Chet Edwards For Congress -

Chet Edwards Endorses Barack Obama for President

Kat — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:07:41 -0700

(Waco, Texas) – U.S. Representative Chet Edwards (D-Waco) today endorsed U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill) for President and released the following statement:

“As the father of two young sons, I care deeply about the future of our nation, and that is why I am endorsing Senator Barack Obama for President of the United States.

I believe Senator Obama can bring about real change in Washington--change that will make a positive difference in the lives of average working Americans struggling to keep up with the high costs of health care, gasoline and education.

By voting for Senator Obama, we can say it is time to turn away from the divisive partisan politics of the past and work together for a brighter future for our children and our grandchildren. As he has reminded us so eloquently, we are not “a red America or a blue America. We are the United States of America.”

Many in our nation believe we are going in the wrong direction, and they have grown cynical of a government mired in the politics of partisanship and personal destruction. That is why, now more than ever, we need a leader who can inspire us to do better, to be better. Barack Obama is that leader.

Our democracy is built on the foundation of “We, the people.” With his integrity and God-given gift to inspire people of all ages, Barack Obama has empowered millions of citizens to become more involved in our democracy. That is good news for our nation’s interests and bad news for the special interests.

Throughout American history, hope and inspiration have always been the key to progress and change. It was true at Valley Forge. It was true in the darkest days of the Great Depression and on the beaches of Normandy. It was true in Selma and on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the fight for civil rights. And, it is true today as working families face economic uncertainty in an ever more competitive and challenging world.

Barack Obama has inspired us to believe that by working together, we can make a positive difference for our families and our future. That is hope and change I can believe in.

As a Member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, Barack Obama also understands that we would not be the land of the free if we were not the home of the brave.

As someone who has spent most of my adult life fighting for veterans and for military troops and their families, I am convinced that Senator Obama will be a champion for better health care, housing and quality of life for those who have sacrificed so much for the American family. He knows that standing up for our troops, our veterans and their families is the right thing to do—for them and for our nation’s security.

Look at the lives and values of Barack and Michelle Obama. They are the personification of the American dream that if you are willing to work hard and exercise personal responsibility, you can be whatever you want to be in this great land of ours. As a husband and father, I am grateful that their family is so deeply committed to keeping the American dream alive for this and future generations of American families.

On behalf of my family and hard-working families all across Texas and America, it is a privilege for me to endorse Barack Obama for President.”

Chet Edwards to Receive VFW Congressional Award

Kat — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 16:28:28 -0700

January 24, 2008

Chet Edwards to Receive VFW Congressional Award

Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24, 2008--America's oldest major veterans' organization has selected Texas Rep. Chet Edwards (D-17th) to receive its 2008 Congressional Award for his outstanding service to veterans, servicemembers and their families. The congressman, who chairs the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, will be presented the award March 3 at the annual Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. Community Service and Legislative Conference at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in northwest Washington.

"This award is extremely important to the VFW," said VFW National Commander George Lisicki, a Vietnam veteran from Carteret, N.J., "because it recognizes a champion who is in our corner in Congress."

The VFW Congressional Award has been presented annually since 1964 to one member of the House or Senate for significant legislative contributions on behalf of those who have worn the uniform. Past recipients include strong national security and veterans' advocates, such as Mississippi's Sen. John Stennis (D) and Rep. "Sonny" Montgomery (D), and South Carolina Sen. Strom Thurmond (R), among many others. Last year the award went to Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman (I).

Edwards, now in his ninth term, has been a staunch supporter of the 50,000 veterans within his district, and for the tens of thousands of soldiers and family members at nearby Fort Hood. His successful fight to keep the Waco VA Medical Center from closing served not only his constituency, but is now benefiting those returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan through a a research partnership with the Army to examine post-traumatic stress disorders. He helped block Pentagon efforts to raise military retiree Tricare medical premiums, eliminated the Survivor Benefit Plan reduction for military widows, and is working to ensure every disabled military retiree receives their VA and military pay concurrently without offset. And, according to Lisicki, the congressman was a driving force behind the record $6.6 billion increase to VA's discretionary budget this year.

