A Promise Fulfilled
The American Legion Vision | May 28, 2008
A Promise Fulfilled
Rep. Chet Edwards is living up to the legacy of the man known in Washington as "Mr. Veteran."
Texas Democrat Chet Edwards may never have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, but his 18 years in Congress have been shaped by those who did.
Until his district map was redrawn in 2003, U.S. Rep. Edwards counted among his constituents the massive Fort Hood Army community and a strong population of military retirees and veterans who make central Texas their home. He no longer has Fort Hood, but he does represent in Congress Commander-in-Chief George W. Bush's hometown of Crawford, and has fought diligently to keep the Waco VA Medical Center from closing.
On the national level, however, is where Edwards has made his biggest impact on the lives of veterans. He received The American Legion's 2008 Distinguished Public Service Award after shepherding the largest one-year funding increase in the history of VA – $11.8 billion – while serving on the powerful House Appropriations Committee. "Chet went above and beyond in keeping us informed and telling the truth," American Legion National Commander Marty Conatser said when presenting the award in early April.
"To be a politician accused of telling the truth – what a special thing," Edwards quipped in response .
The award, he said, "was an honor I will always cherish. I know the real heroes are our nation's veterans. I am simply fighting to provide the funding and services that our veterans have already earned through their service and sacrifice to our country."
Reserve Center may be replaced
Reserve Center may be replaced
By MATTHEW WATKINS | Bryan-College Station Eagle | Eagle Staff Writer | May 24, 2008
Edwards:"Members of the 420th Engineering Brigade need facilities that effectively train and equip them to carry out their national security responsibilities. This funding is an important first step that will pave the way for a new Army Reserve Center for the 420th Engineering Brigade."
A spending bill that's making its way through Congress is set to give area soldiers a long-awaited Memorial Day gift.
The National Defense Authorization Act for 2009 has been earmarked to include $920,000 to hire architects and planners to design a new Army Reserve Center in Brazos County, according to U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco.
It will replace a building that is home to the 420th Engineering Brigade, a reserve unit that "commands and controls assigned engineer assets," according to the brigade's Web site. The brigade has 22 subordinate units and more than 2,500 reserve soldiers.
Editorial: Another arrow in ...
May 08, 2006
Editorial: Another arrow in Waco VA quiver
Waco Tribune Herald
By Editorial Staff | Tribune-Herald
It’s knock-on-wood time for the Waco Veterans Affairs Hospital.
There appears to be a growing momentum of good news pertaining to the fate of the Waco hospital targeted suddenly for closure in the summer of 2003.
The latest good news came with the announcement that additional funding to study post-traumatic stress disorder at the Waco VA Hospital and at Fort Hood has been approved by a House congressional subcommittee.
Plan to Raise Military Retirees' Health Costs
March 16, 2006
Plan to Raise Military Retirees' Health Costs Faces a Tough Fight
Washington Post By Stephen Barr | Washington Post Staff
Like any other large employer, the Defense Department is struggling to hold down spending on health care, especially for retirees. But a Bush administration plan to raise fees and co-payments for medical coverage provided to military retirees under 65 has run into tough opposition.
Yesterday, a dozen groups representing military officers, enlisted personnel, reservists and retirees denounced the administration's plan as an unfair tax and pledged to support a bipartisan bill that would strip the Pentagon of its authority to raise health care enrollment fees and pharmacy co-payments.
Leaders of the military groups spoke at a news conference called by Reps. Chet Edwards (D-Tex.), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, and Walter B. Jones Jr. (R-N.C.), a member of the Armed Services Committee, to kick off their legislative effort. Edwards said the bill picked up 46 sponsors on the eve of its introduction.
Edwards behind plan to keep military ...
March 15, 2006
Edwards behind plan to keep military retiree costs down
Waco Tribune Herald
By Dan Genz | Tribune-Herald staff writer
U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, is part of a campaign seeking to stop the military from hiking health care fees on retired soldiers and officers for the first time in a dozen years.
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