veterans.
240	Sean Cruz	Legislative Assistant, Office of Senator Avel Gordly. Submits and summarizes LC 980, relating to child support obligations of members of Oregon National Guard (EXHIBIT B).
325	Tamara Brickman	Legislative Coordinator, Oregon Employment Department (OED).  Submits and summarizes OED Overview report (EXHIBIT C).
335	Jim Booker	State Veteran’s Program Coordinator, OED. Submits and summarizes OED Veteran’s Program report (EXHIBIT D).
TAPE 1, B
039	Booker	Cites a successful example of an incarcerated veteran returning to work.
051	Chair Nelson	Asks how a veteran learns of the programs and services available through OED.
059	Booker	Explains how OED disseminates information to Oregon’s veteran population.
070	Chair Nelson	Asks how many veterans OED has assisted in finding jobs.
073	Booker	Estimates OED has helped between 50,000-60,000 veterans.
077	Chair Nelson	Asks for clarification of definition of veteran.
081	Booker	Explains that a veteran is someone who has served on active duty for 180 days, has a service-connected disability, or received a campaign medal. Confirms that the “moment a soldier steps foot into combat” they are eligible for assistance from OED.
114	Rep. Bruun	Asks how OED reaches out to homeless veterans.
128	Booker	Explains that they have federal mandate to specifically target homeless veterans by marketing services through homeless shelters and veterans’ centers.
147	Rep. Hunt	Asks if there are any identified needs that “fall in between the cracks of what the federal government does.”
161	Booker	Identifies transportation, basic living supplies, and health care as that are underfunded.
194	Mac MacDonald	Representative, Veterans’ Organizations. Speaks to his history as a veteran and his role in as an advocate for veterans.
312	Chair Nelson	Discusses the possibility of drafting a bill that would award honorary high school diplomas to Vietnam War veterans.
394	Chair Nelson	Closes the informational meeting on Veterans’ Issues. Adjourns the meeting at 9:55 a.m.

           

 

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

 

1. Rules, proposed Committee Rules,  staff, 2 pp
2. Veterans’ Issues, LC 980, Sean Cruz,  3 pp    
3. Veterans’ Issues, OED Overview Report, Tamara Brickman, 2 pp
4. Veterans’ Issues, OED Veteran’s Program Report, Jim Booker, 2 pp