Chet Edwards For Congress

Working Hard for Waco & McLennan County

Fighting to Save the Waco VA Hospital

• Since 2006, Chet has secured $5.7 million for innovative Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) research at the Waco VA in collaboration with Ft. Hood and Baylor University.




• As Chairman of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, Chet recently wrote and passed the largest budget increase -- $11.8 billion -- in the history of the VA. This record level increase has led to the increase of the number of employees at the Waco VA by 127, the Waco Regional office by 138, and made possible $49 million for five new construction projects on the Waco VA campus starting in 2008.




• Working alongside area veterans, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and local leaders, Chet spearheaded the fight to keep the Waco VA open, and expand its mission as a National Mental Health Center of Excellence.


Strengthening our National Security and Protecting Jobs at Home
• Chet has secured $26.64 million for Waco's L-3 for work on key defense and homeland security projects, including $16 million for refurbishing the P-3 aircraft, which is an important tool for border patrol and drug interdiction efforts, $9.1 million for upgrades to the E-6B aircraft and $1.5 million to upgrade communications systems on the Navy's Special Projects Aircraft.




• Chet secured $1.3 million for McDowell Research Corporation for work on advanced fuel cell technology.




• Chet has secured $3.1 million for ACT I, to improve detection of biological and chemical agents.