Immigration

ü  Cosponsored H.R. 1940, the Birthright Citizenship Act, legislation which would deny automatic citizenship to children born to illegal immigrants. The bill states that a person born in the U.S. shall be eligible for birthright citizenship only if the person is born in the United States of parents who are citizens or lawfully present, or if the parent is performing active service in the armed forces. Anchor babies, or children born in the U.S. to illegal immigrant parents, currently automatically become citizens thus serving as an anchor for their parents to remain in the country.

Defense

·    The first increment of funding for the next generation of aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford CVN 78;

·    The construction of a Virginia class submarine in 2008;

·    Authorization for the Secretary of the Navy to enter into contracts for two Virginia class submarines beginning in 2009 and funding for advance components for the two submarines;

·     Authorization to build worship facilities at Fort Lee;

·     $8.4 billion for all nationwide BRAC projects, including BRAC expansion at Fort Lee;

·     More than $6 million in authorization funding for three programs at U.S. Joint Forces Command; and,

·     A provision to name the Logistics Automation Training Facility of the Army Quartermaster Center and School at Fort Lee in honor of retired General Richard H. Thompson.

 ü  Signed a letter to House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton last week asking him to keep the National Defense Authorization Act free of controversial Iraq War language. In the markup last week, Chairman Skelton followed through on the request. The bill contained no language regarding the withdrawal of troops from Iraq. The letter asked that any provision on the Iraq War be given its own full consideration by the Committee, rather than combining it in the larger bill that provides guidance to the Defense Department on military policy and funding matters.

ü  Voted against H.R. 2082, the Intelligence Authorization Act. Congressman Forbes supports funding for critical intelligence programs, but could not support a bill that cut classified human intelligence programs while including a requirement to do an intelligence study utilizing critical intelligence assets to assess how climate change might affect national security. Reductions in human intelligence programs significantly undercut the specific recommendations of the 9/11 Commission on ways the United States can prevent future attacks.

ü  Voted against H.R. 1684, the Homeland Security Authorization Act. Congressman Forbes could not support the bill because it contained provisions that limit the effectiveness of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including limits on their capability to associate salary and pay to employee performance, which can weaken the Department’s ability to effectively retain experienced personnel. It also eliminated a provision that would identify the House Homeland Security Committee as the single point of oversight for DHS, contrary to the 9/11 Commission Report's recommendation that each chamber of Congress maintain a single focal point for Congressional oversight over Homeland Security operations.

Interior

ü  Voted in favor of H.Con.Res 117, legislation that commemorates the 400^th Anniversary of the settlement at Jamestown, honors the founding of the colony in 1607 and urges all Americans to honor this historic event.

ü  Voted in favor of H.R. 1294, the Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2007, which would give Federal recognition to six tribes in the Commonwealth of Virginia: the Chickahominy Indian Tribe; the Chickahominy Indian Tribe - Eastern Division; the Upper Mattaponi Tribe; the Rappahannock Tribe, Inc.; the Monacan Indian Nation; and the Nansemond Indian Tribe. Federal recognition will encourage tribal economic development, making the tribes more self-sufficient. H.R. 1294 includes a gambling ban on their federal land as a condition of federal recognition.

Health Care

ü  Served as Honorary Co-Host of the 4th Annual Advanced Initiatives in Medical Simulation (AIMS) Conference & Exhibition on Capitol Hill. The exhibition included hands-on demonstrations of medical simulation, a critical health care technology that reduces real-life medical errors through virtual training. The exhibition highlighted the importance of issues related to patient safety, medical errors, and health care costs for policymakers in Washington. To listen to Congressman Forbes' remarks, click here.

Small Business

 ü  Voted in favor of H.R. 1873, the Small Business Fairness in Contracting Act,  legislation that would reform the process of awarding government contracts to businesses, to ensure more opportunities for small businesses, to raise the federal small business government-wide contracting goal, and to fight fraud in the entire process. H.R. 1973 makes changes that would remove a number of barriers facing entrepreneurs in accessing federal contracts, creating a more level playing field for the nation’s 26 million small businesses.

Crime

ü  Cosponsored H. Res. 340, a resolution that raises public awareness for the rights of crime victims, highlighting the importance of providing a voice for the many victims and families involved in missing persons cases and unidentified human remains cases. There are approximately 40,000 sets of human remains held in the property rooms of medical examiners, coroners, and police departments across the country that cannot be identified by conventional means and only 6,000 of those have been entered into federal databases. This legislation would support continued federal funding for DNA testing and the Combined DNA Index System; greater cooperation between local, state, and federal law enforcement; and, comprehensive training and education for the law enforcement agencies involved in missing persons cases and unidentified human remains cases.

 ü  Voted in favor of H.Res. 264, a resolution supporting "National Correctional Officers and Employees Week," honoring the service of correctional officers and employees during the first week of May. Correctional personnel play a vital role in protecting the public from criminal activity.

China

ü  Signed a letter to the government of China encouraging them to urge Sudanese cooperation in Darfur. Congressman Forbes joined the Chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee and other Members of Congress in asking China to use its influence with the government of Sudan to allow U.N. peacekeepers into Darfur. Under the United Nations Charter, peacekeeping troops may not enter a nation without the nation's support. Since fighting began in the troubled region of Sudan, tens of thousands of people have died and approximately 2 million citizens have been displaced. After receiving the letter, China announced the appointment of a special envoy dedicated to the Darfur crisis to help in resolving the conflict.

ü  Joined Congressional China Caucus Co-Chairwoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo in a letter to congratulate Admiral Timothy J. Keating on assuming command of the United States Pacific Command. In addition, Congressman Forbes and Congresswoman Bordallo extended an invitation for Admiral Keating to meet with the Congressional China Caucus to discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by the People’s Republic of China to United States' national security. Maintaining high level dialogue with the U.S. Pacific Command is critical in asserting good communications between the U.S. and China.

Family Values

ü  Signed a letter to Chairman Jerrold Nadler, of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, to request the subcommittee to hold a hearing on the Right to Life Act, H.R. 618, which declares that the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution is vested in each human being, defining "human being" to mean all stages of life, including but not limited to the moment of fertilization or cloning. The hearing would be the first step on the issue in the 110th Congress.

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.    Please do not reply to this email.  It has been sent from an unattended mailbox.