Congressman Randy Forbes | Washington Update
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Weeks of April 12 - 16, 2010 Twitter Facebook YouTube Digg RSS
 
Examining U.S. Cybersecurity


Congressman Forbes sent a letter to the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Ike Skelton, requesting that the Committee hold hearings to examine the impact of the cyber warfare threats from China and other countries to our military readiness.  Over the past several years, China has been the point of origin for a barrage of malicious and damaging cyber attacks targeting defense-related information in the United States.
 
Prohibiting a Dramatic Expansion of the IRS 

On Tax Day 2010, Congressman Forbes introduced the Prevent IRS Overreach Act of 2010 (H.R.5054), which would prohibit the IRS from hiring, transferring, or appointing individuals for positions that will enforce provisions of the healthcare bills.  The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has estimated that it may cost as much as $10 billion to hire new IRS auditors, agents, and/or employees to ensure compliance.  Congressman Forbes' bill would prohibit the largest expansion of the IRS since World War II. Read his statement on the bill here.
 
Saving $411 Million for Taxpayers

Congressman Forbes voted to support the Taxpayer Assistance Act of 2010 (H.R.4994), which would eliminate rules that require taxpayers to keep detailed records for cell phones and mobile devices used for business purposes.  This bill is estimated to save taxpayers $411 million over 10 years.
This legislation passed the House by a vote of 399-9.
Defense
Called for an independent commission to review the Navy’s plans to move an aircraft carrier from Hampton Roads to Mayport, FL.  Congressman Forbes sent a letter to Governor Bob McDonnell asking him to establish an independent commission to review the Navy’s reasoning and its impact on U.S. national security and the welfare of 1.7 million people in the Hampton Roads area.
Government Reform
Voted to oppose more runaway government spending.  Congressman Forbes voted to oppose the Continuing Extension Act of 2010 (H.R.4851), which would extend a number of federal programs until the end of May 2010.  This two month extension will cost taxpayers $18.5 billion and was politically designated as “emergency spending” so that it would not have to be paid for with spending cuts elsewhere.
This bill passed the House by a vote of 289-112.
Homeland Security

Remembered the victims of the Oklahoma City bombing. Congressman Forbes supported a resolution remembering the victims of the April 19, 1995 attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (H.Res.1206).
This resolution passed the House by voice vote.
Environment

Opposed excessive government spending. Congressman Forbes voted to oppose the Clean Estuaries Act (H.R.4715), which would increase federal spending for the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Estuary Program by 43% over last year’s spending at a time when the nation faces near 10% unemployment and a budget crisis.
The bill passed the House by a vote of 278-128.
Family Values

Supported religious liberty.  On April 13th, Congressman Forbes delivered the keynote address at the annual Religious Liberty Dinner in Washington, D.C.  As Founder and Co-Chairman of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, Congressman Forbes spoke about the need to allow religion, faith, and morality into the marketplace of ideas.  The dinner was attended by foreign diplomats, Members of Congress, representatives from the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of State, and representatives from human rights organizations.
Foreign Affairs

Supported debt relief for Haiti.  Congressman Forbes supported the Debt Relief for Earthquake Recovery in Haiti Act (H.R.4573), which instructs the U.S. Directors at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to cancel all debts owed by Haiti and suspend Haiti's debt payments until the debts are canceled completely.
This legislation passed the House by voice vote.
Telecommunications
Supported cracking down on fraudulent caller ID practices.  Congressman Forbes supported the Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009 (H.R.1258), which would make it illegal to cause any caller ID service to transmit misleading or inaccurate caller ID information with the intent to defraud or deceive. Prohibitions under the bill would apply to both traditional telephone and voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) services.
This legislation passed the House by voice vote.

Voted to support a comprehensive review of radio spectrum.  Congressman Forbes voted to support the Radio Spectrum Inventory Act (H.R.3125), which requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to conduct an inventory of radio spectrum. NTIA and FCC will report to Congress on which blocks of radio spectrum should be reallocated or made available for shared-access.
This legislation passed the House by a vote of 394-18.
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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