Friday, January 29, 2010

Come Join State Rep. Al Edwards for the District 146 Community Conference Workshop on Saturday, February 6, 2010 at 10 AM



State Representative Al Edwards
Of District 146
Ranked 3rd in Seniority, in the Texas House of Representatives
A member of the House Appropriations Committee

Announces a
DISTRICT 146 COMMUNITY CONFERENCE WORKSHOP-
To Discuss Project Completion, New District Plans, Other Issues, Concerns and Possible Solutions

District 146 must establish an aggressive agenda for making decisions and taking quick action on the many pressing issues and concerns. We must act with needed urgency to resolve our problems.

Let’s have a serious inclusive discussion about the greatest district in Texas. Essentially this is a real opportunity to express yourself!

It’s your time to speak out!

Bring your issues, concerns and possible solutions to:
St. Paul Baptist Missionary Baptist Church
Rev. James Nash
8309 Brandon Street, Houston, TX 77051
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2010, at 10:00 A.M.

For more information please call 713.741.8800


MacGREGOR PUBLICITY, EVENT PLANNERS, PUBLIC RELATIONS, CLIPPINGS BUREAU
“Creating & Promoting Positive Public Images”
3821 N. MacGregor Way, Houston, TX 77004, 713.527.9488, fax 714.942.7374

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Don't Forget to Register To Vote! Deadline is Monday, February 1, 2010



The upcoming March 2, 2010 Primary Elections are almost upon us. Don't forget about these important upcoming dates:

February 1, 2010- Is the Last day to register to vote for the 2010 Primary
February 16, 2010- Is the first day of Early Voting for the 2010 Primary
February 23, 2010- Is the Last day to apply for a ballot by mail in 2010 Primary
February 26, 2010- Is the last day of Early Voting for the 2010 Primary


March 2, 2010- Is the Primary Election Day!

For more information, check out the following websites:
Harris County Voting Information
More Voting Info from the Texas Secretary of State's Office

Friday, January 15, 2010

Rep Edwards Earns Legislative Champion Award from TACHC




Rep. Al Edwards Earns Statewide "Legislative Champion Award" for his Doctor Shortage Legislation

Texas Association of Community Health Centers honors
the Houston lawmaker with its Legislative Champion Award


Houston, TX – Houston’s Central Care Community Health Center has honored State Rep. Al Edwards (D-Houston) for the historic Physician Loan Repayment Program measure he authored in the Texas Legislature during the past Session.

Rep. Edwards was presented the Legislative Champion Award by the Texas Association of Community Health Centers (TACHC) for his work during the 81st Texas Legislature.

The program he passed is designed to bring physicians to medically underserved areas of the state and also to provide a cut in the franchise tax for at least 40,000 small businesses in Texas. The measure emerged as one of the centerpiece bills of the 2009 legislative session.

“Physicians and health centers consider this new program to be the most significant legislation to pass in decades because of its potential to bring basic medical care to millions of Texans in the inner cities and rural areas of our state,” said TACHC Executive Director José E. Camacho. “Texans for years should know it was the dedication and tireless work of state Rep. Al Edwards that made Texas a healthier, more prosperous state.”

The legislation Rep. Al Edwards authored creates an enhanced physician loan repayment program. It will be available to primary care physicians who agree to practice in underserved areas of the state and will assist in paying off student loans amassed during medical school training. Medical school graduates carry a debt as high as $160,000 in student loans.

“The legislation was carefully crafted by Rep. Edwards to solve a very real problem in Houston. This is an incredibly important measure, and our health center is deeply indebted to Rep. Edwards for his leadership,” said Anganette Young, Executive Director of Central Care Community Health Center. “The impact of this program will truly be seen and felt in Houston.” In fact, portions of District 146, South of 610 in Sunnyside & South Park have the highest rate of doctor shortages in all of Harris County.

The Physician Loan Repayment Program is expected to bring up to 900 new doctors to urban and rural areas.

The proposal made it through an extremely challenging legislative session. In its final version, House Bill 2154 ultimately won overwhelming support in the Texas House and Senate. In June, Governor Rick Perry formally signed the physician loan repayment bill into law. The legislation became effective Sept. 1, 2009.

More than half of Texas counties are in need of primary care physicians. In 2008, 26 Texas counties had no primary care physician. More than 110 Texas counties – rural and urban – have been designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas, meaning those counties do not meet a minimum national threshold of one physician for every 3,500 people.