"Our military, our veterans, and our families of past and present have no better friend in Congress than Chet Edwards," said Lisicki. "I am honored to present this prestigious VFW national award to him."

Edwards is the fourth Texan to receive the VFW Congressional Award. The others were Rep. Olin Teague (D-6th) in 1969, Rep. George H. Mahon (D-19th) in 1974, and Sen. John Tower (R) in 1983.

Chet Edwards: Cooperation vs. congestion

Kat — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:40:04 -0700

November 5, 2007

Chet Edwards: Cooperation vs. congestion

Waco Tribune Herald
By Chet Edwards

Click-2-Listen

Three hundred and fifty-nine million hours. That is how many hours Texans will spend in congested traffic this year. Unfortunately, that’s the good news.

The bad news:

That number will double over the next 10 years unless Texans take dramatic steps.

That is why 24 Texans in Congress, Republicans and Democrats, have joined together to endorse Proposition 12 on Tuesday’s ballot.

I must say, in my years in Congress I’ve never seen this kind of bipartisan cooperation on anything.

Proposition 12 will authorize $5 billion in state bonds to help reduce the massive backlog of high-priority roads, bridges and highways that must be built in our urban, suburban and rural communities throughout Texas.

If it is defeated, it would put our state, families and businesses into a transportation pothole that harms our quality of life and economic future.

Let us be clear. Proposition 12 is not the final solution. It is, however, a step in the right direction.

The Chinese proverb says, “A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.”

Proposition 12 is a first step in our long journey toward less congestion, better roads and cleaner air.

We must do much more. The Texas congressional delegation has formed a bipartisan transportation working group. We met with Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Chairman Ric Williamson and with Gov. Perry, who has encouraged TxDOT officials to be actively involved in our bipartisan dialogue.

We intend to meet with state legislators in Austin to find ways we in Washington, and those in Austin, can work together to address Texas’ needs.

A key initial step is to understand the nature and seriousness of the problem. It is immense.

Some facts from the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M:

The cost of excess travel time and fuel consumed in congestion in Texas is estimated at $6.7 billion a year.
State GDP increasingly has outpaced the state gas tax revenue. This, with 52 percent inflation in construction costs over the last five years, eats at our ability to invest in transportation infrastructure.
Without additional revenue sources and appropriate planning, congestion will continue to worsen and Texas metropolitan areas will experience a doubling of traffic congestion by 2030.

We are not interested in finger pointing. What we are interested in is understanding the depth of our transportation problems and challenges, and then finding common-sense solutions.

We intend to reach out to business, labor and community leaders for their ideas and to lay a common foundation of understanding about the depth of Texas’ transportation crisis. Only then can we develop a consensus for real solutions.

We know there will be honest differences and bumps in the road. We understand there are no simple, painless solutions or silver bullets to solve our state’s transportation problems, but we intend to work hard, together.

We can show that genuine, bipartisan cooperation can pave the way for a brighter future for Texas.

Passing Proposition 12 will move Texas forward for the benefit of all. It is time for us to move forward, together.

Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, represents District 17 in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Editorial: Edwards' help still needed at VA

Kat — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 11:33:05 -0700

August 21, 2007

Editorial: Edwards' help still needed at VA

Waco Tribune Herald
By Editorial Staff

If anyone deserves a tribute for working to save the Waco Veterans Affairs Medical Center it is U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards.

He will get it Wednesday when the city hosts a reception in his honor.

But it needs to be more than a tribute. It needs to be a pep rally. As much as Edwards and other allies have done to preserve the hospital, much needs to be done to enhance services and utilize an under-used campus.

In June, a similar reception was held to recognize U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison for her decisive efforts in saving the hospital.

In her campaign to save the VA campus, Hutchison made several important visits to Waco, especially when she accompanied both the VA secretaries on tours of the facility.

