Rep. Bobby Cox

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 1-30-10, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENTS OF STATE GOVERNMENT, SO AS TO INCLUDE THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS; BY ADDING SECTION 1-30-130 SO AS TO ENUMERATE THE ASSETS, RIGHTS, AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE FORMER DIVISION OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS TRANSFERRED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS; TO AMEND CHAPTER 11, TITLE 25, RELATING TO THE DIVISION OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS, SO AS TO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, REDESIGNATE THE DIVISION OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS AS THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS; TO ESTABLISH THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS WITHIN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT; TO PROVIDE THAT THE GOVERNOR SHALL APPOINT A SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS WITH THE ADVICE AND CONSENT OF THE SENATE, AND TO ENUMERATE THE SECRETARY'S POWERS, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES; TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION TO PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS; TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF "VETERAN" FOR PURPOSES OF APPOINTING COUNTY VETERANS' AFFAIRS OFFICERS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT A COUNTY VETERANS' AFFAIRS OFFICER IS AN AT-WILL EMPLOYEE OF THE DEPARTMENT WHO MAY BE REMOVED FOR CAUSE AT ANY TIME BY THE DEPARTMENT SECRETARY, A MAJORITY OF THE SENATORS REPRESENTING THE COUNTY, AND A MAJORITY OF THE HOUSE MEMBERS REPRESENTING THE COUNTY; TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES THROUGHOUT THE CHAPTER; TO ESTABLISH THE SOUTH CAROLINA MILITARY BASE TASK FORCE, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE TASK FORCE'S COMPOSITION, POWERS, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES; AND TO PROVIDE COORDINATING INSTRUCTIONS RELATING TO THE REDESIGNATION OF THE DIVISION OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS AS THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS. - ratified title

A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CELEBRATE THE RIVER BLUFF HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY CHEER TEAM, COACHES, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS FOR AN OUTSTANDING SEASON AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR BEING NAMED THE 2019 SOUTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE GAME DAY INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONS.

A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE BRUTON'S FORK BAPTIST CHURCH OF MARLBORO COUNTY ON THE OCCASION OF ITS HISTORIC ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY-SECOND ANNIVERSARY, AND TO WISH THE CHURCH LEADERS AND CONGREGATION GOD'S RICHEST BLESSINGS AS THEY CONTINUE TO SERVE THE LORD IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR JAMES E. "JIM" KNIGHT, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, LICENSING AND REGULATION, ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT, TO THANK HIM FOR NEARLY FORTY YEARS OF OUTSTANDING AND DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, AND TO WISH HIM MUCH SUCCESS AND FULFILLMENT IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO COMMEND TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF CLIO FOR MORE THAN TWO AND A HALF CENTURIES OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO EXTEND WARMEST CONGRATULATIONS ON THE OCCASION OF THE CHURCH'S HISTORIC TWO HUNDRED SIXTIETH ANNIVERSARY.

A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR CARL EDWARD "ED" REA AND JUDITH WEISS "JUDY" REA FOR THEIR MANY YEARS OF DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AS EDUCATORS IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND BEYOND, TO CONGRATULATE THEM ON THE OCCASION OF THEIR RETIREMENT, AND TO WISH THEM MUCH HAPPINESS AND FULFILLMENT IN ALL THEIR FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO MEMORIALIZE THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO APPROVE THE UNITED STATES-MEXICO-CANADA AGREEMENT (USMCA) IN ORDER TO ENSURE CONTINUITY IN TRADE AMONG THE THREE NORTH AMERICAN ECONOMIC PARTNERS.

A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT OF THE ORIGINAL GULLAH FESTIVAL OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND TO EXPRESS APPRECIATION FOR ITS MEANINGFUL INFLUENCE IN PRESERVING THE HISTORIC GULLAH CULTURE AND FOR ITS ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION TO THE STATE'S VITAL TOURISM INDUSTRY.

A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO HONOR LOCAL HERO BERNADINE REED FOR HER COURAGE AND MINDFULNESS IN THE FACE OF A HARROWING SITUATION AND TO OFFER HER A HEARTY OVATION FOR PERFORMING HER DUTIES TO EXEMPLARY STANDARDS.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR REVEREND ROBERT JAMES STOKES, PASTOR OF MT. HORR AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH ON YONGES ISLAND, AS HE RETIRES AFTER YEARS OF EXEMPLARY MINISTRY AND TO WISH HIM CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.