“I'm one of those people who didn't know. I should've known having been in the Army for a long time,” said Glenn Dyer, who went 20 years without claiming veteran disability benefits he was eligible for because he didn't know what was available to him.

The Vietnam veteran served two tours and suffered several broken bones and hearing loss during in his days as part of the 82nd Airborne Division.

“If you can get the word out to veterans that these services are available, I'm sure there's a large number of people who can take advantage of it,” said Dyer.

“Only one in three is getting this pension today, and of the dependents, only one in seven,” said Eliot Shapleigh, Texas senator for District 29.

With El Paso being home to about 48,000 veterans, Shapleigh has filed several bills this session specific to the veteran care. However, he said many don’t know about the services they’re already entitled too.

“The GI Bill to go to college, home loans … you could get home loans much cheaper than any bank could give you. (There are) health benefits whether or not you're disabled. (There are) burial benefits, pension,” said Shapleigh.

It's now been three years since Dyer contacted the Texas Veterans Commission, where they helped him get all the paperwork in order, and get him the medical help he needed.

“I was surprised that I didn't take advantage,” said Dyer.

Some of the new military focused legislation filed includes capping payday lenders at 36 percent; increasing public education funding for students transferring because of the Base Realignment and Closure; extending in-state tuition rates to veterans, spouses and children, requiring that Texas National Guardsmen who served in Iraq or Afghanistan be screened for brain injury and receive assistance if needed.

To find out more about the benefits available to military and their families call the VA Vet Center at 772-0013.