Chet Edwards For Congress - Grimes County

Working Hard for Grimes County

Kat — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:18:25 -0700

Working Hard for Grimes County

Chet Edwards believes it is important for Grimes County residents to see some of their hard-earned tax money come back home for important transportation, health care and law enforcement programs.

These investments mean better roads, safer communities and better health care for Grimes County families:

Making Our Communities Safer and Supporting Law Enforcement

Chet secured $400,000 for the Grimes County Sheriff’s Office to purchase Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs), Mobile Radios and new patrol car gun locks. The new terminal units will greatly enhance the communication between the dispatchers at the sheriff’s office and the street officers in the field. The new gunlocks will be a safer measure for securing shotguns and rifles in the front seat of the patrol car, in turn making the firearms more accessible to officers in emergency situations.

Economic Development through Better and Safer Roads& Bridges

Chet secured $392,000 for the paving of CR 172 in Grimes County.

Chet secured $400,000 for the Grimes County Bridge Improvement Project in 2005. These funds will not only address the needs of three bridges in need of replacement, but will allow Grimes County to free up precious dollars for other pressing transportation issues in the county.

Working for Better Health Care for Grimes County Families

Chet secured $200,000 for St. Joseph’s Hospital for renovation and construction of emergency room facilities. The funding is being used to complete a renovation project of the Center’s emergency room, focusing on upgrading the emergency treatment room.

Protecting Local Water Quality

Chet secured $75,000 for the Brazos River Authority (BRA) under the Brazos Navasota Watershed Management Project to protect agricultural operations and local economies while also protecting water quality in the Brazos Valley. This funding continues an ongoing study that monitors nutrient levels in the basin in order to prevent high levels of phosphorus from affecting water quality in the Brazos Valley.

Police receive $376,000 communications upgrade

econnor — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 12:11:31 -0700

March 26, 2008
Police receive $376,000 communications upgrade, thanks to Chet Edwards

By DAVE KUCIFER | Navasota Examiner

U.S. Congressman Chet Edwards met with Navasota city officials on Monday afternoon to announce a $367,000 award to the Navasota Police Department for the upgrade of the department's communication equipment.

Congressman Edwards, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee said the funds would be used for 15 mobile radios to be installed in police vehicles as well as funding other communications technology for the police department.

In making the announcement the congressman said, "I believe we have a deep obligation to protect our families from criminals and support our law enforcement officers who put themselves at risk to protect our communities. This new equipment will help keep officers safe as they work to protect our families."

In thanking the congressman for his work on getting the requested funds, Navasota Police Chief Shawn Myatt said the new equipment will be a big help as the department moves from an analog system to a digital system. This will open up new avenues of communications and will facilitate improved communications between the police department and other public service departments in the city.

Myatt said the new communications software would help update the 911 system as well as other communications need.

According to Congressman Edwards, the funds are from the final 2008 appropriations bill that was signed into law late last year.

Edwards secures $392,000 for road in Grimes County

econnor — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 12:11:31 -0700

February 27, 2008
Edwards secures $392,000 for road in Grimes County

Keith News

About 60 residents of Keith, county officials and others from around Grimes County were on hand at the Keith Community Center on Thursday morning, Feb. 21 to hear our representative Chet Edwards officially announce that CR 172 will receive $392,000 to help move fencelines and pave this dirt road. We, the people who have endured the dust and mud of this road, certainly have reason to rejoice. As the saying goes, we can now see light at the end of the tunnel. Praise the Lord!

Funds approved for county road improvements

econnor — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 12:11:31 -0700

January 3, 2008
Funds approved for county road improvements

Navasota Examiner:

Grimes County Commissioner, Pct. 4, Pam Finke relayed that the county would be receiving $392,000 for ongoing CR 172 projects during a regularly scheduled Commissioners Court meeting on Monday.

A press release received by Commissioner Finke states U.S. Representative Chet Edwards announced that he has secured $392,000 to repave CR 172 in northern Grimes County under the final 2008 Appropriations bill, which passed the House late Monday, the Senate Tuesday, and is expected to be signed into law by the President. “Improving CR 172 is a safety and economic development issue for Grimes County, and I am thrilled that my request for this important transportation investment was granted,” said Edwards, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee.

“I want to commend the Grimes County Commissioners Court for bringing this project to my attention. It is clear to me that improving transportation infrastructure is a top local priority that will create new jobs, encourage economic growth and improve quality of life for area residents,” he added.

