House committee approves park funds

Special to the Times-Review

Joshua may soon receive $1 million dollars to help build a planned city park.

U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, requested the funding in the 2010 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill, which passed the House Appropriations Committee on Friday.

Edwards said he expects the bill to pass the House next week and be sent on to the Senate for a vote.

“I am thrilled that thousands of Joshua families will be able to enjoy a new, beautiful park.” Edwards said. “It will provide not only jobs during its development but also a family friendly place for the citizens of Joshua to gather together for years to come.”

Joshua has no parks or recreation facilities for the community.

The $1 million, should it be approved, will help the city acquire the necessary land to create a hike and bike trail, a playground, a fishing pier, a pond, pavilion, nature area, baseball fields, basketball courts, rest rooms, concession stands, benches and picnic tables.

“The city of Joshua is excited about building the first park for our citizens,” Mayor Merle Breitenstein said. “The funding that Congressman Edwards has secured towards this effort will allow the city to build the entire 20-acre park at one time versus having to build the project in phases. This park has been community driven form the beginning, and the entire community is ready to see it become a reality. Thanks to Congressman Edwards, that will happen sooner.”



Funding for

mobile medical unit

Edwards also secured $380,000 for a new mobile medical unit for Huguley Memorial Medical Center.

The funding, which passed the House Appropriations Committee on Friday, is part of the 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations Bill.

The bill must still pass the full House and Senate. The mobile unit will help expand access to health care in the county, Edwards said.

“The mobile medical unit will expand access to quality preventive heath care for hard-working Johnson County families,” Edwards said. “Improving access to flu shots and health screenings prevent serious medical conditions form developing and reduce the numbers of those seeking more expensive care at our emergency rooms.”

The unit works to provide health care services to residents who are unable to otherwise access it because of transportation or financial impediments. The unit provides primary care, flu shots, health screenings, school physicals and service at first aid stations.

The current bus is 10 years old and nearing the end of its functional life, Edwards said.



TARP

A provision Edwards added to the 2010 Financial Services Appropriations Bill, which passed the House on Thursday, should strengthen accountability standards for the U.S. Treasury Department under the Troubled Assets Relief Program, Edwards said.

The provision requires the Treasury to submit to Congress by Dec. 1 its plan to ensure that taxpayers are repaid their investment of TARP funds.

“Taxpayers have a right to know how their tax dollars are being invested and when they will be repaid,” Edwards said. “Our efforts to shore up the financial system must be accompanied by greater accountability and strict oversight to ensure taxpayer dollars are being spent wisely and effectively. Thus far, the Treasury Department has not sufficiently outlined how taxpayer money will be repaid. That will change when this bill becomes law.”

The bill also requires the secretary of the Treasury to supply estimates of the likely gains and losses from the TARP investments and an additional $4.4 million for the Securities and Exchange Commission to hire 140 new legal staff for the Office of the Inspector General to investigate and prosecute corporate crime.

“Greedy Wall Street criminals who helped abuse this recession must be punished for their crimes,” Edwards said. “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.”

The annual appropriations bill must still pass the Senate and be sent to President Obama.

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