Joint Committee Committee on Joint State Veterans & Military Affairs Committee (01/13/2006)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

COMMITTEE ON JOINT STATE VETERANS & MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

Date:	01/13/2006	ATTENDANCE

Time:	10:46 AM to 11:50 AM	Cadman	*
		Carroll T.	X
Place:	HCR 0107	Coleman	X
		Crane	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Fitz-Gerald	*
	Representative Weissmann	Gallegos	X
		Groff	X
This Report was prepared by		Johnson	X
	Bo Pogue	Lamborn	X
		Liston	*
		Lundberg	X
		May R.	E
		Ragsdale	X
		Schultheis	X
		Todd	X
		Windels	X
		Weissmann	X
		Tupa	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
Briefing by Dept. of Mil. and Vet. Affairs		-

10:48 AM - Call to order

The committee was called to order. A quorum was present.

10:48 AM - Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

Representative Weissmann (chair for the joint committee) thanked the committee for being flexible in scheduling the joint briefings, and briefly commented on the schedule for future joint briefings. Major General Mason C. Whitney, State Adjutant General, greeted the committee and introduced those who accompanied him, including, Robbie Robinson, Deputy Executive Director, Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), Walter Paul, Legislative Liaison for the DMVA, Major Dave Novotny, Communications Officer for the Colorado Wing of the Civil Air Patrol, Patti Sampers, Administrator, Civil Air Patrol, and a number of veterans representatives.

General Whitney provided an overview of the make-up of the DMVA. Committee members were provided with a handout containing reference information for General Whitney's briefing (Attachment A). General Whitney then discussed the number of employees and soldiers, full-time, part-time, and inactive, in the branches that serve under the department, and included statements regarding the current status of recruiting. In response to questions, General Whitney detailed the ability of National Guard personnel to respond to forest fires. General Whitney then returned to the subject of troop strength within the National Guard. A discussion ensued regarding the deployment of National Guard troops to assist in the Gulf Coast region in response to hurricanes Katrina and Rita. General Whitney and Mr. Robinson explained the financing of this deployment. General Whitney then provided an overview of the National Guard's support of civil authorities in Fiscal Year 2005, including assistance to the Department of Public Health and Environment, search and rescue efforts, law enforcement support, and deployments regarding potential anthrax and WMD situations. General Whitney next briefed the committee on last year's deployments outside of Colorado, including deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Homeland Security assignments. General Whitney provided an overview of the DMVA's budget, including budget reduction efforts and the impact of those reductions, such as facilities closures and sales. General Whitney responded to a question regarding the impact of facilities closures on local communities. General Whitney next turned to the department's five-year goals with regard to facilities, and discussed the DMVA's long-range construction program. In response to a question, General Whitney explained the funding of future construction projects, as broken down by federal and state share.

11:25 AM

General Whitney continued the briefing, discussing the impact of operations in Iraq on equipment availability in Colorado. General Whitney responded to questions concerning the impact of deploying equipment for military operations on emergency response efforts in Colorado. General Whitney then quickly noted National Guard unit locations throughout the state.

11:32 AM

General Whitney provided an overview of Colorado's wing of the Civil Air Patrol and its scope of duties. Included in this overview was a review of the Civil Air Patrol's activities during the past year, and the location of Patrol aircraft bases, squadrons, and aircraft.

11:36 AM

General Whitney fielded questions from the committee. In response to a question, General Whitney explained the overall funding of department activities. A discussion then ensued regarding the future status of troop strength in overseas operations, with General Whitney explaining the United States military's force deployment model. In response to a question, General Whitney explained incentives used to boost soldier recruitment.

11:49 AM

The joint committee adjourned.