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Washington Update Congressman J. Randy Forbes, Virginia's Fourth Congressional District Week of May 14 - 18, 2007 |
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ü Participated in a hearing of the Judiciary Committee Antitrust Task Force on “Prices at the Pump: Market Failure and the Oil Industry.” Congressman Forbes attended this hearing to investigate how factors such as retail station costs, refinery capacity, marketing and distribution costs, state and local taxes, and oil company profits impact gas prices. In addition, the Task Force heard testimony from witnesses about anticompetitive behavior on the part of the oil industry and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), whose 11 members account for 40% of world oil production.
ü Cosponsored H.R. 241, the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2007. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of Americans who have no health insurance increased to about 46.5 million last year. H.R. 241 would provide for the establishment and governance of association health plans (AHPs), or small business health plans. AHPs would allow small businesses to band together through associations and purchase quality health care for workers and their families at a lower cost.
ü Cosponsored H.R. 1314, the Photo Identification Security Act, which would close the loopholes which allow American financial institutions to issue credit cards to illegal immigrants. Several banking institutions currently allow customers who do not have a Social Security number to apply for a credit card.
ü Supported H.R. 1700, the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Improvements Act of 2007. The COPS program awards grants to state and local law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire police officers or obtain new crime-fighting technology. H.R. 1700 passed with two amendments offered successfully by Congressman Forbes in the Judiciary Committee: the first amendment would require an Inspector General audit of the effectiveness of the COPS program, and the second amendment would allow state and local law enforcement to use COPS grants to fund local officer participation in gang task forces, which provide officers with training and information-sharing on gangs.
ü Supported H.R. 916, the John R. Justice Prosecutors and Defenders Incentive Act of 2007. This legislation would establish a loan forgiveness program within the Department of Justice for qualified state and local prosecutors and qualified federal, state and local public defenders. More than 80% of law students take out loans to pay for their law degree, often totaling over $100,000, with state prosecutors' and public defenders' entry-level salary average of $46,000 and $43,000, respectively. The recruitment and retention of public prosecutors and defenders has been difficult in recent years because burden of student debt deters many law graduates from pursuing public service careers.
ü Voted in favor of H.R. 1773, the Safe American Roads Act of 2007. This legislation seeks a balance between safety regulations and the fast and efficient movement of goods across the United States/Mexico border. It would prohibit Mexican trucks from operating outside designated United States municipalities and commercial zones on the United States-Mexico border until American trucks are allowed to begin comparable operations in Mexico. This legislation also requires that the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation monitor and review the existing pilot program for Mexican trucking regulations and report the findings to Congress.
ü Supported H. Res. 386, legislation to recognize the Coast Guard, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and the National Safe Boating Council for their efforts to promote National Safe Boating Week, which is May 19 through 25, 2007. Recreational boating fatalities have declined by more than half since 1970 due to the use of proper lifejackets and safe boating education by these organizations.
ü Cosponsored H.R. 643, the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act of 2007. Under current tax law, only colleges and universities may use tax-deductible charitable contributions to make improvements to student residence halls as well as common areas and dining facilities used by college students. The not-for-profit student housing market, which includes community, Greek and faith-based organizations, providing housing for several hundred thousand college students nationwide, cannot use tax-deductible charitable contributions to make similar improvements for the same student population. The not-for-profit student housing market, therefore, often lacks the resources needed to maintain their housing. H.R. 643 would eliminate the difference in treatment of charitable contributions made to improve student housing on college campuses nationwide.
ü Voted in favor of H.R. 692, the Army Specialist Joseph P. Micks Federal Flag Code Amendment Act of 2007. This legislation would allow state governors to pay tribute to veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation through proclamations directing federal agencies in their respective states to fly the American flag at half-staff upon the death of a member of the Armed Forces who dies while serving on active duty.
ü Supported H.Res. 263, recognizing National Foster Care Month as an opportunity for Congress to improve the foster care system throughout the United States. Approximately half a million children in this country are in foster care.
ü Voted in favor of H. Res. 385, which would recognize National AmeriCorps Week, May 13-20, 2007. This resolution encourages all citizens to join in a national effort to salute AmeriCorps members and alumni, acknowledge the significant accomplishments these corps members, alumni and community partners make, and encourage citizens of all ages to participate in service opportunities. AmeriCorps is a network of local, state, and national service programs that connects more than 70,000 Americans each year through service to meet critical needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment.
For a comprehensive look at Congressman Forbes' work on legislative issues, visit the Spotlight Issues page on his website.
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