By State Rep. Todd Hunter
AUSTIN, Texas (Texas Insider Report) — May is National Military Appreciation Month. The members of the United States Armed Forces continue to play an integral role in the development and protection of our country and freedoms. This month gives us the opportunity to demonstrate appreciation for past and present military personnel and their families for their service and sacrifices.
There are multiple branches of the U.S. Military within the Department of Defense. Each branch of the military is over 200 years old, with the exception of the U.S. Air Force, founded in 1947.
The U.S. Space Force (USSF) is the newest branch of the Armed Forces, established December 20, 2019.
Each branch of the military has unique roles in protecting our nation.- You can find links to the official websites and a brief overview of each branch of the armed forces HERE, or at https://www.defense.gov/About/Military-Departments/Uniformed-Services.
- Loyalty Day, May 1st, is dedicated to the reaffirmation of loyalty to the U.S. and to reflect on the heritage of our American freedom.
- May 2nd-8th is Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW). During PSRW, we honor the men and women who serve our nation as federal, state, county, and local government employees.
- May 8th is Victory in Europe Day, also known as VE Day. On this day in 1945, World War II ended due to Germany surrendering to the Allies.
- Every Friday before Mother’s Day, May 7th this year, is Military Spouse Appreciation Day. We honor the families of our soldiers and sailors since they keep our Armed Forces strong and our country safe.
- Armed Forces Day, May 15th, is dedicated to honoring all the patriotic Americans who have made the choice to serve our country.
- May 31st is Memorial Day. This day is dedicated to honoring our veterans and commemorating those who died while servicing our country.
We are in the final month of the 87th Legislative Session. Sine Die, the final day, of this Session is May 31st. Until then, the Legislature will continue to hold hearings over bills in committees and decide matters in the House & Senate Chambers.
To look up and/or track legislation that interests you, please visit http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Home.aspx. You are able to look up legislation by word, phrase, or bill number in the top-middle section of this page. The left of the page has several links that will connect you to the Texas House of Representatives homepage and to the Texas Senate homepage.To receive alerts of bills that interest you, please visit the Texas Legislature Online HERE. You can create a free account by clicking on "New User" underneath the password box. Once you've created your login, you will see a line full of empty boxes. Under "bill", you type in the bill number and leave the next box as "any category". This will send you alerts each time the bill moves through the legislative process. (You can also add notes.) Finally, select "Add Bill".
And as always, if you have questions or comments regarding any of the information or legislative processes mentioned above, please don't hesitate to call my Capitol or District Offices (Capitol Office: 512-463-0672 – District Office: 361-949-4603). As always, we're available at any time to assist you with questions, concerns, or comments.
And please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or issues regarding a Texas State Agency, or if you'd like help regarding Constituent Services. Your ideas and information are important forms of feedback, and I hope that you will not hesitate to contact my office.
If you'd like to review more about the Texas State Legislature, visit the Texas Legislature Online.State Representative Todd Hunter serves the constituents of Texas House District 32, which is composed of Aransas, Calhoun, San Patricio and part of Nueces County.
