|
||||||||||
|
Washington Update Congressman J. Randy Forbes, Virginia's Fourth Congressional District Week of January 22-26, 2007 |
||||||||||
|
ü Attended the President's annual State of the Union Address. ü Commented on the State of the Union Address:
ü Joined Congressman Ed Towns (D-NY) in sending a letter to other Members of Congress urging their support of The Minority Serving Institution Digital and Wireless Opportunity Act, which would help eliminate the technology gap at Minority Serving Institutions.
ü Joined the Missing and Exploited Children’s Caucus, which organizes Members to advocate on behalf of missing and exploited children and to increase awareness on how to best protect children and families from predators.
ü Cosponsored H.R. 22, a bill that would fund military construction such as Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) projects at the full amounts as passed by the House and Senate in 2006. Because the House and Senate did not complete work on all of the fiscal year 2007 appropriations bills before the end of the 109th Congress, nearly $6 billion of our nation's military construction projects, including projects at Fort Lee, cannot go forward until H.R. 22 or another bill funds the projects at the FY2007 authorized levels. ü Participated in a House Armed Services Committee hearing on the effect the war in Iraq has on the readiness of our Army and Marine Corps. Congressman Forbes specifically asked the top uniformed officer of both the Army, Gen. Schoomaker, and the Marine Corps, Gen. Conway, what effect the war was having on our country’s ability to deter threats and attacks from other parts of the world. Click here for the House Armed Services website.
ü Cosponsored H.R. 303, The Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2007, which would eliminate the phase-in period for previously passed legislation that provides concurrent compensation of both retirement and disability benefits for military retirees with 50% or more service-connected disability. Congressman Forbes supports pay of both retirement and disability compensation for military retirees with a disability.
ü Cosponsored The Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act of 2007, H.R. 471, which would make permanent a $10,000 child adoption tax credit that is set to expire in 2010. H.R. 471 would ensure a tax relief for parents who are making the important commitment to adopt a child. Congressman Forbes has been an advocate of similar legislation to promote adoption, such as the Helping Families Adopt Orphans Act.
ü
Worked to
continue and expand
the
Congressional
Prayer Caucus (CPC) in the 110th Congress.
Throughout the more than 200-year history of our
nation, prayer has played a vital role in strengthening the fabric of our
society. The purpose of the CPC is to recognize and protect the vital role
that prayer by individuals of all faiths has played in the lives of the
American people and the nation.
|
||||||||||
