Chet Edwards

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Thomas "Chet" Edwards, a Democrat, has represented the Seventeenth Congressional District of Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1990. (map)

Contents 1 Record and controversies 1.1 Iraq War 1.2 Environmental record 1.3 Oil 1.4 National security and foreign policy 2 Bio 2.1 Congressional career 2.1.1 2006 elections 3 Money in politics 3.1 Oil Money in Politics 4 Committees and Affiliations 4.1 Committees 4.1.1 Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006) 5 More Background Data 6 Contact 7 Articles and resources 7.1 References 7.2 External resources 7.2.1 Local blogs and discussion sites

Record and controversies

Iraq War

Edwards voted for the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 that started the Iraq War.^[1]

Environmental record

For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

Oil

Chet Edwards has voted in favor of big oil companies on 55% of important oil-related bills from 2005-2007, according to Oil Change International. These bills include Iraq war funding, climate change studies, clean energy, and emissions.^[2] See below for oil money in politics.

National security and foreign policy

Rep. Edwards sponsored the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2008, which passed that House on June 15, 2007 by a vote of 409-2. It was separate from the FY2008 Defense Department appropriations bill and made spending decisions for some Defense Department medical and construction expenses, VA construction, administration and medical programs, and spending for a few related national and international agencies.

Main article: Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2008

Bio

Edwards was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, on November 24, 1951. He received his bachelor's degree in economics from Texas A&M University and his MBA from Harvard Business School.

Edwards was elected to the Texas State Senate in 1981, serving until 1991 when he became Representative for the 11th district.

Congressional career

Following Texas redistricting in 2004, Edwards was moved from the 11th to the 17th congressional district. He then won a close race in 2004 against Republican Arlene Wohlgemuth, winning by less than 10,000 votes. He was the only targeted Democrat to survive Tom DeLay's redistricting.

See also, Wikipedia article, 2003 Texas redistricting and Sourcewatch's links on Texas under U.S. election irregularities in 2004.

2006 elections

In 2006, Republicans nominated Van Taylor to face Edwards in his November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) [1] Edwards retained his seat.

Money in politics

This section contains links to – and feeds from – money in politics databases. For specific controversies, see this article's record and controversies section. <crpcontribdata>cid=N00005794&cycle=2006</crpcontribdata>

Links to more campaign contribution information for Chet Edwards from the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org site.
Fundraising profile:	2006 election cycle	Career totals
Top contributors by organization/corporation:	2006 election cycle	Career totals
Top contributors by industry:	2006 election cycle	Career totals

• Revolving door profile for Chet Edwards from the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org website.
• 2006 privately funded travel profile for Chet Edwards from the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org website.
• Personal finance profile for Chet Edwards from the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org website.

Oil Money in Politics

Chet Edwards has received $90,550 in oil contributions during the 110th congress. $72,000 of those dollars were from industry PACS. In addition to oil, Edwards has also accepted $29,000 in coal contributions during the 110th congress while representing district 17. $28,500 of those dollars were from industry PACS. ^[3]

Committees and Affiliations

Committees

• House Committee on Appropriations
  • Subcommittee on Energy and Water
  • Subcommittee on Homeland Security
  • Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans’ Affairs, Chair
• House Committee on Budget

Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

• House Committee on Appropriations
  • Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on Homeland Security
  • Subcommittee on Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies - Ranking Minority Member
• House Committee on Budget

More Background Data

• Background information on Chet Edwards from Project Vote Smart

• Interest group scorecard ratings for Chet Edwards from Project Vote Smart

• Voting record for Chet Edwards from the Washington Post database

• Information on Chet Edwards from Congress Merge

Wikipedia also has an article on Chet Edwards. This article may use content from the Wikipedia article under the terms of the GFDL.

Contact

DC Office:
2264 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-4311
Phone: 202-225-6105
Fax: 202-225-0350
Web Email
Website

District Office- Cleburne:
115 South MainAvenue, Suite 202
Cleburne, TX 76033
Phone: 817-645-4796
Fax: 817-645-4796

District Office- College Station:
111 University Drive East
Suite 216
College Station, TX 77840
Phone: 979-691-8797
Fax: 979-691-8939

District Office- Waco:
St. Charles Place
600 Austin Avenue, Suite 29
Waco, TX 76701
Phone: 254-752-9600
Fax: 254-752-7769

Campaign Address:
Post Office Box 23273
Waco, TX 76702
Phone: 254-776-6100
Fax:

Articles and resources

References

1. ↑ Roll call vote, Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002.
2. ↑ Vote Tracker, Oil Change International.
3. ↑ See "Follow the Oil Money," "Follow the Coal Money," and vote tracker from Oil Change International and Appalachian Voices.

External resources

• Official website
• Campaign website
• Election Information - U.S. House Office of the Clerk
• Follow the Oil Money
• Vote Tracker
• Follow the Coal Money
• Appalachian Voices

Local blogs and discussion sites

• Fort Bend Democrats
• Burnt Orange Report
• Somervell County Salon

Corresponding article on Wikipedia and Cause Caller. (If Cause Caller link does not work, pick from its list of senators and representatives.)

Current Office: U.S. House of Representatives
111th Congress
Leadership Position:	Committees Chaired:	Committees, Ranking Member On:	Caucuses:
Committees:
110th Congress
Leadership Position: None	Committees Chaired:	Committees, Ranking Member On:	Caucuses:
Committees: House Committee on Appropriations, House Committee on Appropriations/Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, House Committee on Appropriations/Subcommittee on Homeland Security, House Committee on Appropriations/Subcommittee on Military Construction Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies, House Committee on Budget
Congressional Career
First Elected to Current Office: November 6, 1990	First Took Current Office: January 3, 2005	Next Election: November 2, 2010	Term Ends:
Freshman Member? No	Previous Political Work? Texas Senate,	Other Party Membership:
District Offices:
1. 115 South MainAvenue, Suite 202, Cleburne, TX 76033 Phone: 817-645-4796 / Fax: 817-645-4796 2. 111 University Drive East, Suite 216, College Station, TX 77840 Phone: 979-691-8797 / Fax: 979-691-8939 3. St. Charles Place, 600 Austin Avenue, Suite 29, Waco, TX 76701 Phone: 254-752-9600 / Fax: 254-752-7769
Campaign Contact:
Website: Webform Email: / Email: Campaign Offices: 1. Post Office Box 23273, Waco, TX 76702 Phone: 254-776-6100 / Fax:
Zip Code Affiliations:
Misc:
Date of Birth: November 24, 1951