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Washington Update Congressman J. Randy Forbes, Virginia's Fourth Congressional District Week of March 2 - 6, 2009 |
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ü Spoke on the House floor about the recent advances regarding stem cell research and stressed the importance of prioritizing this research by putting patients ahead of the debate. Recent studies are demonstrating the ability of adult stem cells to be induced, resulting in the same properties of embryonic cells. These scientific advances show that research on human embryonic stem cells may become unnecessary and may pose a more costly route to patient treatment. Congressman Forbes introduced H.R. 877, the Patients First Act to strengthen the benefits of stem cell research by promoting research and clinical trials using human stem cells that show the most evidence of providing near-term clinical benefit for human patients and are ethically obtained. This bill prioritizes stem cell research toward treating and curing patients and presents a unified, pragmatic approach to medical and scientific advancement. The studies show that the science of stem cell research has bypassed the divisive political debate and the time to advance medical treatment and care of patients is now.
ü Sent letter expressing support for the Divided We Fail campaign sponsored by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), Business Roundtable (BRT), National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), and Service Employees International Union (SEIU). The Divided We Fail campaign asks our nation's leaders to commit to working together to provide Americans with actions and answers on healthcare and long-term financial security, and affirms that we must work in a bipartisan fashion to see real reform in health care to manage increasing costs and bring coverage to the millions of uninsured Americans. Congressman Forbes believes we can address these difficulties without sacrificing high quality care, choice, and access.
ü Sent a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration requesting support for connecting the weather observation system of Chesterfield County Airport (FCI) to the National Airspace Data Interchange Network (NADIN). A connection to NADIN allows an airport to automatically transmit weather data to the National Weather Network, which allows aviation officials anywhere in the world to access terminal weather conditions. Without such network connection, an airport can only report weather locally though limited range radio transmission and telephone line. This network connection is necessary for FCI to effectively serve as a Reliever Airport for Richmond International Airport (RIC) and to support FCI’s 82,000 annual aviation operations. Furthermore, this connection would enable many aviators to utilize FCI as a primary destination airport, as opposed to just an alternative landing location.
ü Entered a statement in the Congressional Record outlining his opposition to increasing pay for Members of Congress, and demanded that Congress cancel the automatic pay increase system currently in place for Members. Congressman Forbes entered this statement in relation to his vote to oppose H.R. 1105, the $410 billion spending bill that funds the government through the rest of Fiscal Year 2009 by $32 billion, or 8.3%, over FY2008 levels. While he opposed the overall bill, the 1100-plus page omnibus bill contained a provision supported by Congressman Forbes that freezes Member pay upon passage of the bill. Congressman Forbes recently cosponsored H.R. 156, legislation that would prevent Members from receiving an automatic cost of living adjustment in the future.
ü Introduced H.R. 1301, which would suspend the tax obligations for people who had money in a holding company undergoing bankruptcy. Due to the bankruptcy proceedings, investors cannot access their money in order to pay their tax obligations. This bill would suspend the deadline to pay those taxes until investors' money is identified and made available to the investor.
ü Voted to oppose H.R. 1106, which would allow bankruptcy judges to modify the terms of mortgages under bankruptcy filings. This legislation would empower judges to force reductions in mortgage principal (commonly called “cram-down”), prohibit or delay interest rate adjustments, reduce interest rates, and extend maturity dates up to 40 years from the date of the mortgage origination. Additionally, this legislation would remove the current mandatory credit counseling requirement, which is often the last chance for borrowers and lenders to come to an agreement before bankruptcy proceedings begin. Permitting modification of mortgages on primary residences under Chapter 13 would have serious negative implications for future residential real estate financing. Lenders will inevitably tighten their lending requirements and increase the costs associated with borrowing funds.
● Voted to support an amendment that would have allowed lenders to recover the amount of principal lost under a court-modified mortgage if a homeowner later sold the home at a profit. The amendment was defeated, 211-218.
● Voted to support an amendment that allows a debtor whose home is in foreclosure to meet pre-filing credit counseling requirements by receiving counseling either before foreclosure filing or 30 days thereafter. The underlying legislation eliminates pre-filing credit counseling requirements for debtors who are being foreclosed upon. The amendment passed, 423-2.
ü Voted in favor of H.Res. 146 honoring the 12th anniversary of “Read Across America Day.” This resolution also honors Theodor Geisel – Dr. Seuss – for encouraging children of all ages to discover the joy of reading, and encourages parents to read with their children. ü Voted in favor of H.Res. 77 congratulating the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, for more than 100 years of leadership and service in its local community, Virginia, and the United States.
ü Voted to support H.Res. 195, to recognize and honor the employees of the Department of Homeland Security on its sixth anniversary for their continuous efforts to keep America safe.
ü Cosponsored H.R. 1292, to establish a National White Collar Crime Center grants program to improve the investigation and prosecution of criminal and terrorist conspiracies and activities. This legislation would provide training and research centers regionally, including within Virginia, Texas, and Michigan, to support state and local criminal justice agencies with maintaining intelligence-focused law enforcement strategies and information sharing capabilities.
ü Cosponsored H. Con. Res. 64 to urge the President to designate 2009 as the year of the military family. This legislation expresses sincere appreciation to the families of members of the Armed Forces who serve or have served in defense of the United States. It also recognizes the contributions that military families make, and encourages the people of the United States to share in appreciation for the sacrifices of military families. ü Met with Mr. Wayne Arny, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Installations and Environment, who overseas military installations world wide. During the meeting, Congressman Forbes expressed his concern over the Navy’s Outlaying Landing Field (OLF) and continued to convey his stance that the OLF should only be constructed with community support. ü Met with Mr. George Lutz, founder of the Honor and Remember Flag. Congressman Forbes thanked Mr. Lutz for his efforts to champion this cause. He also expressed his deep appreciation for those who serve in our military and especially those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Congressman Forbes has introduced H.R.1034, which would recognize the Honor and Remember Flag as an official national symbol and tribute to those members of the Armed Forces who lost their lives while serving our nation. ü Addressed the Submarine Industrial Base Coalition. During the breakfast join-up, Congressman Forbes discussed the shortcomings of the current spending bills/ bailouts and the potential impact on future defense bills.
ü Cosponsored H.R. 816, the Military Retirees Health Care Protection Act, to prohibit increasing TRICARE fees for active duty military and premiums for members of the Reserve. ü Cosponsored H.R. 613, Military Retiree Survivor Comfort Act, to provide for forgiveness of certain overpayments of retired pay to the spouse following the death of a retired member of the Armed Forces. This legislation takes care of the military spouse in the aftermath of the death of a retired military member until survivor benefits initialize. ü Cosponsored H.R. 303, to permit retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs and retired pay or Combat-Related Special Compensation. The phase-in period under current law for these compensations would be eliminated. ü Cosponsored H.R. 1203, to allow Federal civilian and military retirees to pay health insurance premiums on a pretax basis and allow a deduction for TRICARE supplemental premiums.
For a comprehensive look at Congressman Forbes' work on legislative issues, visit the Spotlight Issues page on his website.
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