Washington Update

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


Week of March 31 - April 4, 2008


 

Immigration

üMet with Assistant Secretary Stewart Baker of the Department of Homeland Security to discuss the status of fence construction along the southern U.S. border, the workforce requirements needed to complete the project, and the status of the border patrol.  The meeting also included a discussion on food safety, deportation of illegal aliens convicted of crimes, and cargo safety. Congressman Forbes recently sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff requesting an update on the status of fence construction along our southwestern border.

 

Veterans Affairs

üAttended a Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) reception and award presentation of the Congressional Service Award.  MOAA is a nonprofit, nonpartisan veteran’s organization representing regular and reserve association members from the seven uniformed services.  MOAA’s main mission is to provide assistance to military personnel on career transition and military benefits issues.  Congressman Forbes later met with retired Army Colonel Sam Wilder, the legislative chair for the Virginia Council of Chapters for MOAA, to discuss improvement of the disability ratings system for our veterans. 

 

Education

üVoted for an amendment to H.R. 5501 to encourage partnerships between African postsecondary educational institutions and U.S. colleges and universities, particularly Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).  This amendment will enable these institutions to coordinate efforts to strengthen the health systems of African host countries and train medical professionals to help fight the global HIV/AIDS pandemic.

 

Health Care

ü Cosponsored H.R. 758, the Breast Cancer Patient Protect Action of 2007.  This bill would ensure adequate treatment for breast cancer patients by allowing a patient and her to doctor decide whether she should recuperate in the hospital for 48 hours before returning home. Currently, many insurance companies refuse to cover a hospital stay for mastectomies, despite the known physical and emotional toll the surgery has on women. H.R. 758 is identical to H.R. 119, a bill that the late Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis introduced at the beginning of 2007 and of which Congressman Forbes was an original cosponsor. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, with about 1 in 8 women developing breast cancer in their lifetime.

 

Defense

ü Served as Ranking Member during a House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee hearing on the Fiscal Year 2009 budget request and needs of the National Guard and Reserves.   During the hearing, Congressman Forbes stated, “The readiness of our troops is critical to our national security and success in the war on terror.  The Department of Defense continues to face budgetary pressures against the backdrop of the on-going war on terror, continued high operations tempo and a need to recapitalize much of its aging equipment. In 2001, the Army had a $56 billion shortfall in major weapons systems and modernization funding.  The Army is now on a path to reduce that to $17.4 billion by 2013.  The reserve component was a large part of that number and will benefit greatly from investments being made to modernize and equip the forces.”  

 

Foreign Affairs

üVoted against H.R. 5501, the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008, which would reauthorize a foreign aid program to fight the AIDS pandemic.   While Congressman Forbes supports U.S. efforts to fight the global HIV/AIDS pandemic and voted to authorize the program in 2003, H.R. 5501 would authorize $50 billion of spending over the next five years to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, which is $35 billion more than the original authorization of $15 billion.  The original $15 billion commitment from the United States remains the largest amount ever provided by a single nation to fight HIV/AIDS.  Congressman Forbes voted for a provision that would have provided aid at a fiscally responsible level of $30 billion rather than $50 billion.  That measure failed 175-248.    

 

Fire Services

ü Voted for H.R. 4847, the U.S. Fire Administration Reauthorization Act, which would allow spending for the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) at $290 million over five years. As a result of fires in 2006, more than 3,245 civilians died and 16,400 civilians suffered injuries. That same year, 106 firefighters lost their lives. The USFA reports that direct property loss due to fires was estimated at $11.3 billion for 2006. In addition, Congressman Forbes supported a provision to the measure that would protect trained firefighters and emergency workers from lawsuits as a result of offering child safety seat inspections.

 

American Culture and Values

ü Joined 38 other Members of Congress in introducing H.Res. 1076, a resolution supporting the right of parents to homeschool their children.  This resolution was introduced in response to a recent California Appeals Court ruling denying parents the fundamental right to educate their children at home.  H.Res. 1076 commends the Court for allowing a rehearing in this matter and calls upon the court to uphold the United States Supreme Court’s opinion that parents have a fundamental and constitutional right to direct the upbringing and education of their children.

 

 

For a comprehensive look at Congressman Forbes' work on legislative issues, visit the Spotlight Issues page on his website.

 

 
 

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About Washington Update


Washington Update serves as a resource to the constituents of the Fourth Congressional District of Virginia on the work of Congressman Forbes. It is published weekly while Congress is in session.
Hyperlinks to bill information are provided if the information disseminated by the House of Representatives is available at the time of distribution.

 

As always, Congressman Forbes welcomes your comments. To share your thoughts on legislation, votes or issues, please visit http://randyforbes.house.gov to send an e-mail or call any of Congressman Forbes' three district offices. 

 

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