News/Features

Dear Friend,

Vicki Truitt Family 2011

I am thinking of you and your family during this special time of year.  I am hoping that you are enjoying the Spirit of the season, and the happiness that It brings as you celebrate with your family and friends. If you have lost a loved one recently, I know this time of year is hard to endure without them.  But I pray that the good memories of the time you shared with that person, and the enrichment of your life because of them will sustain you and lift your spirits.

You have my wish for a hopeful, happy, healthy, and prosperous 2012, and I look forward to being here for you if I may be of any service to you in any way.

As a reminder of how much we have to be thankful for, I’d like to share with you excerpts from some poignant messages I have received from a friend serving in Afghanistan.  His comments are to the right.

In addition to serving us as a member of the military, Commander Carl Isett, USN, and I served together in the Texas House.  We formed a special bond as we worked together – especially on mental health issues.  Carl misses his wife, Cheri, and seven children back home in Lubbock, Texas.  (This is not Carl’s first tour of duty.  When he was last in harm’s way, Cheri temporarily served for him in the Texas House.)

When I read his accounts, they renew my sense of appreciation for the members of our armed forces.  It also makes me so grateful that my family and I live in our precious United States of America.  We all take so much for granted.  I am thankful for Carl and all who serve our country, and I pray that our leaders and we, the people, will validate and re-invigorate our nation’s greatness for future generations.

Blessings to you and yours from Jim and me.  Merry Christmas.  Happy Hanukkah.  And thank you for the privilege of allowing me to work for you in the Texas House.  

Vicki Truitt

State Representative
District 98

Having a hard time following Redistricting?
Use this tool to find out who will represent you in 2012 http://www.texastribune.org/library/data/whats-my-district-now/

Gov. Perry Announces TEF Investment in Ferris Mfg. Corp.
to Create 100 Jobs in Fort Worth

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry has announced the state is investing $450,000 through the Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF) in Ferris Mfg. Corp., which will invest $5.5 million in capital expenditures in a new headquarters office and medical product manufacturing and distribution center in Fort Worth, creating 100 new jobs.

“Employers from around the nation and all over the world continue to seek the job-friendly climate we’ve created in Texas with our low taxes, reasonable and predictable regulations, fair legal system and skilled workforce,” Gov. Perry said. “This TEF investment in Ferris Mfg. Corp. will further strengthen North Texas’ economy by bringing 100 jobs and millions in capital investment to the City of Fort Worth.”

Ferris Mfg. Corp. is a privately owned producer and distributor of PolyMem and Shapes wound care dressings, RhinoPak dressings for nasal surgery, and BabySmooth diaper rash products. Ferris is committed to providing innovative and superior quality goods and service to customers, and its products meet the standards and regulations in the U.S., Canada, the European Union and around the world.

“We are excited that our future innovations in the medical field will take place in Texas,” Ferris Mfg. Corp. CEO Roger Sessions said. “PolyMem wound care dressings are the best in the world, and Texas has the best business climate in the world, so this is a win for both Ferris and Texas. The support we received from state and local leaders made us certain that Texas is the place for our business to grow.”

“We’re proud to add Ferris Manufacturing to this growing list of prominent companies who are working to improve global healthcare,” Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President of Economic Development David Berzina said. “The company’s presence will further reinforce our city’s reputation as a leader in biomedical solutions.”

“It’s no secret that a stable and supportive environment for businesses and jobs here has been a top priority for Gov. Perry, and it’s no accident that the Texas Legislature has been deliberate in its implementation of public policy to ensure business health and promotion in our state,” Rep. Vicki Truitt said. “I welcome Ferris Mfg. and its new headquarters to Fort Worth, as well as the 100 new jobs it will bring.”

“Through this partnership, we are bringing much-needed jobs and opportunities to North Texas,” Sen. Jane Nelson said. “Because this company develops medical products, this relocation will spur innovation for our health care system and for Texas’ life science industry.”

The Legislature created the TEF in 2003 and re-appropriated funding in 2005, 2007 and 2009 to help ensure the growth of Texas businesses and create more jobs throughout the state. TEF projects must be approved by the governor, lieutenant governor and speaker of the House. The fund has since become one of the state’s most competitive tools to recruit and bolster business. To date, the TEF has invested more than $439.8 million and closed the deal on projects generating more than 59,000 new jobs and more than $14.7 billion in capital investment in the state.

