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Washington Update Congressman J. Randy Forbes, Virginia's Fourth Congressional District Week of April 7 - 11, 2008 |
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üSupported H.R. 1198, the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2008. This bill would expand the existing hearing loss program for newborns and infants to provide services for young children not currently eligible for services. H.R. 1198 also would require that families be given the opportunity to get the full range of early intervention services, educational and program placements, and other options for their child from highly qualified providers. üSupported H.R. 2464, the Wakefield Act, which would allow the Department of Health and Human Services to make grants to states or schools of medicine to support projects to expand and improve emergency medical services for children who need treatment for trauma or critical care. The purpose of the program would be to reduce the occurrence of sickness and death rate of children and youth by helping to improve the quality of all emergency medical care children receive. üSupported S. 845, the Safety of Seniors Act of 2008. This legislation would establish a national education campaign to reduce falls among older adults and prevent repeated falls. üSupported H.R. 2063, the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act of 2008. H.R. 2063 would direct the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education to develop a voluntary policy for managing the risk of food allergy and anaphylaxis in schools. üSupported S. 1858, the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act of 2008, which would provide for education and outreach on newborn screening and coordinated follow-up care once standard newborn screening has been conducted. About 3,000 infants screened each year are identified with having health conditions that could be harmful in the future, many of which can be treated by a change of diet or increase in vitamins if the condition is caught at an early age. This legislation would establish a grant program to provide newborn screening training for health care professionals and laboratory personnel, and education and outreach to parents of newborns and children at risk for heritable disorders. üSupported S. 793, the Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2008. S. 793 would expand the national program for traumatic brain injury registries. It would provide grants to states so they can link people with traumatic brain injuries to services and support through the states’ traumatic brain injury surveillance systems or registries.
ü Questioned General David H. Petraeus, Commanding General, Multi-National Force Iraq, and Ambassador Ryan Crocker, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, during a House Armed Service Committee hearing on Iraq. After the hearing, Rep. Forbes said, “General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker are regarded as two of the most respected military and diplomatic leaders respectively in the country today. Seven months ago in their last report to Congress, we received a thorough and open account on the situation in Iraq. Today, they have held to that standard by providing a candid assessment of both the success and challenges we face in Iraq. General Petraeus noted that we have seen defining steps forward in achieving political and economic progress in Iraq, which I saw firsthand in my most recent visit to Iraq over Christmas. General Petraeus also testified today that while the progress is significant, it is fragile and reversible. I look forward to closely following the transition from U.S. to Iraq control of security and reconstruction operations. As I do so, I am constantly grateful for the unwavering commitment of our men and women in uniform who are serving on the frontlines and who continue to keep America safe.” üVoted in favor of H. Res. 265, a resolution honoring military children during “National Month of the Military Child.” This resolution recognizes the personal sacrifices of children of members of the Armed Forces that often go unnoticed, and honors their unique contribution by demonstrating the nation’s support to members of the Armed Forces and their families. ü Questioned senior Army and Marine Corps officials on the status of U.S. Ground Forces during a House Armed Service Committee hearing. When Rep. Forbes asked whether congressional action to fund the Fiscal Year 2008 war supplemental will impact the readiness of our forces, General Richard Cody stated, “The Army runs out of pay for Active Duty and National Guard Soldiers in June 2008; the Army runs out of operation and maintenance funding for the Active component in early July and for the Guard in late June; two Stryker Bridge Combat Teams (BCTs) may not receive hull protection kits before they deploy; Armored Security Vehicles could face a break in production; Army National Guard will not receive 10 CH-47 F model helicopters; converting and existing BCTs will not receive the Bridge to Future Networks communications systems; and the Army will be unable to upgrade and construct facilities for returning Wounded Warriors at Forts Drum, Campbell, Stewart, Carson, Hood, Riley and Polk.” ü Signed a letter asking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to bring funding for military personnel and equipment reset to the floor for a vote before military operations are impacted by the delay. The letter states in part, “Republicans agree with Army officers when they state that the ‘Army is not broken,’ but we recognize that our forces are stressed. Additionally, we understand that immediate action on the Fiscal Year 2008 Supplemental would ease the stress on our ground forces. Madame Speaker, all Members of Congress are concerned about the readiness of our military forces, and none want to put our brave military personnel in danger. Understanding that continued inaction directly impacts our military’s ability to improve readiness, we urge you to work with the House Appropriations Committee to move the Fiscal Year 2008 Supplemental to the House floor for a vote without further delay.” ü Met with Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Gary Roughead, to discuss key Navy issues, including increasing our Navy to 313 ships under a tight budget environment, accelerating the development of a target to test the Navy’s defense against China’s “Sizzler” missile, and expanding the Congressional Navy-Marine Corps Caucus. “These are key issues for the Navy and for our overall national security,” Forbes said. “I am pleased that we were able to discuss these issues first-hand with Admiral Roughead, and I look forward to working with the Navy on the development and acceleration of these plans in the House Armed Services Committee and through the Navy-Marine Corps Caucus.”
