Congressman Randy Forbes
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Week of July 20 - July 24, 2009 Twitter Facebook YouTube Digg RSS
Keeping American Communities Safe

Congressman Forbes joined other members of the House Armed Services Committee to observe the operations at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility first-hand. Congressmen Forbes agreed with Attorney General Eric Holder and Navy Admiral Patrick Walsh that the facility is well run. The trip strongly reinforced to Congressman Forbes’ that transferring, housing, or prosecuting enemy combatants in the United States would be a national security mistake. Read his thoughts here.

Discussing Healthcare Reform 

Congressman Forbes held conference calls with physicians and hospital administrators from across the Fourth District to hear their thoughts on healthcare reform. Congressman Forbes continued the conference call series this week with nurses and constituents across the Fourth District. To read about the calls, visit Congressman Forbes' blog.


Supporting Transparency in the Legislative Process

Congressman Forbes supported a requirement to ensure all legislation is available to Members and the American public for three days before a vote is called on the bill. H.Res. 554 would change the House Rules to require pending legislation to be placed on the Internet for at least 72 hours before a vote can be taken on the House floor.

 

Healthcare


Pledged not to vote for any healthcare reform package without reading the bill first.
Congressman Forbes signed a pledge that he will not vote to enact any health care reform package that he has not personally read or that has not been available, in its entirety, to the American people on the Internet for at least 72 hours.


Spoke with representatives from the AARP to discuss their thoughts on healthcare reform. 
Congressman Forbes met with constituents from the Fourth District representing the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) to discuss their position on healthcare reform. Recently, House leadership introduced a bill that would institute a government take over of America’s healthcare system. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has stated that the bill will not address increasing healthcare costs that threaten to bankrupt Medicare by 2017.

 

Recognized the need for advanced research for diabetes. Congressman Forbes voted for H.Res. 69, which recognizes the need to continue research into the causes, treatment, education, and an eventual cure for diabetes. The bill also commends hospitals, community clinics, educational institutes, and other organizations that work to increase diabetes awareness and conduct research for methods to help patients and families suffering from diabetes.

This bill passed by a vote of 420-0.

Veterans


Opposed increased costs for veterans' healthcare.
Congressman Forbes signed a letter to members of the House Committees on Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce and Education and Labor appealing for any healthcare reform to maintain TRICARE and VA healthcare benefits.

 

Recognized the sacrifice and service of Korean War Veterans. Congressman Forbes voted for H.R. 2632 to add National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, July 27, to the list of days on which the flag of the United States should be displayed.

This bill passed by a vote of 421-0.
 

Environment 

Increased funding for the vital study of the Chowan River Basin. Residents of the Chowan River Basin have struggled with unpredictable and sometimes devastating flooding for decades. Congressman Forbes announced that the federal government will invest an additional $100,000 to study flooding in the Chowan River Basin. Funding for the study was requested by Congressman Forbes and was included as a part of H.R. 3183, the Energy and Water Development appropriations bill which passed the House of Representatives on July 17, 2009. These funds are in addition the $96,000 Forbes secured as part of the 2009 fiscal year funding.  In total, Forbes has secured $196,000 of the $350,000 necessary to complete the study.

 

Law Enforcement

 

Supported funding for missing children recovery programs. Congressman Forbes voted for H.R. 1933, which provides annual grants to the A Child Is Missing Alert and Recovery Center to assist federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in recovering missing children. The center specializes in child recovery techniques, technologies, and information sharing and coordination with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the AMBER Alert Coordinator, and the Silver Alert Coordinator. 
This bill passed the House by a vote of 417-5.

 

American Values

 

Supported programs to increase hunger awareness and prevention. Congressman Forbes voted for  H.Res. 270 to recognize the establishment of Hunters for the Hungry programs across the United States and the contributions of those programs’ efforts to decrease hunger and help feed those in need.

The bill passed the House by a vote of 418-1.

 

Foreign Affairs

 

Opposed trade with the Burmeses military regimes. Congressman Forbes supported H.J.Res. 56 to approve the renewal of import restrictions contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003. This legislation renews, for three years, the President's authority to ban the import of Burmese products.

The bill passed the House by unanimous consent.


Supported increased cooperation in Europe and the Mediterranean.
Congressman Forbes supported H.Res. 654 to honor the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation. The legislation encourages the OSCE Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation to continue to work with the OSCE participating states to enhance trade, economic development, security, and stability in the Mediterranean region.
The bill passed the House by voice vote.
 

