REP. AL EDWARDS NAMED CHAIR OF SUBCOMMITTEE TO STUDY BORDER SECURITY EFFECTIVENESS & FUNDING

CONTINUES IMPORTANT LEGISLATIVE WORK

State Representative Al Edwards has been named Chairman of the Subcommittee on Border and Homeland Security Funds. The committee is responsible with evaluating the amount and effectiveness of Texas border funding. In the 2010-11 Budget, the Legislature has allocated over $120 million to enhance border security and stop the violence, crime and gang activity from coming into Texas. As you may be aware, Texas has seen an intolerable increase in violent crime along our border as drug violence has escalated. As a member of the House Appropriations and the Defense & Veterans' Affairs Committees, Rep. Edwards commands an extremely important position in making sure that our borders are protected in the most effective manner possible to keep the people of Texas safe. Being entrusted with such an prestigious role continues to show just how highly regarded and effective the leadership values Rep. Edwards. The first committee hearing will convene on May 11, 2010 in Room E1.030 of the State Capitol Building in Austin.

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

Rep Al Edwards on People's Politics Comcast Channel 17 tonight at 8:30 p.m. Please tune in!

TONIGHT AT 8:30 P.M. LIVE ON COMCAST 17
PLEASE WATCH PEOPLE'S POLITICS WITH REP. AL EDWARDS
PLEASE PASS IT ON!

Please tune in tonight, Sept. 14th at 8:30 p.m. to
People's Politics with Special Guest Rep. Al Edwards
for an hour long informative legislative &
discussion of current affairs

Broadcast Live on Comcast 17, Phonoscope 75, AT&T Uverse 99 & TVMAX 95
Also live on the internet: Watch live on the internet

Al Edwards Capitol Report & Legislative Update on KCOH Radio 1430 AM

I would like to invite you all to listen and participate in the latest installment of my bi-weekly radio program on KCOH Radio 1430 AM tomorrow August 25th from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

The Al Edwards Capitol Report and Legislative Update will air on this upcoming August 25th from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on KCOH Radio 1430 AM with scheduled special guest Rep. Senfronia Thompson of Houston. The program will run every other Tuesday morning at the same time slot, and it will cover the issues that impact you the most; including the hot topics, issues of interest from the State Legislature, and important local community issues just to name a few.

On the program we will touch on the recent Legislative session, including some of the bills that passed and some that did not pass, as well as, providing a recap on the recently concluded special session.

So please tune in to KCOH Radio 1430 AM or listen on the internet at: http://www.kcohradio.com/listenlive/default.asp beginning this Tuesday, August 25th from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. for an enlightening time you won't want to miss! And make sure you pass on the word!

Also I encourage you to call in to the show so that you can participate live on the air at 713.522.1001. The KCOH Studio is located at 5011 Almeda.

Best Wishes,
Al Edwards

Al Edwards Capitol Report & Legislative Update on KCOH Radio 1430 AM on August 11, 2009

Dear Friends in the Community,

I would like to invite you all to listen and participate in a new bi-weekly radio program I will be having on KCOH Radio 1430 AM.

The Al Edwards Capitol Report and Legislative Update will begin airing on this upcoming August 11th from 8:30 am to 9:00 am on KCOH Radio 1430 AM. The program will run every other Tuesday morning at the same time slot, and it will cover the issues that impact you the most; including the hot topics, issues of interest from the State Legislature, and important local community issues just to name a few. I am pleased to be joined by this week's guest, Rep Harold Dutton of Houston who will be dropping by the show.

We will continue to touch on the recent Legislative session, including some of the bills that passed and some that did not pass, as well as, providing a recap on the recently concluded special session.

So please tune in to KCOH Radio 1430 AM or listen on the internet at: http://www.kcohradio.com/listenlive/default.asp beginning this Tuesday, August 11th from 8:30 am to 9:00 am for an enlightening time you won't want to miss! And make sure you pass on the word!

Best Wishes!

Rep Al Edwards supports encouraging more primary care physicians to help solve the healthcare crisis

As the national debate over health care reaches a critical stage, State Rep. Al Edwards and the State of Texas have already taken strides in making one of President Obama's key objectives a reality. At a recent health care Town Hall meeting hosted by President Obama in North Carolina, President Obama touched on a largely unspoken but critical aspect to healthcare access that affects large portions of our population...the shortage of primary care physicians. Without access to primary care physicians and preventative healthcare many people unwisely let health issues escalate into danger zones, thereby stressing their health to limit, as well as their finances. Earlier this year, Rep. Edwards undertook efforts in addressing this issue by passing Doctor Shortage Loan Assistance Legislation- H.B. 2154 in the recent Texas legislative session.

