Military, veterans affairs committee to meet in Alamo
Alamogordo Daily News
By Elva K. Österreich, Associate News Editor
Posted: 10/03/2009
Local legislators are coming together to host a new committee on military and veterans affairs. State Sen. Dianna Duran
and state Rep. Nate Cote, both serving portions of Otero County, are on the new committee.
"I think this is exciting because a lot of the calls I get from Otero County constituents are about veterans' issues," Duran said.
During the 2009 legislative session, legislation was introduced to create a military and veterans affairs committee, she said. There are 19 members of the committee, with Duran and Cote representing this portion of the state. Many of the committee members are veterans or have close ties with the military, she said.
"We have been traveling around the state with the committee, listening to veterans and presentations from our military," Duran said. "It's a combination committee."
All legislators hear from veterans with problems and issues, she said. And New Mexico also needs to be willing to support the military and its bases.
"The goal is to assist our veterans and military, too," she said. The committee will be helping the government in efforts regarding Base Realignment and Closure proceedings.
So far, the group has listened to numerous presentations as it travels around the state, Duran said. They hear from a wide variety of people, from those who served on the USS New Mexico to homeless veterans living in the desert.
On Oct. 15, the committee meets in Las Cruces where it will hear from the city's Veterans Affairs Advisory Board, see a presentation on veteran homelessness, visit a new veterans museum site and tour White Sands Missile Range. On Oct. 16, they will meet in Alamogordo at 9 a.m. with a full agenda that includes a public comment session. The meeting will be conducted at the Sgt. Willie Estrada Memorial Civic Center.
"Should you have concerns now, and if you come to our meeting, we do have time for public input," Duran said. "But please bring concerns and documentation written down because we won't have that much time. We will have staff to take your documents."
The committee recognizes a lot of veterans have huge issues, Duran said. They often get calls about travel, the way the VA handles reimbursements and much more.
"We have a secretary of veterans in this state who should be doing those kind of things," she said. "I want to express to the veterans that the goal of this committee is to assist them in whatever they need and we want our military to know that we will support them."
Rep. Nate Cote said it's thrilling to be part of the Military and Veterans Issues Committee.
"We are learning so much about the 200,000 veterans in the state," he said. "We are learning about the homeless, health care and PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder)."
Cote is excited the German air force will be on the Alamogordo agenda. "This will be the first time the Legislature has been able to hear about the German air force," he said.
Other items on the Alamogordo agenda include the Interstate Compact for Military Kids, the 4-H Military Kid Operation, a Holloman Air Force Base presentation on the new unmanned aerial vehicles, and information about troop deployment and medical screening.
Cote said it is unfortunate the committee was only sponsored for a year. The committee will be trying to sponsor a bill to make it permanent.
"Hopefully, we can bring about some improved service," Cote said. "Maybe we can help with transportation, treatment, predeployment and Reserve issues."
The state Legislature will be better for the new committee, he said.
"I think most people are looking forward to what is going on in the southern part of the state," Cote said. "We are getting there, but there is a lot of work to do."
Contact Elva K. Österreich at eosterreich@alamogordonews.com.