Specifically, this project would repave the travel surface on CR 172 for a distance of 2 miles and expand the surface to 20 feet. The surface will be repaved with an Asphalt overlay. This project would also straighten a sharp curve on the roadway, which primarily serves the citizens of Keith and Anderson in Grimes County.

In 2005, Edwards secured $400,000 for bridge construction in Grimes County under the annual transportation bill.

Chet Edwards secures $376,000 for local police

econnor — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 12:11:31 -0700

December 28, 2007
Chet Edwards secures $376,000 for local police

Navasota Examiner

Congressman Chet Edwards announced that he secured $376,000 to help the Navasota Police Department upgrade their communications and computer systems under the final 2008 Appropriations Bill, which passed the House late Monday, the Senate Tuesday, and is expected to be signed into law by the President.

"I believe we have a deep obligation to protect our families from criminals and to support our law enforcement officers who put themselves at risk to protect our communities. This new equipment will help keep our officers safe while they work to protect our families, and I want to congratulate Mayor Bert Miller, Police Chief Shawn Myatt, and local law enforcement for their strong leadership in this effort," said Edwards, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee.

Specifically, the $376,000 secured by Edwards will fund a communications technology and enhancement project. This project will include the addition of 15 mobile radios to be installed in police patrol vehicles to upgrade the departments' communications system. The funding secured by Edwards will replace the existing Navasota Police Department repeater system, which is a vital part of the day-to-day communications between officers, other agencies, and dispatchers. It will provide replacement software for dispatch and report writing that is outdated. The new software will enhance the operations of the Department by providing technology that is more user-friendly with added security.

“The bottom line is that law enforcement officers will be able to respond more quickly to emergency calls with the information they need to protect local citizens. In the case of potentially dangerous suspects, this could mean the difference between life and death for officers and the law-abiding citizens they are protecting," said Edwards.

In 2005, Edwards secured $400,000 for the Grimes County Sheriff's Department to update technology in their patrol cars.

Brazos Valley tallies $41 million in earmarks

econnor — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 22:09:42 -0700

Saturday, December 29, 2007

BV tallies $41 million in earmarks

The Bryan College Station Eagle

By JANET PHELPS |Eagle Staff Writer

More than $41 million will be poured into Brazos Valley projects next year, thanks to earmarks by U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco.

President Bush criticized special project money as "wasteful government spending" when he signed the $555 billion bill Wednesday that funds the Iraq war into 2008 and keeps government agencies running through September.

The money will go to 16 projects in Brazos, Robertson, Madison and Grimes counties. The projects range from high-profile aerospace engineering and biofuel research at Texas A&M University to a small, church-based drug prevention program.

Edwards said Friday he was proud of the federal money he secured for local projects because it's an effective way to encourage local growth.

The Constitution gives Congress the power to make appropriations, he said, and earmarks allow local leaders to identify and receive funding for projects they see as important.

"I believe [locally initiated projects] make more sense than letting some bureaucrat in the Office of Management and Budget in Washington, D.C., make decisions about what projects to fund," he said. "I would challenge anyone to criticize agricultural research at A&M or emergency response training that help make our cities safer."

A majority of the $41.6 million will go to Texas A&M, including $985,000 for biofuels research and $705,000 for aerospace engineering projects that are used by NASA for lunar and Mars exploration.

Ken Peddicord, director of Texas A&M's Texas Engineering Experiment Station, said the funding is an important step in advancing research into new energy sources.

Texas A&M's BioEnergy Alliance -- a partnership between the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station and the Texas Engineering Experiment Station -- has developed groundbreaking research in alternative fuels such as sorghum that do not come from food sources, he said.

"This money allows the program to strike off in new directions, to move away from corn and ethanol," he said.

St. Joseph Health System also received money for repairs to its Madisonville hospital.

Gentry Woodard, director of legislative affairs and grants for the St. Joseph Health System, said employees at the 57-year-old hospital have volunteered on weekends to make repairs themselves.

Edwards said the staff dedication is one reason he allotted $117,000 to pay for repairs to the roof and emergency room upgrades.

"It was terribly important to that community," he said.

The earmarks come on top of the 2008 defense appropriations bill that was signed into law in November, in which Edwards secured $6.8 million for Texas A&M defense projects and $2.6 million for Lynntech Inc.

Other local earmarks include:

$392,000 to repave County Road 172 in northern Grimes County.

$196,000 to make improvements to Collard Street in Madisonville.

