REP. EDWARDS SECURES $3.3 MILLION FOR MCLENNAN COUNTY UNDER FINAL 2008 BILL, LAKE WACO PARKS TO REOPEN WITH $1.4 MILLION, GAO AIR QUALITY STUDY OF COAL PLANTS - US Fed News Service, Including US State News

Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Texas (17th CD), issued the following press release:

U.S. Representative Chet Edwards has secured $3.3 million for important projects in McLennan County under the final 2008 Appropriations bill, which passed the House late Monday. The bill is expected to be voted on by the Senate this week and sent to the president.

'Investing in priority projects that fund education, transportation, and Lake Waco are vital to future economic growth and quality of life for McLennan County families,' said Edwards, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee. 'I am grateful that $3.3 million was approved at my request for these important local programs.'

One of Edwards' top priorities was securing funding to re-open parks at Lake Waco and complete repairs from flooding earlier this year. Edwards secured $1.4 million under the bill to help remove flood debris and make repairs to damaged facilities including camp sites, picnic sites, restrooms, swim beaches, playgrounds, boat ramps, courtesy docks as well as park water, sewer and electrical infrastructures. Edwards also secured $246,000 for the Brazos River Authority to continue their study of the effects of population growth on water supply needs in the Middle Brazos water basin.

'Access to Lake Waco parks and boating ramps is important to the quality of life of many Central Texas families, and this funding will allow the Army Corps of Engineers to open Airport Park and Airport Beach on time this season,' said Edwards. 'Without this funding, Lake Waco parks would not open on time and that would be a terrible disappointment to the 1.3 million people who visit Lake Waco parks each year.'

Edwards also authored legislative language in the bill that will require a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study to determine if new and existing coal-fired power plants pose a threat to public health and local economy. If the cumulative impact to Waco air quality shows high levels of smog, it could push the area into federal non-attainment status, which means ozone levels exceed the level deemed acceptable by the Environmental Protection Agency.

'New studies already indicate that Waco is close to exceeding federal smog standards. If Waco falls into non-attainment status, public health could be jeopardized, local taxpayers will bear the burden, and the local economy will suffer,' said Edwards, the second highest ranking member on the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee. 'Since these coal plants will impact our environment for generations to come, it is so important that we know all facts and explore all our options.'

Edwards also authored record budget increases for veterans under the bill. The bill increases the VA budget by $6.6 billion above the 2007 level, the largest single increase in the 77-year history of the Veterans Administration and is $3.7 billion above the President's request for fiscal year 2008. The $3.7 billion increase for veterans is designated as emergency funding under the final bill, and is contingent on approval by the President before it can be released to the VA.

'This bill respects the service and sacrifice of America's veterans by providing a historic funding increase for veterans' health care and strongly supports our military families,' said Edwards, Chairman of the House Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee. 'This bill says clearly to all who have served in uniform that as you have kept your promises to our country, we will keep our promises to you.'

Edwards also secured $658,000 to help Baylor complete a critical physical-sciences laboratory used by at least 20 research groups across five academic departments, one of Baylor's highest priorities. Baylor's new $103.3 million Sciences Building, completed in 2004, represents one of the most significant investments in science education in Texas.

'Scientific research and education are critical components in our nation's ability to compete for jobs and economic growth, which is why I was pleased to support Baylor's commitment to the sciences,' said Edwards.

Edwards also secured $364,000 for three education programs at Texas State Technical College (TSTC), Baylor, and Waco's AVANCE program. Edwards secured $146,000 for Texas State Technical College, which would support equipment purchases to provide increased capacity for manufacturing workforce training, $97,000 for the Baylor University Language and Literacy Center speech pathologists to assess the relationship between language and reading, and $121,000 for the AVANCE Early Childhood Intervention and Family Support Program in Waco to serve 300 families from at-risk, low income households with parenting education, early childhood development, ESL and GED classes.

'Investing in education, manufacturing jobs, and family support services will support economic growth in Central Texas and truly make a difference in the lives of our families,' said Edwards.

Edwards also secured $294,000 to fund a feasibility study so that the city of Beverly Hills can determine how it would redesign and improve Memorial Drive from the Waco VA Hospital to Valley Mills Drive, a crucial part of the city of Beverly Hills' improvement plans for Memorial Drive. Edwards also secured $294,000 for construction of a new public swimming pool at the City of Bellmead community center under the 2008 bill. The present pool has serious structural problems and is in need of major repairs.

'Improving Memorial Drive is a top local priority that will encourage economic growth, ease congestion, and improve quality of life for area residents as we work together to expand the Waco VA,' said Edwards. 'As the father of two young sons, I am thrilled that Bellmead families will be able to spend time together enjoying this public new swimming pool. With the problem of childhood obesity on the rise, it is more important than ever that children engage in healthy recreation,' said Edwards.

Finally, Edwards also secured $357,000 for a Fort Hood-Texas A&M program that will revegetate 30,000 acres where heavy artillery traffic has disturbed soils and left land largely without vegetation. The project has an additional benefit of removing substantial amounts of composted dairy manure from the Bosque River watershed.

'This project will improve the training lands on Fort Hood, keep large amounts of composted dairy manure from being deposited in Lake Waco, and improve water quality in Lake Waco,' said Edwards.

Edwards has already secured $6 million for Waco defense programs and $2.7 million for the Waco VA-Fort Hood PTSD research study under the final 2008 Defense Appropriations bill, which was signed into law by the president in November. Combined with the final 2008 Appropriations bill, the total for all 2008 McLennan County appropriations projects secured by Edwards is $12 million.Contact: Josh Taylor, 202/225-6105.

Josh Taylor, 202/225-6105.