Improved the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers.  Congressman Forbes supported the U.S. Manufacturing Enhancement Act of 2010 (H.R.4380), which temporarily reduces tariffs on certain components of American products for which there is no domestic counterpart.  This legislation will reduce production costs for U.S. manufacturers, effectively increasing their ability to compete internationally.  This bill passed the House by a vote of 378-43.

Opposed increased deficit spending.  Congressman Forbes voted to oppose the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2010 (H.R.4213), which would extend unemployment benefits through November by adding $34 billion to the federal deficit.  Congressman Forbes voted for an earlier extension of benefits that would have been paid for with unused stimulus funds.  This bill passed the House by a vote of 272-152.

Protected the culture of fishermen.  Congressman Forbes supported a bill (H.R.5301) that postpones the implementation of an Environmental Protection Agency plan to require certain fishing boats to carry permits in order to release discharges which are part of the normal operation of these vessels.  This bill passed the House by a voice vote. 

Encouraged industry growth.  Congressman Forbes supported the SECTORS Act (H.R.1855) to grants $2.5 million to coordinate industry partnerships, meant to encourage industry growth, competitiveness, worker training and advancement.  This bill passed the House by a voice vote.
 
Celebrated railroad workers.  Congressman Forbes supported a resolution (H.Res.1463) that supports the goals of Railroad Retirement Day and recognizes the important role that rail plays in our nation’s transportation system.  This bill passed the House by a voice vote.

Remembered the eleven oil platform workers who perished in the Gulf of Mexico.  Congressman Forbes supported a resolution (H.Res.1347) honoring those individuals who died on the Deepwater Horizon, the oil platform at the heart of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.  The House also recognized the rescue crews and volunteers who saved the other workers on the platform.  This resolution passed the House by a vote of 403-0.

Supported improving the safety of coal miners. Congressman Forbes voted to support a resolution (H.Res.1363) that permits further investigation into the safety procedures and regulations regarding coal mining.  This resolution passed the House by a vote of 413-1.

Helped provide education for children of fallen public safety officers. Congressman Forbes supported the Officer Daniel Faulkner Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act (H.R.959) to expand eligibility for the maximum Federal Pell Grant to any student whose parent or legal guardian died in the line of duty while actively serving as a public safety officer.  This bill passed the House by voice vote.

Supported Peace Officers Memorial Day. Congressman Forbes voted to support a resolution (H.Res.1299) in honor of the federal, state, and local law enforcement officers who have been killed or disabled in the line of duty.  This resolution passed the House by a vote of 395-0.

Recognized the importance of balancing work and family. Congressman Forbes supported H.Res. 768, to designate the month of October as "National Work and Family Month." The resolution passed by a vote of 415-0.

Supported legislation to allow employers to reward unionized workers, if they choose to do so. Congressman Forbes cosponsored H.R. 2732 to permit unionized work forces to receive merit-base pay raises and performance bonuses. This bill would lift the pay cap on millions of hard-working Americans that work under collective bargaining agreements without affecting minimum pay floors negotiated in collective bargaining.

Voted to oppose legislation that would expand federal employee benefits. H.R. 626 would give all men and women employed by the federal government four weeks of paid leave for the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child. Currently, federal employees may take up to twelve weeks of unpaid leave or use accrued sick and vacation days to make part of the time paid leave. At a time of 9.4% national unemployment and at a time when private employers are cutting back on benefits offered to their employees, it be unfair and unwise to spend an additional $1 billion on federal employee benefits.

 Recognized volunteers across the nation. Congressman Forbes voted for H. Res. 335 to support the goals of National Volunteer Week. Data from the Corporation for National and Community Service shows that nearly 62 million volunteers dedicated more than 8 billion hours of service to community organizations last year.  

Signed on as an original cosponsor of H.R. 1176, the Secret Ballot Protection Act.  This legislation would protect a worker’s right to a federally-supervised secret ballot election when considering whether or not to organize a union.  As a nation, we vote for President in secret, and Members of Congress vote for their leadership in secret -- Congressman Forbes believes workers should be afforded the same rights as general election voters and Members of Congress.

Opposed H.R. 11, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, legislation that would effectively eliminate the statute of limitations for employment-related discrimination claims. This bill would allow employees to file charges of alleged discrimination within 180 days of the last paycheck received that is affected by alleged employment discrimination. This would severely undermine efforts to expeditiously and fairly resolve workplace discrimination cases. By permitting such claims to be brought within 180 days — not of a discriminatory pay decision, but of a paycheck affected by that decision — the measure would eliminate the statute of limitations on such cases. There is no evidence to suggest that the current statute of limitations has resulted in any demonstrable prejudice against claims by employees of pay discriminations. 

Opposed H.R. 12, the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would allow trial lawyers to sue employers for unlimited compensatory and punitive damages in pay discrimination cases, even when a disparity in pay was unintentional. It would also add non-retaliation requirements, increase penalties on employers, and includes other wage-related provisions, at a cost of $15 million over five years. In addition, the bill would change current class action lawsuit requirements from “opt-in” to “opt-out,” allowing trial lawyers to submit massive class action suits without the knowledge or express consent of each plaintiff.

Voted in favor of H.R. 6867, the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008, which would provide an additional seven weeks of unemployment insurance benefits for workers who have exhausted their regular unemployment compensation, and an additional 13 weeks for workers in states with unemployment rates of 6% or higher. The U.S. Department of Labor announced on October 3, 2008 that 159,000 nonfarm jobs were lost in September 2008. Forecasters had predicted a decrease of 100,000 jobs.  The unemployment rate however held steady at 6.1%. Congressman Forbes is committed to assisting American workers during this period of economic instability.