About the TACHC
The Texas Association of Community Health Centers is a private, non-profit membership association that represents safety-net health care providers in Texas. Association members include Community and Migrant Health Centers, Health Care for the Homeless Grantees, Public Housing Primary Care Grantees, Ryan White HIV/AIDS Grantees, Health Center Networks and other providers who strive to meet the health care needs of the uninsured and underserved. TACHC serves as the primary care association for the state of Texas.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Rep Al Edwards' Successful Legislation from the 81st Session






State Representative Al Edwards


Legislative Accomplishments
A recap of his successes from the 81st Legislative Session



31 Successful pieces of Legislation, Out of 99 Pieces with which he was involved



Authored Legislation by Rep. Edwards which became law in 81st Legislative Session:

HB 2154- Bringing Doctors to Needy Communities- This historic piece of legislation provides significant loan repayment assistance to Primary Care Physicians who agree to practice in underserved and needy areas. In fact areas of District 146, including Sunnyside & South Park and the Central Care Community Health Center, are designated as underserved areas, which is why I fought so strongly for this legislation. This bill will help underserved areas and Community Health Centers to attract doctors to serve in the area, thereby leading to better health care access for the most needy residents of our area. Also, this historic bill provided the funding for small business tax cuts for those with revenues up to $1 million.

HB 2153- Homeless Sex Offender Registration- Another key piece of legislation, I passed HB 2153 to help protect our children from the horrors of sex offenders. This bill closes a loophole in the sex offender registration laws which previously did not allow for the tracking of sex offenders who claimed to be "homeless". Our police had no way to know where these sex offenders were. With the passage of this bill, a sex offender who claims to be "homeless" would be required to physically check-in to law enforcement authorities where they are located at least once every 30 days and give a description of the location or area in which they are staying. This new piece of legislation will significantly help law enforcement to protect citizens from sex offenders.

HB 3206- Pollution Control Tax Credits- This successful bill establishes a framework for industrial companies to apply for and receive pollution control equipment tax credits on a fair and equitable basis. The bill sets up a TCEQ regulator-driven formal application process to ensure that evaluation methods for the tax credit applications is based on the actual pollution control usage of the equipment in question. This will stop industrial companies for receiving tax breaks on equipment that is used to make profits and not control pollution, which has been costing our school districts, counties, and even homeowners by not requiring these companies to pay their fair share.

HB 4777- Which creates a new management district in District 146 that will beautify the community and bring about job development South of the 610/Astrodome area which will brings thousands of jobs and homes to District 146.

Sponsored Legislation by Rep. Edwards which became law in 81st Session:

SB 1377- Crime Victim Fund Solvency- I sponsored this successful piece of legislation which is designed to ensure that the Crime Victims Compensation Fund remains a solvent source of funds to provide victims of crime financial assistance to help get their lives back in order. This bill provides a mechanism so that 50% of year-end balance funds greater than $5 million which accumulate in the Crime Victims Compensation Auxiliary Fund are automatically directed to the main Crime Victims Compensation Fund. This great bill will ensure that payments to victims for costs incurred as a result of a crime committed such as medical bills or counseling are available to be made. In recent years the Crime Victims Compensation Fund had been in danger of insolvency, with this bill's passage in the future this will no longer be the case.

SB 1206- Helping Good Prisoners Get Out (Bill vetoed by Gov. Perry)
I also sponsored this necessary piece of legislation to reduce the delays for the processing of parole for incarcerated persons. This bill only affects inmates who had been granted parole contingent upon completion of a rehabilitation program. Offenders were completing all their necessary programs and requirements needed to be released, however they were doing so earlier than their estimated completion date. The delays in releasing these offenders for parole limited bed capacity and causing a back log in the system producing further unnecessary expenses. The bill, as passed, allows a range of dates to release these offenders only once they've completed their approved rehabilitation program, in a range of time which is 15 to 45 days prior to the established target completion date. This streamlining process will help save the state $13.5 million over the next two years.


Rep. Edwards' Joint-Authored Legislation which became law in the 81st Session:

HB 67/ SB 487- Creating a health insurance buy-in for parents with children with mental development disabilities.

HB 200- Streamlining continuing education requirements for public school principals.

HB 610- Establishing the Legislative Committee on Aging, which will study issues affecting the elderly population in Texas and make recommendations to the Legislature on how to provide a better quality of life for our seniors.

HB 968- Regulating the use of crossbows for hunting.

HB 1637- Which clarified the normal weekly hours of work under the shared work unemployment compensation program to ensure that benefits are available for those in need.

HB 1830- Which created a streamlined and efficient structure for information technology security practices amongst State Agencies.

HB 1831- Revising and establishing new disaster preparedness & emergency management practices.

HB 2242- Abolishes the Texas cultural endowment fund and transfers the balance to the Texas Commission for the Arts.

HB 2729- Relating to payment of certain judgments against the State of Texas.

HB 2806- Relating to the reinstatement of a firefighter or police officer to a previously held position based on seniority on the return of another firefighter or police officer from a military leave of absence.

HB 3226- Relating to the payment of temporary housing costs for certain individuals who are released or are eligible for release on parole or to mandatory supervision.