She also sponsored legislation to designate the hospital a “mental health center of excellence.”

But no one was as diligent about this task as Edwards. His hands-on efforts helped blunt the proposal to move all of Waco’s mental health treatment programs, blind rehabilitation treatment and geriatric care units to the Olin E. Teague Veterans Medical Center in Temple and to farm its services elsewhere around the country.

The Waco VA hospital has specialized in treating the mental health problems of veterans for more than 70 years. Over that period an invaluable network of mental health services developed both on the VA campus and in the Waco community.

Edwards worked with community groups while also securing more funding for the VA hospital in Congress.

He was instrumental in securing a joint research project into post-traumatic stress disorder between Fort Hood and the Waco VA hospital.

Although VA Secretary Jim Nicholson finally announced late last year that the Waco VA facility would not be closed, challenges still remain that could again jeopardize the facility.

One of the reasons cited in the original decision to close the hospital was the number of empty buildings and their associated maintenance costs.

Edwards has warned that the fight to preserve the hospital must continue.

A promising plan has been proposed to utilize some of the empty buildings for transitional housing for the homeless, especially veterans.

VA officials have promised to consider the idea.

Besides that program, Edwards’ help is needed as the VA implements plans to expand mental health services nationwide during a time of warfare, bloodshed and psychological wounds on two fronts.

Minimum Wage Rises For First Time In A Decade

Kat — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 09:04:40 -0700

July 24, 2007

Minimum Wage Rises For First Time In A Decade

KWTX-TV

"I believe an honest day's work deserves an honest day's pay and this needed increase rewards work, not welfare,” Edwards said.

The federal minimum wage goes up Tuesday for the first time in ten years, jumping 70 cents to $5.85 an hour.

It's the first of three, 70-cent increases that will hike the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour by the summer of 2009.

The government says more than 1.5 million American workers made the old minimum wage of $5.15 an hour or less last year.

The increase is one of the few major legislative successes of the new Democratic-controlled Congress.

President Bush signed the measure into law after the Democrats removed a provision calling for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq.

The bill also contains nearly $5 billion worth of tax relief for small businesses to help them hire new workers.

The relief will also help offset the cost of the higher wage.

As many as 17 million Texans and 50,000 military families will benefit from the increase, Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, said.

"I believe an honest day's work deserves an honest day's pay and this needed increase rewards work, not welfare,” Edwards said.

Battle brewing in Congress over CHIP funding

Kat — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 10:00:14 -0700

July 11, 2007

Battle brewing in Congress over CHIP funding

Waco Tribune Herald
By David Doerr |Tribune-Herald staff writer

“Our goal ultimately should be to try to see that every child in America has health care,” said U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco.

A fight is shaping up in Congress over tripling the funding for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program after state lawmakers recently approved measures designed to rebuild the program’s enrollment in Texas.

This spring, a bipartisan group of congressmen authorized adding $50 billion to the program over the next five years to keep up with the rising cost of health care and to enroll more children in the program. But the White House criticized the proposal in recent weeks in an attempt to rein in the proposed increase.

Democrats have pushed for the extra $50 billion as part of a major expansion of the program commonly known as CHIP. The 10-year-old program subsidizes the cost of insuring children living in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford private insurance.

“Our goal ultimately should be to try to see that every child in America has health care,” said U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco. “The Democratic proposal moves us an important step in the right direction.”

But President Bush has recently said that Democratic proposal would expand CHIP “far beyond its original intent.” The proposal would put CHIP in competition with private health care coverage options and would be tantamount to the first steps toward universal health care coverage, he said.

“Government-run health care would deprive Americans of the choice and competition that comes from the private market,” Bush said during a June 27 press briefing. “It would cause huge increases in government spending, which could lead to higher taxes. It would result in rationing, inefficiency and long waiting lines. It would replace the doctor-patient relationship with dependency on people here in Washington, D.C.”

