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Washington Update Congressman J. Randy Forbes, Virginia's Fourth Congressional District Week of March 19 - 23, 2007 |
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ü Voted against H.R. 1591, the Iraq War Supplemental legislation. Although the legislation included positive and productive provisions, such as benchmarks for the Iraqis, funds to refurbish military equipment, and additional funding for ongoing deployments, Congressman Forbes could not support a bill that simultaneously contained language that cripples military leaders, sets a hard deadline for troop withdrawal and spends billions in non-emergency, non-war related funding.
ü Attended a hearing of the House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee regarding the 2008 National Defense Authorization budget requests for military construction, family housing, base closures and facility operations and maintenance. The hearing included testimony from the Army, Navy, Air Force and the Department of Defense. Congressman Forbes raised his concerns to Army officials on the recent cuts to military construction budgets and their effects on the implementation of the Base Realignment and Closure decision from 2005 and the expansion of Fort Lee.
ü Voted in favor of H.R. 1538, the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act, during a mark-up in the House Armed Services Committee last week. This legislation would ensure that soldiers receive adequate care and would improve the oversight of facilities, procedures and outpatient care services. This legislation came in response to the conditions uncovered at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in February 2007. The bill will now go before the full House of Representatives for passage.
ü Cosponsored the Preserving Patient Access to Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospitals Act of 2007. This legislation would alter a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regulation that requires rehabilitation hospitals have a certain percentage of their patients admitted for at least one specified condition, such as stroke, brain injury, etc. The percentage rule unfairly forces hospitals to turn away patients based on compliance with those percentages, rather than actual medical needs and physician determinations.
ü Voted against H.R. 1227, the Gulf Coast Hurricane Housing Recovery Act of 2007. In response to the disasters, the federal government has already committed more that $110 billion to help the Gulf Coast, including $16.7 billion for the Community Development Block Grant program. This legislation would give even more housing assistance for the areas of the Gulf Coast hit by hurricanes in 2005 (Katrina, Rita and Wilma). Congressman Forbes supports oversight of federal money spent to support the families affected by these disasters, but considered the additional impact this costly legislation would have on our deficit. Congressman Forbes supports responsible federal spending and has recently cosponsored additional legislation, the Emergency Spending Control Act of 2007, H.R. 1122, which would budget for emergency spending and clearly define what constitutes an emergency.
ü Cosponsored bill to eliminate the controversial Visa Lottery program. The Visa Lottery program gives legal permanent resident status to 50,000 foreign nationals each year based purely on a random lottery drawing. The State Department's Inspector General has said the program poses "significant risks to national security from hostile intelligence officers, criminals, and terrorists attempting to use the program for entry into the United States as permanent residents."
ü Cosponsored to H.R. 1110, which would permit federal, civilian and military retirees to pay federal health care premiums on a pretax basis. Currently, employees in the public and private sectors are able to pay for health insurance with pretax dollars. This benefit is referred to as a "premium conversion plan." The tax code, however, does not provide authority for employers to make premium conversion benefits available to their retirees. This legislation would address that need. The bill would also provide a tax deduction for supplemental premiums or enrollment fees for TRICARE, the military’s health care insurance program.
ü Questioned witnesses on the Second Chance Act, H.R. 1593, at a hearing in the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security. Congressman Forbes asked about the effectiveness of programs for prisoners returning to communities after they have served their sentence. The Second Chance Act would help states and localities to better address the growing population of prisoners returning to communities by expanding the use of mentors, offering transitional housing programs and improving educational and drug treatment programs. For more information on the witnesses or to listen to the hearing, click here.
ü Cosponsored H.R. 1457, the Post-Abortion Depression Research and Care Act of 2007. This legislation would provide for research and services for individuals with post-abortion depression and psychosis, including case management, screening and comprehensive treatment services for women at risk for post-abortion conditions, and also support services for their families. This purpose of this legislation is to gain a better understanding on how abortion affects women and families.
ü Cosponsored H.R. 1615, the Securing Aircraft Cockpits Against Lasers Act. This legislation would establish penalties for intentionally aiming laser pointers at airplanes or airplanes' flight paths. Incidents involving lasers aimed at aircraft cockpits have raised concerns over the potential threat to aviation safety and security.
ü Cosponsored H.R. 1486, the Empowering Parents Through Choice Act. This legislation would provide an option for low-income students attending a school that has been deemed as failing according to No Child Left Behind. It would provide the students with $4,000 in funding to attend a private school or to support supplemental education, such as tutoring programs and other academic assistance.
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