John Edwards: Working for Us
Roanoke Higher Education Center
Senator Edwards was the chief patron of SB 1180 in 1997, which established the Roanoke Higher Education Center; he currently chairs the Center's Board of Trustees.
Since opening in 2000, the Roanoke Higher Education Center has enhanced opportunities for college, graduate and workforce training programs for our region and has boosted higher paying jobs for graduates.
According to a recent study, the Center has a $32 million annual economic impact on our region.
Those completing bachelor's degrees at the Center saw an average increase in income of $17,477 per year.
Those completing masters and doctorate degrees saw income increases of $10,145 and $16,166, per year, respectively.
Among those completing teacher licensure programs, salaries have increased by an average of $14,000 per year.
Thus, incomes have increased an estimated $35 million per year for those completing degrees at the Roanoke Higher Education Center.
We have known the link between higher education and higher incomes, but these statistics graphically demonstrate that education is the key to prosperity. The Roanoke Higher Education Center has been a tangible economic benefit to this region and an opportunity for higher paying jobs for students completing programs at the Center.
The Center continues to add programs, such as the Culinary Arts Institute, that meet the needs of the region for a well trained work force. The Commonwealth of Virginia tracks how the state measures up in areas affecting quality of life. Read the Strategic Plan, and the progress report.
Passenger Rail Transportation in Western Virginia
Senator Edwards was able to secure funding ($150,000) to match federal and state funding for a new bus to link Blacksburg and Roanoke to the new Amtrak train leaving Lynchburg for points north to Washington, New York and Boston. The new "Smart Way Connector Bus" had its inaugural ride on July 19, 2011.
The convenience and low price of the new bus link should encourage riders to use the Amtrak train and avoid the congestion of the interstate. By showing there is a market for passenger rail transportation in this region, it is anticipated that Amtrak will offer passenger rail transportation to Roanoke and further into western Virginia in the future.
Virginia Department of Veterans Services
Senator John S. Edwards at the dedication of the Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Dublin.
In 2003 Senator Edwards introduced SB 1092 which created the Virginia Department of Veterans Services. Since 2003 he has served on the Virginia Board of Veterans Services, which is responsible for enhancing veteran's services across the Commonwealth. It oversees the Commonwealth's Veterans Care Centers for seniors, Veterans Cemeteries, and claims services for Virginia Veterans seeking VA benefits.
In 2011, Edwards spoke at the opening of the first Veterans Cemetery in Western Virginia, located in Dublin. He served on the subcommittee of the Board of Veterans Services to make the cemetery a reality.
Growing The Corporate Research Center
The Corporate Research Center at Virginia Tech has been such a success since opening in 1985 that it now needs more space for future growth. In 2010, to make room for its future progress, Senator Edwards sponsored SB 119 to double the size of the Center to allow for continued growth to support its mission of making ideas stemming from research commercially useful. Research and development at our universities is the key to our future progress and prosperity, as the success of the Corporate Research Center proves. Read more about the CRC.
Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Programs
Senator Edwards introduced legislation (SB 1294 in 2009) that created Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) pilot programs throughout the state. Modeled after the highly successful New River Valley CIT program, these programs train law enforcement officers to detect signs and symptoms of mental illness and direct the people they encounter to mental health facilities to obtain proper treatment for those in crisis.
Improving Security On Campus
Following the tragedy at Virginia Tech of April 16, 2007, Senator Edwards co-chaired the Senate subcommittee, and sponsored bills, that lead to a number of improvements to the mental health system of Virginia in 2008 and 2009. In 2010, Senator Edwards further sponsored legislation for the families of victims to improve on-campus security by better monitoring those students known to have troubled histories. Edwards' bill (SB 207) authorized administrative Threat Assessment Teams to receive confidential health, academic and criminal information on identified students in order to assess and intervene as necessary to prevent potential tragedies. Additionally, in 2009, Senator Edwards introduced legislation (SB 608) that will require annual review of Crisis and Emergency Management Plans put in place by schools.
Conservation, Energy and the Environment
The non-partisan Virginia League of Conservation Voters (VLCV) has once again designated Senator Edwards a "Legislative Hero" for his dedication to conservation priorities. Senator Edwards has been ranked in the top quartile of Virginia Legislators by the VLCV for the past five years.
Senator Edwards sponsored SB 1051 in 2007 to permit localities to impose lower tax rates on energy-efficient buildings. The advantages in building and retrofitting to include energy-efficient technology go past the obvious environmental benefits. Creating jobs to develop and deploy the new technologies will provide an economic ripple effect across industries. Tax incentives encourage property owners and developers to implement environmentally friendly building practices.
Read an editorial Senator Edwards wrote about the "Great Value in Going Green."
Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Senator Edwards introduced legislation, SB 853 (2009) and SB 609 (2010), to require the installation of carbon monoxide alarms in buildings containing one or more dwelling units. These bills led to the adoption of rules by the Board of Housing and Community Development which changed the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. Effective March 1, 2011, the Virginia Construction Code, Part 1 of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, requires carbon monoxide alarms to be installed in new buildings. (See pages 80-81 of the linked pdf file.)