The federal government spends $5 billion a year on CHIP across the country, totaling $25 billion over five years. Congress previously adopted a budget blueprint that would provide up to $50 billion more, totaling $75 billion over five years.

Bush’s proposal is to add a total of $5 billion over five years to the program.

But many believe Bush’s proposed increase is not enough to keep up with inflation and to cover the estimated 2 million children across the country who are eligible for the program but not enrolled.

This spring, the Texas Legislature passed changes to eligibility rules adopted in 2003 blamed for cutting the state’s enrollment from about 500,000 to 325,000 children.

“Texas has at least 200,000 uninsured out there that were cut before and maybe another 100,000 after that,” said Anne Dunkleburg, assistant director of the Austin-based Center for Public Policy Priorities. “We can’t rebuild our program unless the (funding) grows, too.”

Averitt backs more funds

State Sen. Kip Averitt, R-Waco, who helped lead the effort to revise the eligibility rules in Texas this spring, said he views CHIP as a fiscally responsible way to issue health coverage for uninsured children. The new rules are expected to add about 127,000 children to the CHIP rolls in Texas this year.

Because hospitals are not going to turn away uninsured children in need of health care, the state is going to pick up the tab one way or another, Averitt said. The president’s proposed CHIP increase should be a “rock-bottom starting place,” he said.

“(CHIP) ultimately saves taxpayers money and it provides for a more stable family life for the folks to have some kind of dependable insurance coverage,” he said. “It is worthy of being considered for more funding.”

Rachel Klein, deputy director of health policy for Families USA, a Washington, D.C.-based affordable health-care advocacy group, said CHIP largely has support among Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill. However, there could be disagreement over how to fund the expansion.

Some have pushed for a higher federal excise tax on cigarette sales. Others have called for cutting subsidies to private vendors of Medicare coverage for seniors.

Edwards said he would rather see the increase funded by cutting out inefficiencies in other programs before looking to additional taxes. He also suggested taxing corporations that have sought to shield themselves from federal levies by moving their corporate headquarters to Caribbean islands.

The debate over how much to increase CHIP funding is still in play in Congress.

On Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, told the Associated Press that the Senate Finance Committee had worked out an agreement to increase funding by only $35 billion through an increase in the tobacco tax. Other details were unavailable Tuesday but could be announced later this week.

Klein, from Families USA, said $35 billion would be better than nothing, but “the more money we have, the more kids we are going to be able to get covered.”

Edwards delivers funding bill for veterans

Kat — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 08:30:55 -0700

June 14, 2007
Edwards delivers funding bill for veterans

By SUZANNE GAMBOA | AP via Houston Chronicle | Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON — Almost two decades after pledging to take care of veterans, Democratic Rep. Chet Edwards finally has built enough seniority in Congress to fulfill his promise.

Edwards used his post as an appropriations subcommittee chairman to deliver a $64.7 billion bill funding veterans and military construction programs to the House that is scheduled for a vote this week.

The bill provides $43.2 billion for Veterans Affairs, $6.7 billion more than provided in 2007 and the largest single increase for Veterans Affairs in its 77-year history, he said.

Edwards, D-Waco, said his one-time boss and mentor, former Rep. Olin "Tiger" Teague, a World War II veteran, advised him when he was elected in 1990 to never forget veterans.

"I have been working for 16 years to write a bill like this for veterans," Edwards said.

But the bill also sets up a possible faceoff for Edwards with his most famous constituent, President Bush, who has threatened to veto all the appropriations bills because they exceed his spending requests.

It's a threat that Edwards called "ill advised" while he stood at an outdoor news conference flanked by about a dozen representatives of veterans groups, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.

"By the time the White House hears from thousands of veterans throughout the country that are outraged by a veto of historic funding levels ... they will back off the veto threat," Edwards said.

The veterans groups, some that have opposed Democrats on their effort to withdraw troops from Iraq, said the funding would provide for sorely needed case workers to reduce the backlog of 400,000 veterans' benefits claims.

