Our nation is slowly recovering from the most severe economic crisis since the Great Depression. Congressman Edwards supported the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a bold economic recovery plan that helps to protect American jobs, stabilize our economy, and prevent this crisis from deepening.

Some might choose the Herbert Hoover do-nothing approach, but Congressman Edwards believes that inaction is a dangerous option that could lead to a more severe recession or even a depression.  This law is creating thousands of jobs in Texas and provides tax cuts to 95 percent of families in 2009 and 2010.  It will double funding for Texas highway construction, and modernize our schools, veteran's hospitals and military barracks.

That is why Chet joined with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, and the National Association of Homebuilders in supporting the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Chet has also worked to strengthen oversight of U.S. financial institutions to prevent a crisis like this from happening again. Legislation supported by Chet and signed into law that will help improve the economy, protect consumers, and hold companies accountable for the use of taxpayer dollars include:

Strenghtening Oversight of TARP - Chet authored legislastion to expand the authority of the TARP Special Inspector General, to help ensure that taxpayers receive repayment of their investments of TARP funds, as well as estimates of the likely gains and losses from those investments.

Chet also championed funding for the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to hire 140 new legal staff for the Office of the Inspector General to investigate and prosecute corporate crime.

When the bill passed the House Chet said, "The taxpayers have a right to know how their tax dollars are being invested and when they will be repaid. And Greedy Wall Street criminals who helped cause this recession must be punished for their crimes. By increasing enforcement at the SEC will send a strong message that if you rob innocent investors of their retirement and college savings, you will spend the rest of your life sharing a prison cell with Bernie Madoff."

Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights, to provide tough new protections for consumers by banning unfair rate increases, abusive fees, and penalties-such as retroactive rate hikes on existing balances and double-cycle billing -- giving consumers clear information, and strengthening enforcement.

Fighting mortgage and Corporate Fraud & creating commission on causes of crisis, to provide tools for prosecuting the mortgage scams and corporate frauds that contributed to the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression; and to create an outside commission to examine its causes.

Health Care for 11 Million Children, to finally provide cost-effective health coverage for 4 million more children whose parents earn too little to provide their own insurance, but too much to qualify for Medicaid, and preserve coverage for 7 million children already enrolled.

Serve America Act, tripling volunteerism opportunities for national service to enroll 250,000 students to retirees; creating new service corps for education, health care, energy and veterans; establishing a Summer of Service for middle and high school students; and increasing college financial awards.

For an interactive guide to Congressman Edwards' efforts to promote job creation, check out Chet's District 17 Job Creation Map by clicking here.