Editing Chet Edwards (section)

==Political positions==

Edwards is a moderate Democrat according to a nonpartisan organization [[GovTrack]]. He was also a leader in the House of Representatives.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.govtrack.us/congress/person.xpd?id=400118|title=Thomas "Chet" Edwards, former U.S. Representative for Texas's 17th Congressional District - GovTrack.us|work=GovTrack.us}}</ref>

However, he has stated his opposition to caps on medical malpractice lawsuits.{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}} He voted for the [[Iraq Resolution]].

===Fiscal policy===
Edwards opposed the 2001 federal tax cuts and voted against eliminating the [[marriage penalty]] and [[estate tax]]. He voted for the [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]].

In 2001, he opposed cuts of $100 million to the nuclear non-proliferation budget proposed by the Bush administration. Serving as a member on the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, Edwards oversaw homeland defense and university research programs to protect Americans from the threat of nuclear terrorism. Edwards supported the implementation of the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission and, in 2003, helped secure $84 million to install radiological detectors at the busiest foreign ports so nuclear materials could be detected overseas before reaching America.
Edwards is known as a fiscal conservative. The non-partisan Concord Coalition gave him its "Deficit Hawk" Award. His pro-economic, pro-agriculture record also earned him endorsements from both the [[United States Chamber of Commerce|U.S. Chamber of Commerce]] and the Farm Bureau Friends of Agriculture Fund (AGFUND). The U.S. Chamber of Commerce gave him their "Spirit of Enterprise" Award for several years for his support of business. Edwards voted with the NRA 100% on gun rights issues for many years and received the NRA's endorsement.<ref name=EdwardsUS/>

===Social policy===
Edwards traditionally votes against [[same-sex marriage]]. He has voted in favor of Constitutional amendments to ban same-sex marriage, as well as to define marriage one-man-one-woman, and holds a 25% rating from the [[Human Rights Campaign]].<ref name="ontheissues">[http://www.ontheissues.org/tx/Chet_Edwards.htm On the Issues - Chet Edwards]</ref> Edwards voted against ending preferential treatment by race in college admissions and received an 83% rating from the [[NAACP]] in 2006.<ref name="ontheissues"/> Edwards has received an "A" by the [[NRA Political Victory Fund]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=27087&type=category&category=37 |title=Project Vote Smart - Representative Thomas 'Chet' Edwards - Interest Group Ratings |publisher=Votesmart.org |access-date=2010-07-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=Kasie Hunt |title=NRA chooses Edwards in Texas |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/08/nra-chooses-edwards-in-texas-040847 |access-date=24 August 2023 |work=[[Politico]] |date=August 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202174954/https://www.politico.com/story/2010/08/nra-chooses-edwards-in-texas-040847 |archive-date=December 2, 2019 |language=en-US}}</ref>

Edwards supported increased access to health care for children of working families under the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP). Edwards was honored by the Baptist Joint Committee, and earned the Walter Cronkite Award from the Interfaith Alliance for his principled stand to keep government regulations out of churches and houses of worship. He also received the T.B. Maston Christian Ethics Award.<ref name=EdwardsUS/>