The bill also provides $600 million for new mental health and post traumatic stress syndrome programs, including money for five polytrauma centers, and to get three mental health and PTSD centers, including one in Waco, operating by next year. The centers treat Iraq and Afghanistan veterans for traumatic brain injury and help their families.

"This is a good bill. It is the right thing to do and it is the cost of war," said Kimo Hollingsworth, legislative director for AMVETS.

Politically, the bill helps Democrats deliver on a promise to make children and veterans their priorities.

"A lot of people say we are for veterans, but the test is where do you put your money?" Hoyer said.

The spending bill is about $4 billion more than what Bush, whose ranch is in Edwards' district, requested for Veterans Affairs and military construction.

The bill also would spend:

$8.2 billion for Base Closing and Realignment projects.
$2.9 billion for military housing
$2.9 billion for substance abuse programs for veterans.
$76.5 million that will help pay for 50 investigators to oversee spending.
$2.8 billion to increase the size of the military.

The bill is HR2642.

Edwards covers Iraq, immigration, oil

Kat — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 08:19:32 -0700

June 12, 2007
Edwards covers Iraq, immigration, oil

By STEVE SNYDER | Navasota Examiner editor

A good politician knows how to relate well to a crowd.

In the case of Congressman Chet Edwards' speech to a Navasota/Grimes County Chamber of Commerce luncheon May 31, a little joke was in order at the top of the lineup.

"I have good news for you: Neither the U.S. Congress nor the Texas Legislature is in session today," he said.

After that, Edwards got down to brass tacks. He started by avowing Congress is not as partisanly divided as portrayed by national news media stories.

"If all I did was watch national television ... the only impression I would have right now is that we're fighting over Iraq and Attorney General Gonzales ... and it's all partisan," he said. "What I would tell you is ... there are good people on both sides of the aisle but they don't make the news."

Before getting to a discussion of Iraq, and other issues, Edwards went back to a bit more levity, referencing throat surgery he had at the start of the year.

"I could not speak for two months ... and I'm looking to see if we can't get this district in the Guiness Book of World Records ... for longest period of time without a Congressman talking," he said.

Iraq

The serious issues on his list of topics did begin with Iraq, then. Edwards said he was glad Congress sent a new Iraq funding bill to President George W. Bush, even though it did not have timetables or benchmarks that an earlier House bill, vetoed by Bush, did have.

"I'm glad we got the bill passed to fully fund the president's request. I think it would be a mistake to pull all our troops tomorrow," he said.

Edwards was one of the House Democrats who voted yes May 24 on a House vote concurring with a Senate amendment, the effect of which was to approve an Iraq spending bill without timetables for troop reductions or withdrawals, and without Congressionally-binding benchmarks on the Iraqi government. The overall vote was 280-142. Edwards also voted for the original House supplemental spending bill May 10, later vetoed by Bush, that did have timetables.

"Can we guarantee stability in Iraq? No ... not even with a million troops," Edwards continued. "That's the job of the Iraqi people. I want to send a message to Iraqi leaders: Clean up your corruption. Take more responsibility. We're not going to write a blank check of $10 billion a month forever."

Energy

With $3 a gallon gas, this was bound to be his second topic.

"I'm afraid we're paying the price for having a long-term energy policy," Edwards said.

He said a major portion of the problem was lack of new U.S. gasoline refineries.

Referring to a 2005 energy bill that made it easier to build refineries, Edwards said we needed another one. He said he wanted to make it easier to build nuclear power plants, open up more of the Gulf coast, especially the Florida portion, for oil and natural gas drilling, and get automakers to make some serious improvements in fuel economy.

"If they can't do a better job, we may not have an American car-manufacturing industry," he warned.

Later, during audience questioning, Edwards said he was open to the idea of the government developing a strategic reserve for refined gasoline similar to the one it already has for crude oil.