Supported S. 2565, the Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Act of 2008.  This bill authorizes the Attorney General to issue a Congressional Badge of Bravery to a federal, state or local law enforcement officer who performs an act of bravery while in the line of duty.   

Supported H.Res. 1360 and H.Res. 645, honoring the late Detective John Michael Gibson and Private First Class Jacob Joseph Chestnut of the United States Capitol Police.  On July 24, 1998, Detective Gibson and Officer Chestnut lost their lives protecting the Capitol and the people inside from an armed attack. 

Supported H.R. 6295, to create a Federal felony for operating a submersible or semi-submersible vessel without nationality and on an international voyage.  This bill will enhance penalties for international drug traffickers that use submarines to transport large quantities of narcotics to the United States and other countries.
 

Supported H.R. 6083, authorizing funding for the National Advocacy Center.  The National Advocacy Center (NAC) is located in South Carolina, and is a joint venture of the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA) and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). The NAC has provided education and training programs to more than 20,000 state and local prosecutors since 1998. This bill provides NAC with $6 million in funding for 2009.
 

Supported H.Res. 1324, recognizing National Night Out. National Night Out occurs the first Tuesday of every August and focuses on neighborhood crime prevention by supporting local officials and community watch groups.

Supported H.Res. 1322, which commends firefighters for their courageous actions and sacrifices in fighting wildfires in California to protect National Forest System land, other public lands, and private property from further damage

Supported House passage H.Res. 1229, a resolution that honors and recognizes the achievements of America’s high school valedictorians of 2008, and encourages all graduating seniors to further their education by attending college.

Supported passage of H.Con.Res. 372, which supports the goals and ideals of Black Music Month and honors the outstanding contributions that African American singers and musicians have made to the United States.

Supported passage of H.Res. 1051, a resolution that congratulates James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, for 100 years of education service and leadership.

Supported passage of H.Con.Res. 2, a resolution to encourage our nation’s schools to honor the contributions of the territories of the United States by including them in American history curriculum.

Offered an amendment to accelerate Impact Aid funding for BRAC communities in H.R. 5658, the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act of 2009.  The amendment was adopted by voice vote.  Impact Aid provides federal funds to assist local school districts that educate military dependents, whose parents may not necessarily be on the local tax base.  However, Impact Aid traditionally has relied on the previous school year’s attendance levels to determine funding.  Rep. Forbes’ amendment will allow school districts heavily impacted by Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) to use current school year numbers if they have a large influx of students because of military moves.  The most recent BRAC round will more than double the population of Ft. Lee, Virginia.

Signed onto an amicus brief supporting the right of parents to home school their children.  Earlier this year, the California Supreme Court ruled on the case In re Rachel L that parents do not have a constitutional right to educate their children without state-approved teaching credentials.  After significant outcry from families across the nation, the court decided to reconsider the case.  This “friend of the court” brief is being submitted by several Members of Congress to the court in order to provide information they believe the court should consider when making its decision.  The brief provides numerous, detailed examples of state and federal legal precedent that has repeatedly affirmed parents’ rights to direct the upbringing of their children.  Congressman Forbes is also a cosponsor of H.Res. 1076, which applauds the court’s decision to re-hear the case and affirms the right of parents to home school.

 Supported House passage of H.Res. 789, which honors the contributions of public child welfare agencies, nonprofit organizations and private entities who are dedicated to finding homes for the more than 500,000 foster children in the United States and assisting foster families in securing the future success of their foster children. 

Voted for H.R. 4847, the U.S. Fire Administration Reauthorization Act, which would allow spending for the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) at $290 million over five years. As a result of fires in 2006, more than 3,245 civilians died and 16,400 civilians suffered injuries. That same year, 106 firefighters lost their lives. The USFA reports that direct property loss due to fires was estimated at $11.3 billion for 2006. In addition, Congressman Forbes supported a provision to the measure that would protect trained firefighters and emergency workers from lawsuits as a result of offering child safety seat inspections.

Supported H.Res. 695, a resolution expressing the support of the House of Representatives for the designation of a "National Fire Fighter Appreciation Day" to honor and celebrate the fire fighters in the United States.

Voted against H.R. 800, legislation which would take away a worker's right to a federally-supervised secret ballot election, when considering whether or not to organize a union. This legislation would overturn a 60-year-old process and reveal employees' votes through what's known as a "card check." This procedure leaves employees open to coercion, intimidation and pressure by supervisors or union representatives. Congressman Forbes is a cosponsor of the Secret Ballot Protection Act, H.R. 866, which protects the secret ballot process as it stands today by requiring ballot elections to remain private to obtain union certification.

Introduced a resolution, H. Res. 182, to commend and congratulate Virginia State University on its 125th Anniversary. VSU, located in Petersburg, Virginia, was founded on March 6, 1882, making it the first fully state-supported four-year institution of higher learning for African Americans. VSU has an enrollment of nearly 5,000 students and sustains a 236-acre main campus with more than 50 buildings, including 15 dormitories, 16 classroom buildings and a 416-acre agricultural research facility.

Supported the Fair Minimum Wage Act, sponsored by Chairman George Miller, which raised the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25. Additionally, Congressman Forbes supported the Republican initiative that supported the increase in the minimum wage and provided support to small businesses.