Published: July 14, 2009 03:48 pm      

House committee approves center funding

The U.S. House Appropriations Committee approved $200,000 in funding to help Southwestern Adventist University in Keene expand its Entrepreneurship Resources Center, said U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco.

The funding was included in the Financial Service Appropriations Bill for fiscal 2010, Edwards said.

“I am grateful to [SWAU President] Dr. Eric Anderson and the Southwestern Adventist community for bringing this important project to my attention,” Edwards said. “The mission of SWAU to mold today’s students into the entrepreneurs and small business leaders of tomorrow is key to economic growth.”

The funding, which must still pass the House and Senate and be signed by President Obama, would help SWAU purchase a wide range of educational sources from books and journals to electronic data bases.

It would also include appropriate information technology for the university’s library and business department.

One current signature course in SWAU’s program is “Profiles in Entrepreneurship,” a course that brings successful business leaders and students together. As a part of enhancing the program, the university hopes to create a resources center focused on entrepreneurship, business ethics and small-business enterprise.



Military construction bill

The House, by a 415-3 vote, passed funding for troops, veterans and their families under the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill for fiscal 2010.

The bill builds on the $17.7 billion in increases for veterans passe into law by Congress since 2007, Edwards said.

“This bill sends a clear message to America’s servicemen and women, their families and our veterans that we deeply respect their service and sacrifice,” Edwards said. “With passage of this bill, Congress has provided a 58 percent increase in funding for veterans health care and benefits since Jan. 2007.

The bill is strongly supported by major veterans service organizations such as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, AMVETS, and others, Edwards said.

“This is a huge step forward for disabled veterans, and the historic funding increases the House provides will dramatically improve the health care programs our nation delivers to her defenders,” said Glen M. Gardner Jr., national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.