HB 3857- Relating to foreclosure of liens on real property and certain personal property owned by members or dependents of the military; providing a criminal penalty.

Co-Authored Legislation by Rep. Edwards which became law in the 81st Session:

HB 3- Reforming the public school educational system's accountability, curriculum, and promotion requirements.

HB 38/SB 297- Provides in-state college tuition to veterans whose residence is outside of Texas.

HB 51- Establishes a pathway for additional Tier 1 colleges & universities in Texas, including the University of Houston.

HB 394- Allows small businesses with less than 250 employees to become eligible for funding opportunities from the Texas Enterprise Fund.

HB 795/SB 482- Establishes the Texas Holocaust & Genocide Commission.

HB 873- Provides incentives for film, television, video, and digital interactive media production companies for filming in Texas.

HB 1310- Regulation of tanning facilities.

HB 1452- Enhances the eligibility for participation in job training and employment assistance programs by veterans in Texas.

HB 3097- Creates the Texas Dept of Motor Vehicles to streamline registration issues.

HB 3452- Establishes the Texas Armed Services Scholarship in Texas.

HB 3613- Provides property tax exemptions for disabled veterans.

HJR 39- Historic Civil Rights measure ratifying the Texas Constitution to prohibit use of poll taxes.

SB 455- Regulating the practice of dental assistants.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Don't forget to exercise your right that so many before us fought and died for, Register to vote!



The upcoming March 2, 2010 Primary Elections are almost upon us. Don't forget about these important upcoming dates:

February 1, 2010- Is the Last day to register to vote for the 2010 Primary
February 16, 2010- Is the first day of Early Voting for the 2010 Primary
February 23, 2010- Is the Last day to apply for a ballot by mail in 2010 Primary
February 26, 2010- Is the last day of Early Voting for the 2010 Primary


March 2, 2010- Is the Primary Election Day!

For more information, check out the following websites:
Harris County Voting Info
Even more information from the Texas Secretary of State's Office

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Fighting Crime in the Houston Area





Recently, Rep. Al Edwards met with Houston Police Department & businesses to push for additional patrols and police presence in District 146 of Houston. In the meeting, Rep. Edwards stressed the importance of enhancing crime prevention and protection in his district, and along with local businesses offered new locations for police substation storefronts for HPD to operate out of. The business owners, Rep. Edwards and HPD discussed steps they could take to combat rising crime. It is extremely important for HPD and our local community to work together to stem the rise in area burglaries and thefts. This meeting and others in the future will hopefully produce tangible results as our community makes strides to make us safer.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Rep. Al Edwards joins with TDHCA to combat Homelessness in Houston area

STATE REP. AL EDWARDS & TEXAS DEPT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(January 4, 2010)

State housing agency rushing $5.7 million to help combat homelessness in Houston

(AUSTIN) — The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) and State Representative Al Edwards announced on December 17, 2009, a $5.7 million award to the City of Houston to help transition homeless persons into rental housing and access services designed to enhance self-sufficiency, bringing greater stability to the lives these individuals and the communities in which they live.

The award is part of $13.2 million TDHCA awarded through the Homeless Housing and Services Program, a new state-funded initiative created by the 81st Texas Legislative session providing $20 million over two years to the state’s eight largest cities.

“Homelessness is a problem that impacts every community in the state, and it is imperative that we begin to reverse this trend and ensure our fellow Texans can access permanent housing,” said Representative Edwards in making the announcement. “This award is an excellent example of what the legislature envisioned when it approved these funds, and I am confident the city will be a good steward of these important dollars. I encourage TDHCA to continue its commitment to this program.”

“Whether the result of domestic violence, chemical dependency or the loss of a job, far too many residents of this great state have no permanent place to call home,” said TDHCA Executive Director Michael Gerber. “Homelessness robs the spirit and diminishes the quality of our society. The Department worked hard to rapidly move these funds to our local partners, where we expect to have a dramatic and positive impact on the lives of our most vulnerable neighbors.”

The city will allocate its award to three subcontractors to administer: SEARCH, Saint Luke’s Episcopal Health Charities, and The Bread of Life. SEARCH will provide targeted services to clients in permanent housing, while Saint Luke’s will support a “train the trainer” case management system to address the needs of homeless Houstonians. The Bread of Life will use its portion of funding to support an existing drop-in center for shelter services to the homeless.

About The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs
The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs is the state agency responsible for affordable housing, community services, energy assistance, colonia housing programs, and disaster recovery housing programs. It currently administers $2 billion through for-profit, nonprofit, and local government partnerships to deliver local housing and community-based opportunities and assistance to Texans in need.

For more information contact: Gordon Anderson, TDHCA 512.475.4743 or Jill McFarren, TDHCA 512.475.2844