Virginia Retirement System
Retirement has become a divisive issue with the Governor's plan to change the Virginia Retirement System to a "defined contribution" plan, rather than a "defined benefit" plan that has existed since the 1950s. Given the volatility of the stock market, public employees want to keep the "defined benefit" system, which provides an assured and certain monthly pension rather than one dependent on an unstable market, especially after what we have seen in recent years. This year the Governor recommended a 3% raise with public employees paying 5% of their pay into the Virginia Retirement System - effectively a 2% reduction in income. To avoid this reduction in income, the General Assembly approved a 5% raise and 5% employee contribution to VRS; in effect no raise again this year.
Legislation Senator Edwards Successfully Sponsored Includes:
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To adopt Rules of Evidence in Virginia Courts. (SB94 in 2012)
To inform women when mammograms show dense breast tissue thus allowing for early detection of cancer. (SB544 in 2012)
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To allow Roanoke County to levy a transit occupancy tax to fund promotion of tourism. (SB103 in 2012)
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To allow injured workers to receive compensation, even though the worker is unable to testify due to mental or physical injury, when the circumstances show the injury arose out of employment. (SB 823 in 2011)
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To allow military veterans residing in Virginia to qualify for instate tuition without the one-year waiting period. (SB 824 in 2011)
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To protect health savings accounts from creditors, like pension plans. (SB 163 in 2010)
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To allow Threat Assessment Teams in universities to monitor students with troubled disciplinary, mental health, and academic histories, in order to prevent tragedies such as occurred at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007. (SB 207 in 2010)
To require universities to conduct annual exercises of their crisis and emergency plans. (SB 608 in 2010)
To establish the New River Valley Emergency Communications Authority (E911 Authority). (SB 433 in 2010)
To allow Giles County to levy a transient occupancy tax to fund promotion of tourism. (SB 858 in 2009)
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To allow recreationalists to cross railroad rights-of-way by relieving railroads of liability impediments. (SB 546 in 2010)
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To increase awareness of the federal and state Earned Income Tax Credits. (SB 15 in 2008; SB 860 in 2009)
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To streamline the Virginia Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Program. (SB 211 and SB 212 in 2008)
To survey, publish, and inform patients of the average cost of common medical procedures. (SB 396 in 2008)
Legislation which led to a constitutional amendment to allow localities to incentivize new construction in neglected areas. (SB 357 and SB 358 in 2006)
To allow the Board of Medical Assistance Services to create "long-term care partnership programs" so seniors can plan for long-term care and protect assets and still apply for Medicaid. (SB 266 in 2004)
To permit nonpartisan elections for the Blacksburg Town Council. (SB 934 in 2003)
To allow the City of Roanoke to tax differently improvements to real property. Currently, only the cities of Roanoke and Fairfax are allowed to do this. (SB 1051 in 2007 and SB 1095 in 2003)
To permit taxpayers to designate tax refunds to the Virginia Commission For The Arts. (SB 1096 in 2003)
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To require parents to attend educational seminars before divorcing. Such seminars address how a divorce affects children. (SB 1097 in 2003)
To permit school boards to create "public service academies" for high school students who are interested in becoming police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians. (SB 1099 in 2003)
To improve the process by which parents may appeal individualized education programs for children with special needs. (SB 310 in 2002)
To make the killing of a companion dog or cat by torture or poison a felony. (SB 306 in 2002)
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To require that health insurers cover all routine and necessary immunizations for children until the age of 3. (SB 221 in 2000)
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To allow individuals who lack a high school education to participate in job training programs while receiving public assistance. (SB 767 in 1999)
To allow eligible part-time state employees to purchase health insurance from the Commonwealth. (SB 728 in 1999)
To require teaching Character Education, like citizenship, responsibility, and respect, to children. (SB 817 in 1999)
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To amend the budget to expand dental services for children, assistance for families caring for adults with special needs, and programs to train adults with special needs. (1998)
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To create the Health Practitioners' Intervention Program (now known as the Health Practitioners' Monitoring Program). (SB 964 in 1997)
To allow voters to cast a "write-in" vote for President and Vice-President of the United States. (SB 667 in 1997)
To establish the Roanoke Higher Education Center (SB 1180 in 1997)
Senator Edwards' Awards for Legislative Service
One of the "Leaders in the Law" from Virginia Law Weekly (2012)
Legislative Service Award from Planned Parenthood of Virginia (2012)
Legislative Champion Award from the Virginia Crisis Intervention Team Coalition (2011)
Legislator of the Year from the Democratic Latino Organization of Virginia (2011)
Legislative Hero from Virginia League of Conservation Voters (2011, 2003)
The Stamp Award for Exemplary Support of Military Families from The Virginia Council of Chapters, Military Officers Association of America (2009)
Public Service Award from the Madison Society of Virginia Western Community College (2009)
Public Service Award from Virginia Conference, American Association of University Professors (2009)
Public Service Award from Southwest Virginia Psychiatric Society (2008)
Child Advocate Award from Virginia Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics (2007)
Excellence Award from Virginia First Cities Coalition (2005)
Legislator of the Year from Child Health Investment Partnership (CHIP) (2005)
Public Servant Award from Equality Virginia (2005)
Friend of the Family Award from Virginia Association of Family and Consumer Services (2003)
Child Advocate of the Year award from Virginia PTA/PTSA (2002)
Legislator of the Year from Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy (1999)
Public Service Award from Alliance for the Mentally Ill of the Roanoke Valley (1999)
Profile in Courage Award from the Western Virginia Chapter, Coalition of Labor Union Women (1999)
Legislator of the Year from Virginia Legal Aid Service Program (1998)
Public Service Award from Virginia Association of Nonprofit Homes for the Aging (1997)