For more information about the TEF, please visit http://www.texaswideopenforbusiness.com/financial-resources/texas-enterprise-fund.html or http://www.governor.state.tx.us.

Goodwill Industries Honors Rep. Vicki Truitt as
“Legislator of the Year ”

Dallas, Texas – On Tuesday, November 22, 2011, Goodwill Industries leaders from all across Texas gathered, to recognize Representative Vicki Truitt (R-Keller) as "Legislator of the Year" for her work during the 82nd Legislature, and in particular for passing legislation for the reasonable regulation of payday and title loan businesses.

"Representative Truitt represented both Goodwill and all Texans statewide in her pursuit of justice and appropriate regulation of an industry which previously had no oversight," said Lori Henning, Executive Director for the Texas Association of Goodwills.

During the 2011 legislative session, Rep. Truitt authored a package of bills to address growing concerns associated with payday and auto title loans. The Texas Association of Goodwills engaged in consumer advocacy on this issue as many individuals they serve fell victim to unscrupulous actors in the industry.

Rep. Truitt, who was previously honored by AARP for her work on the payday/title loan issue, brought together a host of non-profit and religious organizations, as well as industry representatives, during the 82nd Session to craft fair, reasonable legislation that would protect consumers while preserving private enterprise and jobs in Texas. She also won the 2011 “Peacemaker Award” from the Travis County Dispute Resolution Center for tackling this difficult issue.

“Being a small businessperson myself, I’m a strong supporter of capitalism and free markets, but we could not ignore the fact that thousands of Texans complained that they had been victims of predatory tactics by bad actors,” Truitt stated. She continued, “That these consumers had no legal recourse was simply wrong. As chairman of the committee responsible for oversight of financial institutions, it was my responsibility to act in the best interest of Texans.”

This is the second time the Texas Association of Goodwills has given this distinguished award since its
creation.

State Senator John Carona (R-Dallas) was also recognized with this distinguished award for carrying and passing Rep. Truitt’s payday/title loan legislation (HB 2592 and HB 2594) in the state Senate.

Goodwill assists people with disabilities and other barriers to employment.

Other News:

Rep. Truitt Honored with Peacemaker Award

Proposed Constitutional Amendments To Be Explained by Rep. Vicki Truitt at Town Hall Meeting

More proof that electric competition is working - FWST

Truitt's "Respectful Language" Bill Effective September 1

Texas Legislature sends Governor more than 100 bills

State Rep. Vicki Truitt Reappointed to State Pension Review Board

HB 1075 - AMBER Alert Expansion Bill passes in the House

Commissioner Staples Joins Governor Perry To Assess Wildfire Damage and Help Rebuild Lives of Fellow Texans

Rep. Truitt Joins Efforts to Combat Underage Drinking With $10,000 Poster Contest

Truitt Sends Payday and Auto Title Loans Out of House Committee

Rep Truitt Confronts Payday Lending Challenge

Lawmakers tackle future winter blackout prevention

Speaker Straus Announces House Committee Assignments

Truitt's Committee Appointments Increase Clout For District 98 Constituents

Rep. Truitt's Pension Fund Briefing Remarks and Accompanying PowerPoint slides

 

Letters

These messages from: Carl H. Isett, CDR, SC, USN, Commander, DLA Distribution Kandahar Afghanistan (DDKA)

23 December 11
This lifted my spirits. I hope it will do the same for you and remind us that we have things to live for beyond ourselves.
http://tinyurl.com/7929h8k

22 December 11
Merry Christmas! I wanted to take an opportunity to tell all of you that I hope that you have a blessed Christmas. It is a good time to reflect on how good and faithful God truly is. I hope that you will each have an opportunity to spend time with those you love. I am attaching my winter observations. It was 26 this morning and the high was low 40's. It's been that way for about a week now. Hard to believe that it is 100 degrees cooler than when I arrived! We haven't seen the sun for four days due to the dust. I'm also including a picture of CGA team that I work with and my Christmas photo (hard to do when you have to take the picture yourself). I had to think of home to find a smile! I've also added the last two observations in case I missed you on the first round. I hope to see you upon my return. Here is a YouTube video that captures some of the things I have written about in song and picture. We spend a lot of time in the bunkers.
http://tinyurl.com/7phrqzg

11 November 11
We had four rocket attacks in a 24 hour period the other day. I guess the Taliban just wanted us to remember that they are out there. The Canadian’s are moving out over the next couple of weeks. Some of you have told me that there is a show highlighting what they have done at the hospital here. They have acquitted themselves with honor and given incredible care to our wounded warriors. When I was in getting my neck worked on last week I met another kid who looked to be about 15 who told me he was from Arizona and stationed in Alaska. He had lacerations on his face, arms and legs. The right side of his face was a little swollen and he was being fitted for crutches but was struggling due to a wrist and hand injury. In the course of our conversation he said that they had taken two IED’s in a one hour period. He went on to say that he and his buddies have been hit four times in three months. He had broken bones in his hand and face along with multiple fractures and sprains. He is going to go back to Alaska and then be given time to go home and get some rest.

