Chet Edwards For Congress

Waco Trib: New hospital at Fort Hood will be completed 6 years earlier than first planned

Waco Tribune-Herald | By Michael W. Shapiro, Tribune-Herald staff writer | Wednesday, September 30, 2009

New plans announced Tuesday for the construction of a military hospital to replace Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood move up the completion date by six years to 2013.

The Department of Defense originally planned to build the hospital in two phases, finishing the second phase in 2019, but Reps. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, and John Carter, R-Round Rock, both announced in news releases that the facility would be built in one phase and at a savings to taxpayers.

Waco Trib: Edwards announces funding for Waco VA, L-3, Baylor

Waco Tribune-Herald |
By Ken Sury | Friday, July 31, 2009

The office of U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards (D-Waco) has sent out an announcement that the congressman has secured funding for national defense projects at the Waco VA, L-3 Communications, and Baylor University under the 2010 Defense Appropriations bill, which passed the House Thursday.

Killeen Daily News: Lawmakers push for new Darnall proposal

Special to the Daily Herald | Killeen Daily Herald | Thursday, Jul. 23 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Reps. John Carter, R-Round Rock, and Chet Edwards, D-Waco, recommended to Pentagon officials on Wednesday that the new Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood be built in its entirety starting in 2010, rather than in two phases as planned.

Fort Hood officials have told the two congressmen that more than $100 million could be saved if their proposal is adopted by the Pentagon.

Jul 23, 2009

KBTX: Edwards Secures Funding for National Defense Programs at A&M

Reporter: Josh Taylor |

(WASHINGTON) – A spokesperson for U.S. Representative Chet Edwards office says the Congressman has secured funding for national defense research at Texas A&M University under the 2010 Defense Appropriations bill, passed by the House Appropriations Committee this week.

“I am very pleased that the defense bill includes my request for key defense research projects at Texas A&M. These defense projects are part of a long-term plan to enhance and strengthen Texas A&M’s historic partnership with the Department of Defense,” said Edwards, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee. “These priority programs will strengthen our nation’s defense, and support jobs and economic growth in the Brazos Valley.”

CQ TODAY: With Edwards as Chairman, VA Funding Sees an Increase

CQ Politics
June 15, 2009 | By Matthew M. Johnson, CQ Staff

Since taking the helm of the House Appropriations panel responsible for military construction and veterans’ issues, Chet Edwards has applied his center-right political philosophy to deliver the two largest budgets in history for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Texas Democrat says the $17.7 billion increase in total funding provided to the VA since his tenure began in 2007 amounts to more money than the combined total provided by the GOP-controlled Congress in the previous 12 years.

As a result of his work on the panel, both the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, two of the nation’s largest and most influential veterans’ service organizations, honored Edwards with their highest awards in 2008.