ENTER H.B. 2154 by Rep. Al Edwards
Under H.B. 2154, Rep Al Edwards has taken a step towards helping the country's health care system on the state level and increasing the country's health as a whole by passing an enhancement of the Physician Loan Repayment Program. The bill will provide loan repayment assistance in an amount up to $160,000 in exchange for 4 years of service to primary care physicians who agree to serve in underserved areas of the state including inner cities and rural areas. This will help bring up to 900 new doctors to these urban and rural areas.

This bill is monumental because it precisely addresses the crisis at hand...medical students now face student loan debts sometimes in excess of $160,000 upon entering practice. Therefore the students end up choosing more highly paid specialties in order to pay off their debt. This bill will help pay off their debts in near totality for them, by simply having them commit to serve in doctor shortage areas, areas in dire need of doctors. This ends up being a win-win for both the doctors and the people in that area because now they are able to receive more of the critical preventive care which is the forte of primary care physicians.

Healthy lives are the cornerstone of communities and we all must do our part to make our lives better. Rep. Edwards has received awards across the state for his leadership and commitment to helping achieve these goals and continues to do his part to accomplish the goals set out by President Obama in improving healthcare.

For more information on the statewide attention that the issue of encouraging more primary care physicians has received, please see press coverage in the links below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHmqMJxzfQw


http://healthaccessfortexas.org/news-releases/texas-legislature-gives-final-approval-to-historic-doctor-shortage-bill/

http://www.tafp.org/news/newsReleases/09FPsApplaudRepEdwards.pdf

http://www.texmed.org/Template.aspx?id=5460

http://www.connectamarillo.com/news/story.aspx?id=299277

http://www.texasinsider.org/?p=9109

http://healthaccessfortexas.org/news-releases/governor-perry-signs-historic-physician-loan-repayment-bill

http://www.amarillo.com/stories/052009/new_news14.shtml

http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/052009/sta_441884663.shtml

http://www.texmed.org/Template.aspx?id=5463

http://www.mcdonaldpr.com/PDF%20Support/PR.5.29.Houston1.pdf

http://blogs.chron.com/fortbend/archives/rosenberg/

http://www.tafp.org/News/stories/09.06.01.1.asp

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/politics/entries/2009/05/26/tobacco_tax_bill_clears_senate.html

http://sanantonio.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2009/06/29/story6.html

http://blogs.chron.com/fortbend/archives/81st_legislature/

http://www.hcms.org/Template.aspx?id=800

REP. AL EDWARDS RETURNS TO TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AS MEMBER OF THE POWERFUL HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

Following the Speaker's recent announcement of Committee assignments, the return of District 146's voice at the table of Texas budget decisions has been restored.

As a member of the powerful Appropriations, Defense & Veterans' Affairs, and the Rules & Resolutions Committees, I will fight for the concerns of District 146 this session.

As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I will be addressing the tough decisions for state spending head-on supporting the causes and issues most important to the people of District 146, including to provide funds for our Houston area colleges and universities.

As a member of the Defense & Veterans' Affairs Committee, I will be able to help shape the disaster response concerns of our area, especially since I have filed legislation to created additional emergency response teams in legislative districts and to require gas stations and nursing homes to have generators.

I look forward to working hard and representing District 146 on these important matters this session!

81st Texas Legislative Session Convenes

The first week of the 81st Texas Legislative Session has now officially come and gone. This session we will tackle major issues in the face of a projected decline in the state budget for the next two years of about $9 billion due in part to falling revenues from sales taxes.

This week has been especially exciting after the swearing-in ceremony of the first day of session, and on the second day of session, I felt honored as I led the opening prayer of the Texas House of Representative. And now it's time to get down to work with my colleagues as we prepare for a session of helping the people.

My legislative agenda includes bills that I've filed for more rights for renters and apartment dwellers, higher standards for charter schools, increasing the salary for public school teachers, making sure electricity companies are charging their customers appropriately, requiring nursing homes to have generators, beautification projects, increasing the benefits for retired teachers, addressing disaster preparedness and response; and many more bills still being drafted.

I will keep you all informed as I continue to help the people of District 146 in the Texas House of Representatives.

I'm back in the Legislature in order to help the constituents of District 146, so if you have any questions, concerns or would like to voice your opinion on legislation, please contact my office at 512.463.0518 or 713.741.8800.