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Earlier this week the Texas Coalition of Veterans Organizations (TCVO) asked for our grassroots members to contact the members of the Texas House Calendars Committee to register their support for HB 194, and to ask the Calendars Committee to place the Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business (SDVOB) legislation on the House Calendar for debate and vote.

Your efforts were tremendously successful.  HB 194 was placed on the General House Calendar on 5/2/13, and will come to the House floor next week, as early as Monday 5/6/13.  Once again, TCVO is asking for your support.

Please urge your members to call or email their Representative and request that they support HB 194, especially the State Representatives on the list at the bottom of this note.  This has been a seven year effort, and this is the first time in four Texas Legislative sessions that a SDVOB has actually been scheduled for House floor debate.

We need your help.  Please call or email your Representative today.

Thank you.

John A Miterko

Veterans Advocate

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Draft of Constituent input request for Texas Representatives

 

            Subject line

Veterans: We need you to make one phone call TODAY

 

            Body of email

Hello, Texas Veterans.

 

The Texas Legislature is meeting right now.  The Texas Coalition of Veterans Organizations is working to pass several proposals to benefit veterans.  One of our top priorities is to expand business and work opportunities for veterans. 

 

House Bill 194 would allow service disabled veterans to compete for HUB contracts.  This is the fourth session that TCVO has been pushing this proposal, and we have gotten closer and closer to success each time.  We are now at the critical point in the current session and need your help. 

 

Would you please call the Austin office of your State Representative for your District?  

 

Here are the details of who to call and what to say:

 

1)  The phone number is listed below. 

 

2)  When they answer, say where you live and that you want to leave a message for your Representative about House Bill 194. 

 

3)  When they're ready to take down your message:

      a) give your name (they may or may not also ask for your phone number and/or your address)

      b) tell them that you are a veteran and where you live

      c) emphasize that you strongly support HB 194 which is on the General State Calendar

      d) explain that you asking for your Representative to vote in favor of HB 194 when it reaches the House floor for debate early next week

 

That's it.  Shouldn't take more than 2 minutes, maximum. 

 

Two other details. 

 

One, please also remember to be polite, patient and friendly.  They get a huge number of phone calls – some from angry people.  We will make a better impression and get more help from our elected officials if we show some respect. 

 

And two, we are trying to make a tally of how many calls actually get made.  If you succeed in leaving a message please send an email to jbrennan@aausasupply.com with the word "HB 194" in the subject line and give us your name and the date you called.  We are trying to all the Representatives on the attached list. 

 

Thank you very much for helping the Texas Coalition of Veterans Organizations.  Together we are making a big difference for veterans. 

 

John Greytok