Congressman Chet Edwards

RAOPS: Congressman Chet Edwards
Representing Texas’ 17th district is Congressman Chet Edwards who is also a senior member on both the Appropriations and House Budget Committees. (1). Congressman Edwards is known and respected greatly as a national champion for America's veterans, troops, and their families (2). Congressman Edwards has authored a $17.7 billion increase in funding for veterans benefits and health care since he became Chairman of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee in 2007 (1). In 2007, Chet was awarded with the Disabled American Veterans “Going to Bat for Veterans” award in 2007 and in 2005 he received the Military Order of the Purple Heart’s “Inspirational Leadership” award (2). As the only Texan on the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, Chet oversees key homeland defense and university research programs as well as serving on the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee (1). Congressman Edwards has focused on a number of important issues such as agriculture, national defense, education, veterans and tax relief (3).”The most basic obligation of any government is to secure the Nation's borders” (3).

While others have talked about securing our borders, Chet Edwards is one of the few who have actually taken action. Edwards’ Border Security and Immigration Reform aims to secure our land and sea borders as well as protecting our homeland (1). An additional 6,700 border patrol agents funded by Congressman Edwards’ brings the total of current border patrol agents upwards of 20,000 (2). Chet secured $16 million for Waco's L-3 to build P-3 aircraft, a surveillance tool used for catching drug smugglers as well as stopping illegal immigration (3).Chet has also voted “yes” to building a fence over 700 miles of two-layered reinforced fencing, and a virtual fence for the rest of the border, (via integrated surveillance technology) are what are provided in the current legislation (3). In an issue of the...