TEXAS DEMOCRATIC VETERANS          

TDV BI-ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND ELECTIONS:  There will be a TDV Bi-Annual General meeting and Elections in Austin, TX from 1200-1600 hours on 10 Oct 09, Saturday.  The location is: Texas AFL-CIO Bldg, 1106 Lavaca St, Suite 200, Austin, TX.   You must be a paid up TDV member as of 1 Sep 09 to attend and vote.  If you are interested in running for office please review the "Meet US" link on this website to review the current TDV offices we have, and come to the meeting stating your intention to run for office.  You may also call Les Rosenblatt, 281-367-9918 if you have any questions.  The positions are for two year terms.

July 31, 2009:  Our Texas Democratic Veterans Organization helped our great Texas State Senator Leticia Van De Putte and Rep Joaquin Castro get passed this state legislative session the two bills below.  Governor Perry signed the ceremonial bills yesterday, July 31, 2009, and we appreciate  him supporting the bills.  The specific idea to allow a Texas Veteran to transfer his/her unused HW benefit to his or her child was initiated by our group and Championed by Texas State Senator Van De Putte and State Rep Joaquin Castro.  They are to be commended on their dynamic leadership in Veteran issues.  The family member serves with the military member.  This will go a long way to give more educational opportunities to our Texas military families.  Thanks, Larry Romo, Texas Democratic Veteran Chairman and DNC Veterans and Military Families Council Member

SB 93 - Hazlewood (HW) Legacy Act (LVP/Castro)

The HW Act provides an exemption of tuition and fees, other than the deposit and student service fees for up to 150 semester credit hours (also excluded are any fees for books, lodging, board or clothing) to an eligible Texas veteran.  This legislation clarifies how the Texas veteran can establish his/her eligibility for HW benefits; it does not make distinctions between citizens and legal residents on educational benefits for veterans.  Therefore, the bill aligns the state HW benefit with the GI Bill.  Additionally, the legislation allows a veteran to transfer his/her unused HW benefit to his/her child.  Also, the legislation allows the spouse of a fallen veteran to utilize the unused HW benefit if the veteran was KIA, MIA, or totally disabled. 

 

SB 297 - In-state Tuition & Fees (LVP, Ogden/Corte)

Allows non-Texas veterans and their families to immediately pay in-state tuition and fees at a public university or college without requiring that they wait the one year to establish Texas residency.  Additionally, if a military parent is deployed to a combat theater, that parent's child(ren) is(are) exempt from paying resident tuition at a public institution of higher education while that parent is on such a deployment. 

Texas Democratic Veterans (TDV) was established on June 14,2002 at the Texas Democratic Convention's Veterans' Caucus in El Paso, Texas. The creation of such a Veterans' Organization had never been done before in any other state in the union and as such is Nationally Significant ! This group is for TDV members and other interested veterans and their supporters, especially in Texas, to discuss veteran issues and issues of importance to the growth of the Texas Democratic Veterans and the Texas Democratic Party and as a way to have veterans' concerns brought to the attention of the Texas Democratic Party. You Do NOT have to be a veteran to join or belong to the Texas Democratic Veterans' Caucus to participate. Just support them and veterans' issues important to them. Open to all that Believe in the Democratic Party and want to help the Texas Democratic Party return to its rightful place of Leadership. Let us as Texans, Democrats, and especially Veterans dedicate this site to the millions of Democrats past and present, living and those who have fallen. Let us pledge never again to have our or their memories, honor, devotion to duty or love of country ever questioned again without going unchallenged !!