Washington Update

Congressman J. Randy Forbes, Virginia's Fourth Congressional District

Week of January 15-19, 2007

Education

ü  Voted in favor of the College Student Relief Act of 2007, which would lower the interest rate on undergraduate subsidized loans from 6.8% to 3.4% over a period of five years.

Immigration

ü Cosponsored a resolution, H.Res. 18, expressing disapproval of the agreement between the United States and Mexico, that would allow alien dependents and survivors in Mexico who have never lived in the United States to receive Social Security benefits outside the United States.

Defense

ü Pressed Administration officials and defense experts to be candid with the American people as the examination of President Bush’s new proposed way forward in Iraq continues.

At a full hearing of the House Armed Services Committee, panel witnesses confirmed that several points raised by Congressman Forbes must be addressed. While under questioning by Mr. Forbes, Dr. William Perry, a member of the Iraq Study Group, admitted that immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops would have disastrous consequences and would most likely require the return of U.S. troops at a later date.

In separate hearings, Congressman Forbes questioned Gen. Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Dr. Frederick Kagan, who is regarded as the intellectual architect of the President’s plan, as to whether the new troop levels proposed by the President are in line with the ratios that led to successful counter-insurgency efforts in the past.

ü Penned an editorial in the Richmond Times-Dispatch in response to the President's new strategy, insisting that Iraqis must decide to defend their own nation. Congressman Forbes articulated that our nation's citizens, leaders and decision makers must come together and look at the facts on the ground as to what will lead to victory in Iraq.

Family Values

ü Cosponsored the Marriage Protection Act to stand up for traditional marriage values and protect traditional marriage from being subject to activist court decisions.

Health

ü  Joined the Rural Health Care Coalition (RHCC). The RHCC is a group of bi-partisan Members of Congress who are committed to advancing rural priorities in health care policy.  The RHCC has been successful in establishing the Office of Rural Health Policy within the Department of Health and Human Services, creating the Rural Health Transition Grant Program, and forming the Critical Access Hospital program.
 

 Agriculture

ü  Sent a letter to the House Agriculture Committee to request that initiatives providing agribusinesses and homebuyers with greater access to financing be included in the 2007 Farm Bill.
 

Taxes

ü Cosponsored the Tax Code Termination Act, which would abolish the Internal Revenue Code by December 31, 2010 and establish a new federal tax system by July of 2010. This legislation would terminate our current tax code and force Congress to fully debate and address fundamental tax reform.

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About Washington Update Washington Update serves as a resource to learn about major developments, important votes and pertinent information on the work of Congressman Forbes. It is published weekly while Congress is in session.   As always, Congressman Forbes welcomes your comments. To share your thoughts on the following legislation, votes or issues, please visit http://randyforbes.house.gov to send an e-mail or call any of Congressman Forbes' three district offices.    Please do not reply to this email.  It has been sent from an unattended mailbox.