Energy


Supported increased research of natural gas vehicle capabilities.
Congressman Forbes voted for H.R. 1622  to provide for a program of research, development, and demonstration on natural gas vehicles. This bill directs the Secretary of Energy to conduct a five-year program for natural gas vehicle research, development, and demonstration. 

This bill passed the House by a vote of 393-35. 

Transportation and Infrastructure


Discussed transportation with the Board of Supervisors from Isle of Wight County. The Board and the Congressman discussed high-speed rail, transportation funding related to Route 460, a proposal for a new workforce development center, and stimulus funding. 

Secured funding for Chesterfield County to construct an I-295 Meadowville Interchange.  The $750,000 in funding was included as a part of H.R. 3288, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill.  The I-295 Meadowville Interchange will enhance economic development opportunities for the region and help relieve local roads of the additional traffic generated.  In total, Congressman Forbes has secured $2,725,000 for this project since 2004.
  

Discussed important Fourth District transportation issues with the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Secretary of Transportation. Congressman Forbes met with Virginia Secretary of Transportation, Pierce Homer, to discuss important transportation issues impacting the Fourth District of Virginia, including the restoration of the Highway Trust Fund, the closing of Virginia’s rest areas, and the future of high speed rail in the Fourth District.

 

Housing

Provided housing opportunities to individuals with disabilities. Congressman Forbes voted for H.R. 1675, to modify housing requirements under the National Affordable Housing Act in order to expand the supply of supportive housing for low-income persons with disabilities. 
This bill passed the House by a vote of 376-51. 

Defense

Questioned the constitutional rights of enemy combatants. Congressman Forbes, a member of the House Armed Services Committee voted in committee for H.Res.602 requiring a report of how the reading of Miranda rights is applied to enemy combatants. This resolution questions how this procedure may impact post capture interrogations and intelligence gathering activities, and the overall counterinsurgency strategy.

Questioned senior Defense and Justice Officials on the plan to prosecute enemy combatants, including the co-conspirators of the 9/11 attacks.  Congressman Forbes, during a House Armed Services Committee hearing, shared his concerns with delaying the trial or hearing the cases in Federal Courts rather than Military Courts.

 

Agriculture

Supported the goals of the dairy industry. Congressman Forbes voted for H.Res. 507 to recognize the goals of National Dairy Month and the dairy industry's important role in the economic and nutritional well being of Americans. The legislation commends dairy farmers for their hard work and commitment to the U.S. economy and to the preservation of open space.
This bill passed the House by a vote of 428-0.  

Budget

 

Voted to control government spending by including annual federal spending under pay-go rules. Congressman Forbes supported an amendment to H.R. 2920 that would would base federal spending on a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It would cap total government spending at 21.7% of gross domestic product by 2015. The amendment failed in the House by a vote of 169 – 259. For more information on Congressman Forbes' work to control government spending, click here.

 

Voted against the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2009. “Pay-Go” is a term used to describe a rule in Congress that requires any new spending and tax cuts to be offset by cuts or revenues somewhere else in the budget. This pay-go bill contained so many loopholes that it is ineffective. For example, H.R. 2920 exempts all discretionary spending from pay-go rules, which makes up 40% of all government spending.  Rising discretionary spending is one of the major reasons we are facing a massive federal deficit. Furthermore, some of the biggest spending proposals, such as the bailout and stimulus packages, would be exempt from pay-go altogether under this new bill. 

H.R. 2920 passed the House by a vote of 265-166.  

 
Voted against increasing federal spending.
Congressman Forbes voted against H.R. 3288, which contained a 20% increase in spending, or $11.1 billion, over last year’s level for transportation, housing and urban development programs. Since 2007, the nation’s deficit has exploded by more than ten-fold, from $162 billion in FY 2007 to $1.8 trillion in FY 2009. Over that same period, funding for programs within this bill has increased 146%. 

This bill passed by a vote of 256-168.

 

Voted against excessive government spending. Congressman Forbes voted against H.R. 3293, which contained a 7% increase in spending, or $11.1 billion, over last year’s level for federal labor, health and human services, and education programs.  The bill also removes the ban on federal funding for needle exchange programs in the United States. 

The bill passed the House by a vote of 264-153. 

 

About Washington Update

Washington Update serves as a resource to the constituents of the Fourth Congressional District of Virginia on the work of Congressman Forbes. It is published weekly while Congress is in session. Hyperlinks to bill information are provided if the information disseminated by the House of Representatives is available at the time of distribution.

As always, Congressman Forbes welcomes your comments. To share your thoughts on legislation, votes or issues, please visit http://randyforbes.house.gov to send an e-mail or call any of Congressman Forbes' three district offices.

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