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Washington Update Congressman J. Randy Forbes, Virginia's Fourth Congressional District Week of February 26 - March 2, 2007 |
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ü Cosponsored a Resolution Urging the Immediate Enforcement of Federal Immigration Law. This legislation expresses the sense of Congress that state and local governments should be supported for taking actions to discourage illegal immigration and that legislation should be enacted to ease the burden on State and local governments for taking such actions. The resolution also calls for immediate federal enforcement of immigration laws.
ü Cosponsored H.R. 686, which will create a permanent tuition deduction for qualified taxpayers on post-secondary education. This legislation would allow families and individuals to continue taking a deduction of up to $4,000 for qualifying education expenses.
ü Cosponsored the National Science Education Tax Incentive for Businesses Act of 2007, H.R. 37. This bill would provide benefits for both businesses and students, allowing a 100 percent tax credit for businesses when they donate items to schools such as computers, microscopes or other laboratory equipment. This tax credit also includes training opportunities businesses provide for teachers, such as externships, related to science, mathematics, technology and engineering.
ü Met with engineering deans from six Virginia colleges to discuss the future of math, science, and engineering education. Among the topics discussed were how to encourage middle school-aged children to become interested in math and science, how to encourage our college freshman to stay enrolled in engineering programs, and how to best encourage and position America as a force in the fields of math, science, and engineering.
ü Spoke at the Second Annual Modeling and Simulation (M&S) Summit in Chesapeake, Virginia. At the summit, Congressman Forbes, Chairman of the Modeling and Simulation Caucus, announced the development of a resolution of Congress to highlight the importance of modeling and simulation to national security and also led a panel discussion with fellow M&S Caucus members. The annual event brought M&S leaders from government, industry and academia for a rare discussion on issues and advancements in the M&S community, and how to enhance the ability of lawmakers and industry leaders to deliver advanced M&S technologies into the hands of the users - soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines on the front lines in the War on Terror.
ü Attended the annual Submarine Base Industrial Council breakfast on Capitol Hill. Congressman Forbes addressed the gathering as the newly appointed Co-Chairman of the Congressional Submarine Caucus, with his Co-Chairman, Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI).
ü Encouraged the leadership of the Navy at a House Armed Services Committee hearing to examine the various unconventional threats for which the U.S. must be prepared. Congressman Forbes asked each witness, which included the Secretary of the Navy, Chief of Naval Operations, and the Commandant of the Marine Corps, whether they felt the proposed budget for next year included all the funds needed to protect our country against threats.
ü Cosponsored the Reaffirmation of American Independence Resolution, which seeks to discourage judicial reliance on foreign laws or judgments. This bill instructs the federal courts to remember that their role is interpreting U.S. law, not importing foreign laws. The American people have not consented to being ruled by foreign governments or tribunals, and their elected representatives have an obligation to ensure that America's courts do not impose this rule upon them.
ü Cosponsored the Stearns/Boucher Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Bill, H.R. 861. This legislation would establish a national standard for the carrying concealed firearms by non-residents of a state. It authorizes a person who has a valid permit to carry a concealed firearm in another state in accordance with the restrictions of that state. The right of self-defense is fundamental and has been recognized in law for centuries. The Declaration of Independence asserts that life is among the unalienable rights of all people. The Second Amendment guarantees the right of the people to keep and bear arms for security.
ü Cosponsored the Federal Customer Service Enhancement Act, H.R. 404. This bill would set higher standards for government agencies in their performance in customer service. Currently, U.S. law does not provide for customer service standards and performance measures for federal agencies. This legislation would create a standard for agencies, holding them accountable for the service they provide to the nation's citizens.
ü Signed onto H.Con.Res. 62, supporting the goals and ideals of a National Children and Families Day, a day to encourage adults in their support of children.
ü Cosponsored the Public Expressions of Religion Protection Act of 2007, H.R. 725. This legislation would bar judges from awarding legal fees to groups that sue municipalities for violating the Constitution's ban on government establishment of religion. Because judges often require municipalities that lose these types of lawsuits to reimburse their opponents' legal fees, citizens end up paying these bills with their own tax dollars. This legislation passed the House in the 109th Congress but failed to pass the Senate.
ü Voted for the National Security Foreign Investment Reform and Strengthened Transparency Act of 2007, H.R. 556, on February 28, 2007. This legislation passed the House of Representatives and proposes heightened security standards to be placed on foreign countries attempting to invest in U.S. businesses.
ü Signed a letter to the House Budget Committee asking them to protect access to hospital care for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. Nearly 2/3 of America's hospitals lost money treating Medicare patients in 2005. This letter asks that the Budget Committee refrain from recommending any cuts in hospital spending in Medicare or Medicaid and to help preserve the high quality care that hospitals provide to all who come through their doors.
ü Cosponsored the Internet Consumer Protection Act, H.R. 1077. This legislation would permanently ban taxes on internet usage and would also prevent the creation of new state and local taxes on internet access or use. The proposed ban also includes the creation of a special sales tax for purchases made on the internet. The current ban is set to expire at the end of this year.
ü
Participated in an
Anti-Trust Task
Force Hearing on “Competition and the Future of Digital Music.”
At its first hearing, the panel addressed the
recently proposed XM-Sirius Satellite Radio merger. Congressman Forbes
pressed Mr. Mel Karmazin, the chief
executive of Sirius Satellite Radio, on the
company's ability to provide consumers with reliable service at
competitive prices.
ü Joined Congressman Bobby Scott and other members of the Virginia Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales requesting that the Virginia Center for Policing Innovation receive the funding it needs to carry out law enforcement training in fiscal year 2007. VCPI has trained almost 25,000 law enforcement officers in the state of Virginia since 1997 in over 900 courses.
ü 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.
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