HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

VETERANS' AFFAIRS

 

 

January 27, 2005   Hearing Room C

8:30 A.M. Tapes 10 – 11

(Corrected 07/27/05)

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:        

                                                Introduction of Committee Measures - Work Session

Veterans’ Issues - Informational Meeting

 

 

TAPE/#	Speaker	Comments
TAPE 10, A
001	Chair Nelson	Opens the meeting at 8:32 a.m. Opens a work session for the introduction of committee measures.
INTRODUCTION OF COMMITTEE MEASURES - WORK SESSION
005	Jim Stembridge	Committee Administrator. Submits and summarizes LC Draft 2037 (EXHIBIT A).
015	Rep. Barnhart	MOTION:  Moves LC 2037 BE INTRODUCED as a committee bill.
		VOTE:  7-0-0
	Chair Nelson	Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED.
025	Chair Nelson	Closes the work session for the introduction of committee measures. Opens an informational meeting on Veterans’ Issues.
VETERANS’ ISSUES – INFORMATIONAL MEETING
049	Jim Booker	State Veterans’ Programs Coordinator, Oregon Employment Department (OED). Submits and summarizes OED Veterans’ Unemployment Rate report (EXHIBIT B).
065	Booker	Submits and summarizes OED Veterans’ Program report (EXHIBIT C).
095	Booker	Identifies and discusses the unmet financial and employment needs of veterans.
115	Booker	Discusses the type of programs that OED has to assist veterans who are seeking employment or financial assistance.
201	Chair Nelson	Introduces Terry Rich, Disability Veterans’ Outreach Specialist, OED and Stan Stanley, Veterans’ Employment Representative, OED.
217	Booker	Submits and summarizes information packet of OED Veterans’ Program marketing materials which includes Hire Vets First pamphlet, Hire the Best brochure, and Daily Courier newspaper article (EXHIBIT D).
295	Booker	Answers questions related to programs and resources for homeless veterans.
350	Stan Stanley	Veterans’ Employment Representative, OED. Explains the community voicemail system that is available for homeless veterans in Salem.
380	Jacqueline Zimmer	Director, Oregon Association of Area Agencies on Aging and Disabilities (O4A). Gives an overview of the services and programs of O4A.
TAPE 11, A
025	Zimmer	Discusses the importance of County Veterans Services Officers (CVSO).
060	Jeff Hill	Veteran Service Officer, Columbia and Washington Counties. Submits and summarizes written testimony explaining the Oregon County Veterans Service Officers Association (OCVSOA) (EXHIBIT E).
120	Hill	Submits and summarizes County Veterans Services Pilot Project report (EXHIBIT F).
180	Hill	Responds to questions related to the funding of the OCVSOA and CVSO county offices, and performance benchmarks are for CVSO.
275	Hill	Submits and summarizes the written testimony of Timothy Jederberg about CVSO (EXHIBIT G).
286	Zimmer	Comments on why veterans are unaware of County Veterans’ Service Offices and CVSO.
TAPE 10, B
015	Betty Pomeroy	Chair, Washington County Aging Services Seniors Advisory Council. Speaks to the need for more CVSO and the financial benefits of moving veterans from Medicaid benefits to Veterans’ Administration benefits.
080	Gary Roulier	Chief Warrant Officer, Oregon Reserves. Identifies what major issues are affecting Oregon National Guards and Reserves soldiers when they return home.
150	Roulier	Discusses the concerns regarding the length of deployment and time in between tours.
230	Roulier	Speaks to the employability issues of returning soldiers.
290	Roulier	Addresses the psychological effects of combat and the importance of providing soldiers with access to mental health services.
344	Rep. Boquist	Discusses the importance of the Oregon National Guard and Reserves mobilization training and why funding for mobilization training needs to be increased.
TAPE 11, B
002	Boquist	Clarifies that there is not funding for returning Oregon National Guard and Reserve soldiers to participate in mobilization training until six months after returning from combat.
051	Chair Nelson	Asks for clarification from the Oregon Military Department regarding mobilization training.
055	Colonel Mike Caldwell	Deputy Director, Oregon Military Department. Addresses the lack of funding for drill training and reintegration programs.
120	Caldwell	States that by the end of 2005, 5000-6000 Oregon National Guard soldiers will be returning from tours and “will be turned loose on community and family” without reintegration training.
175	Rob Johnstone	Citizen, State of Oregon. Comments on the vital services provided by CVSO and the need to that there is stable funding for county offices.
270	Chair Nelson	Closes the informational meeting on Veterans’ Issues. Adjourns the meeting at 10:13 a.m.

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

 

1.      Introductions, LC Draft 2037, staff, 2 pp
2.      Veterans’ Issues, OED Veterans’ Unemployment Rate Report, Jim Booker, 1 pp
3.      Veterans’ Issues, OED Veterans’ Program Report, Jim Booker,  2 pp
4.      Veterans’ Issues, informational packet, Jim Booker, 9 pp
5.      Veterans’ Issues, written testimony, Jim Booker, 8 pp
6.      Veterans’ Issues, County Veterans’ Services Pilot Project Report, Jeff Hill, 11 pp
7.      Veterans’ Issues, written testimony of Timothy Jederberg, Jeff Hill, 2 pp