A Heart of Honor

Kat — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 12:21:50 -0700

June 1, 2007

A heart of honor

Bryan man waits 63 years for combat medal

Bryan-College Station Eagle

By JANET PHELPS |Eagle Staff Writer

Perry Shirley waited nearly 63 years to receive a Purple Heart medal he earned during World War II.

Shirley was injured twice in less than two months while serving in the U.S. Army as a teenager in 1945. His first Purple Heart was shipped to him in 1945 while he was recovering at a U.S. hospital.

The second one came Thursday.

U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, presented Shirley with the medal at a brief ceremony with his family and fellow veterans at the Veterans Affairs clinic in College Station.

Shirley, 82, said he was first injured Nov. 21, 1944, as his unit was building a bridge by the light of a French town the Germans had set on fire the day before. The Germans attacked, and Shirley was taken to a field hospital with minor injuries to his jaw and shoulder.

He spent Thanksgiving in the hospital and returned to his unit just before Christmas.

A few weeks later, Shirley was injured again, this time more seriously.

Shirley was in a convoy of eight men escorting a soldier who had gone absent without leave to a court-martial when Germans attacked with a commandeered U.S. plane.

Four of the soldiers were killed and two, Shirley and the AWOL soldier, were seriously injured.

This time, Shirley's injuries sent him to a field hospital and then back to the U.S. suffering nerve damage, a missing toe and injuries to his jugular vein, arm, knee and eye.

Shirley was released on a medical discharge July 2, 1945, and arrived home in Bryan to find a Purple Heart among his belongings that had been sent back from Europe.

"I don't remember how it got there," he said, adding he never knew for which injury he had received the first Purple Heart.

But the confusion was cleared up when Shirley learned Edwards would present a Purple Heart for the injury he suffered while building the bridge.

Shirley said he feels pain "all over" from his injuries every day.

"You can't describe those type of injuries," he said. "You just don't get around like you used to."

Shirley and his wife of 50 years, Delores, said they were thankful to receive the award.

"I appreciate Mr. Shirley waiting 63 years, because if the Department of Defense had given this 63 years ago, I wouldn't have been around," the 55-year-old Edwards joked.

Edwards used the event to announce a bill that he wrote that allocates more than $6 billion to Veterans Affairs. The bill, which Edwards said represents the largest increase in VA funding in the department's 77-year history, passed the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee, which Edwards leads, on Tuesday.

"We owe you a debt of gratitude," Edwards told the veterans gathered for the ceremony. "It's the incredible sacrifice of ordinary citizens that has kept our nation free."

About the Purple Heart:

The Purple Heart is awarded to U.S. soldiers killed or wounded at the hands of the enemy. It is specifically a combat decoration.

•History: The original Purple Heart, designated as the Badge of the Military Merit, was established by Gen. George Washington in 1782. Three of his noncommissioned officers were the first to receive the honor. Washington directed the award be heart-shaped and made from purple material.
Expansion: The medal was not awarded again until after World War I. In 1942, President Roosevelt ordered that the medal be extended to the Navy, Marine Corps and the Coast Guard after the Pearl Harbor attack. In 1962, civilians were included among those eligible for the medal.
Recently: From July 1958 to March 2003, approximately 235,000 Purple Hearts were awarded, according to the Military Awards Branch.

WWII Vet Receives Medal More Than 60 Years After Service

Kat — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 09:39:28 -0700

May 31, 2007

WWII Vet Receives Medal More Than 60 Years After Service

KBTX-TV

Kristen Ross |Reporter

A local man received his purple heart medal more than 60 years after his service to the country.

U.S. Representative Chet Edwards presented the prestigious medal to the World War II veteran, Perry Shirley.

Shirley was injured twice while serving in combat, but never received one of his medals.

Friends, family and veterans were in attendance to honor the man who risked his life for his country.

Edwards' office helped research Shirley's military record to recover the Purple Heart medal.

Thursday morning, the medal that has been absent for many years found its rightful spot next to the heart of Shirley.