üVoted against H.Res. 1092, which delays required action by the House of Representatives on the Colombia Free Trade Agreement under Fast Track authority. By delaying action on the Colombia trade deal, current and future Administrations will not be seen as credible in negotiating in good faith on behalf of the United States as they have done for the last 34 years. U.S. export growth accounted for 40% of U.S. economic growth in 2007. U.S. exports to those countries that have Fast Track Agreements have grown 40% faster than U.S. exports to the rest of the world. While most Colombian exports to the United States enter here duty-free, the reverse is not true. If the Colombia Free Trade Agreement were to pass, 80% of U.S. industrial and consumer goods exported to Colombia would enter duty-free immediately, with the remaining tariffs being phased out over time.
ü Supported H.Res. 1077, which calls on China to end its crackdown in Tibet and work in dialogue with the Dalai Lama to find a negotiated solution that respects the distinctive language, culture, religious identity and fundamental freedoms of all Tibetans.
ü Supported House passage of H.R. 5489, the “Congresswoman Jo Ann S. Davis Post Office” Designation Act. This legislation would designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6892 Main Street in Gloucester, Virginia, the “Congresswoman Jo Ann S. Davis Post Office” after the late Congresswoman Davis. Rep. Forbes, a cosponsor of the legislation, said, "Jo Ann Davis to me represented the best of what America has to offer. She was a friend of mine. I still miss her to this day. I think the district continues to miss her, and I think the country continues to miss her.”
üSigned a letter to House Conferees on the College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2007, H.R. 4137, in support of a modeling and simulation grant program, H.R. 4165. H.R. 4165 provides grants to encourage and enhance the study of modeling and simulation (M&S) at institutions of higher education. Congressman Forbes is Founder and Co-Chairman of the Congressional Modeling and Simulation Caucus. üSigned a letter to House Conferees on the College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2007, H.R. 4137, in support of The Minority Serving Institution (MSI) Digital and Wireless Technology Opportunity Act of 2007. The MSI Act establishes a new grant program that provides up to $250 million per year for five years to strengthen the ability of MSIs to purchase wireless network technologies and other information communications technology to increase engineering, math and science research.
ü Opposed H.R. 2016, the National Landscape Conservation System Act. H.R. 2016 would establish into law the National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS) and would direct the Department of the Interior to manage the NLCS “in a manner that protects the values” of the lands designated as a part of the system, most of which are in western states. This legislation would increase restrictions on land use for recreation and energy development and would delegate authority to unelected bureaucrats to enforce “values” undefined by Congress on a vast, resource-rich part of the country. The bill also caused concerns in that it would decrease law enforcement’s ability to enforce border areas.
For a comprehensive look at Congressman Forbes' work on legislative issues, visit the Spotlight Issues page on his website.
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