I met a kid from upstate New York who is an Army Ranger Scout (“the guys who kick down doors” …his words). He looked only slightly older than the 15 yr old. We talked for several minutes waiting for our coffee. He was polite (of course I out ranked him by 10 pay grades!) and in his eyes you could see maturity far beyond the aspiring whiskers on his face. These young enlisted guys never cease to humble me by their devotion to duty. I sit inside the wire not taking direct fire and feel safe. These guys are out there trying to keep us safe and on convoys making sure that material gets to our troops in the remote Forward Operating Bases (FOB’s). I have purposed in my heart to never forget these guys and what they do.

So many of you have responded to these little observations that I know how truly blessed I am to have each of you as friends. So now, on Veteran’s Day, I want to thank again all of you have served. One of the quotes I recited frequently while elected was by Daniel Webster. He said, “God grants liberty only to those who love it, and are always ready to guard and defend it.”

Notice that he didn’t believe that you had to wear a uniform to defend liberty. Each of us can do so by understanding what a precious gift God has granted us and be willing to defend it every day in our lives. Thank each of you for what you have done and do to protect Liberty whether in uniform or not.

Happy Veteran’s Day!

13 September 11
I wrote last time how nasty Kandahar is. The stench from the "poop pond" is nearly unbearable at times but it is the dust that is most loathsome, unpleasant, and, at times, depressing. Imagine if Charlie Brown's friend Pigpen ruled the earth and required that everyone and everything had to make as big a cloud of dust as possible. Imagine that the dust cloud formed was a logarithmic function based on mass and velocity so that a large up-armored personnel carrier created on the order of 4,765,224.98 times more dust than a 200 lb. man. Now imagine that the entire earth was covered in 4 in. of sifted flour and that it was a constant 130 degrees. You can add wind for effect if you wish but the dust is so fine that it hangs in the air like fog without any wind. I will attach a photo taken while driving to give you an idea of what the visibility is like. Also attached is the poop pond with a new sign!

I'll wrap this up. It's hard to believe that I've been here for almost 7 weeks. The days go so slowly but the weeks seem to go faster. I meant to write when the helo went down with the Special Forces hero's on it. It was very somber on the base for a long time. We just finished the Muslim holy days of Ramadan followed by Eads, which is a 4 day festival of breaking their fast. They celebrated by launching 15 rocket attacks against us last week. It is by the grace of God that no one was seriously injured. I remain impressed with the young men and women that serve our country. In an all-volunteer force you wouldn't think that there would be so many willing to come. But they do come and they acquit themselves with honor.

24 July 11
The base is quite possibly the nastiest place I've ever been on earth. Everything is covered in what is called "moon dust." Dust as fine as talcum powder or finer. It gets everywhere and hangs in the air. Everything is surrounded by high concrete barriers to protect from missile attacks. The concrete absorbs the heat and makes it unbearable. They say on hot days it approaches 140 in those areas. There is an open sewer about 400 meters up wind from where I live. The stench is really bad. Then there are the missiles. They happen either early in the morning or around midnight. Mostly they are just harassment. Occasionally they actually hit something or someone but that's pretty rare. Mostly they are around the perimeter and not much threat. Then there is the occasional one that isn't. We have to go to a bomb shelter and wait for an "all clear" call before we can leave. They have been taking an hour or two most of the time. If I tell you it rained today and I had to get under my umbrella you'll know what I'm talking about.

I miss all of you. I'll send out notes as time goes on. I'll try to send some pictures. Did I mention this place is nasty?

I will say in closing that there are some extraordinary young men and women here in uniform. When you listen to a 25 year old convoy commander or a 20 year old gunner talk about what they went through that day outside the wire, it makes you appreciate that we live in a country that still raises patriots. Imagine if every day you got up knowing that you were going to go look for IED's so that the soldiers that come behind you will be safe. Amazing.