$376,000 to improve communication technology equipment at the Navasota Police Department.

$12.5 million to train emergency first responders at the National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center at Texas A&M.

$2 million to fund research at the Nuclear Security Science and Policy Institute at Texas A&M.

$21.9 million to 23 farming, forestry and animal health research programs at Texas A&M.

$1.39 million to provide anti-terrorism training to educators and local law enforcement through the Texas Engineering Extension Service's Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training program and Texas A&M's Project Protect.

$588,000 to Brazos Valley Transportation Management Center to study local traffic solutions and plan for future growth.

$150,000 to Project Focus, a drug- and alcohol-abuse prevention program at Shiloh Baptist Church in Bryan.

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.

Chet on the Radio: For Grimes County

Kat — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 22:23:26 -0700

Chet Edwards has been there for Grimes County when it matters most.

Click the "play" button

Hard Work. Results. That’s what Chet Edwards stands for.

Chet Edwards has been there for Grimes County when it matters most. He has worked hard to bring our fair share of our tax dollars back home, to make life a little better for us, and for our families.

It’s Chet Edwards who secured four hundred thousand dollars to replace old, dangerous bridges in Grimes County to save lives. And Chet Edwards secured funding to improve the emergency room at Saint Joseph’s hospital, because he knows how important access to quality, local health care is for our families.

Chet Edwards worked with Grimes County law enforcement officials to improve technology for local officers, to keep our families safe and communities secure.

Chet Edwards. Independent. Effective. For us. Because he’s one of us.

And that’s why Chet Edwards for Congress is proud to have paid for this message.

$400,000 approved to pave C.R. 172

Chris — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 13:18:01 -0700

June 16, 2006
$400,000 approved to pave C.R. 172

Navasota Examiner

Residents in the Keith area can look forward to better driving conditions after an announcement by U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards that $400,000 has been approved to pave C.R. 172.

Edwards, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, added the funding in the 2007 Transportation Appropriations bill, which was passed by the Committee last week.

“Improving C.R. 172 is a safety and economic development issue for Grimes County, and I am thrilled that the Appropriations Committee agreed to fund my request for this important transportation investment,” said Edwards.

“I want to commend Commissioners Pam Finke, John Bertling and the Grimes County Commissioners Court for bringing this project to my attention. It is clear to me that improving transportation infrastructure is a top local priority that will create new jobs, encourage economic growth and improve quality of life for area residents,” said Edwards.

Specifically, this project would repave the travel surface on C.R. 172 for a distance of two miles and expand the surface to 20 feet. The surface will be repaved with an asphalt overlay. This project would also straighten a sharp curve on the roadway, which primarily serves the citizens of Keith and Iola in Grimes County.

“As I have listened to community leaders and citizens throughout Grimes County, they have repeatedly said that improving roads and highways is key to economic growth and bringing in new businesses to Grimes County. This was a good example of good people working together in good faith to invest in an important project,” said Edwards.

“Grimes County is elated with the idea of getting federal funding for a project that could not have happened without the work of Congressman Edwards and the members of the House Appropriations Committee,” said County Commissioner Pam Finke. “We really appreciate it.”

Last year, Edwards secured $400,000 for bridge construction in Grimes County. The bill is now expected to pass the House next week and move to the Senate. Edwards is optimistic the funding will remain in the bill and will work to shepherd it through the legislative process.

Edwards is a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee.

Iola VFD Gets $45,518 Grant

Kat — Thu, 03 Nov 2005 17:03:56 -0700

November 3, 2005
IOLA VFD Gets $45,518 Grant

Navasota Examiner
By Staff Writer

U.S. Representative Chet Edwards today announced that the Iola Fire Department has been selected to receive a $45,518 firefighter grant from the Department of Homeland Security.

The grant will be used to address local fire prevention and safety issues under the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFGP).

“I am pleased that the Iola Volunteer Fire Department will receive this important funding,” said Edwards. “This funding will enhance the ability of the Iola Volunteer Fire Department to serve and protect the community, prevent fires, and reduce the number of fire related injuries.”

The grant is part of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFGP) and is administered by the Department of Homeland Security's Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness (SLGCP) in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA).

The AFGP program assists rural, urban and suburban fire departments throughout the United States by improving effectiveness of firefighting operations, firefighter health and safety programs, and fire prevention programs.

In 2004, Congress appropriated and President Bush signed into law, $650 million to carry out the activities of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program nationwide in 2005.