Homeland Security

ü Asked Governor Kaine to oppose the transfer of Guantanamo detainees to Virginia.  Congressman Forbes sent a letter asking Governor Kaine to support H.R. 1638 which would prevent detainees from being transported or housed in Virginia.

 ü Supported keeping terrorists out of America. Congressman Forbes cosponsored H.R 2294, to prevent the release or transfer of Guantanamo detainees within the United States unless 1) the President certifies that each individual released does not pose a security risk for the United States, 2) both the Governor and state legislature of the state that would receive the detainees approve the transfer, and 3) the President provides detailed information to Congress on the detainees in question.

Environment

ü Met with Chesapeake homeowners who are among the homeowners in 16 states to say that Chinese drywall is making them sick and corroding their appliances. Testing by the EPA shows the Chinese drywall contains sulfur and other chemicals that are not found in typical wallboard. The Senate held a hearing on the issue this week and the EPA is slated to conduct testing in Virginia soon. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has not announced any results of their own to date. Congressman Forbes supports legislation requiring the CPSC to study drywall imported from China from 2004 through 2007. 

Veterans

ü Protected Veterans from discrimination. Supported H.R 466, the Wounded Veteran Job Security Act, which prohibits discrimination and acts of reprisal against Veterans who receive treatment for illnesses, injuries, and disabilities incurred in or aggravated by service in the uniformed services.

ü Supported new technologies to assist disabled veterans. Congressman Forbes voted for H.R 1170, which provides grants through the Department of Veterans Affairs for the development of new assistive technologies for specially adapted housing for disabled veterans.

Defense

ü Introduced H. Res. 477 directing the Obama Administration to provide Congress with the 30-year shipbuilding plan. Pentagon officials have said they do not intend to submit this plan this year even though it is required by U.S. law. The 30-year shipbuilding plan was intended to provide Congress and the American people with the long-range maritime strategy for our country.  The plan also requires the Secretary of Defense to certify that the plan can be met given this year’s proposed federal budget. Congressman Forbes also introduced H. Res. 478, requiring the Obama Administration to submit the 30-year military aviation plan to Congress.

ü Served as a conferee for the House-Senate Conference on H.R. 2101 and S. 454, the Weapons Acquisition Reform Act. The conferees resolved the differences in these acquisition reform bills. Congressman Forbes voted for the conference report on S. 454,  which reforms the Department of Defense’ s purchase program to improve efficiency and oversight in the purchasing of DoDs most costly weapons systems. This improvement efficiency and oversight has the potential to improve the quality of these systems and reduce cost overruns. The President signed this bill into law on May 21, 2009.

ü Supported affordable financing for shipbuilding in the U.S. Congressman Forbes signed a letter to the House Appropriations Committee in support of funding for the Maritime Administration’s Title XI Ship Loan Guarantee Program. Funding this program is essential to ensure U.S. ship owners have access to affordable financing to build ships in the U.S. to meet America’s domestic commercial, energy and military sea lift needs.  

ü Provided funding for Armed Forces War Time operations. Congressman Forbes voted for H.R. 2346 which continues to support our Armed Forces in ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. House Democrats and Republicans worked together to strip funding to close Guantanamo Bay from the bill.

ü Continued to call for increased transparency within the Department of Defense (DoD) during a House Armed Services Committee hearing featuring Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. As a follow-up to the letter to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Congressman Forbes raised concerns over the lack of transparency in the Pentagon’s budget. Earlier this year, senior defense officials were required to sign a non-disclosure agreement and the Navy has recently classified its ship readiness reports.  

ü Questioned the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Gary Roughead about the lack of a shipbuilding plan in the budget submission during a House Armed Services Committee Department of the Navy budget hearing. The 30-year shipbuilding plan details the Navy’s long-term force structure plan which has significant ramifications for ship repair.  

ü Worked to increase funding for ship repair. Congressman Forbes proposed an amendment to the FY 2009 War Time Supplemental, H.R. 2346, which would have increased funding to meet the Navy’s ship repair shortfall for 2009. The proposed amendment was rejected by the House Rules Committee.

Small Business

ü Championed assistance for small business owners. Congressman Forbes voted for H.R. 2352, which extends entrepreneurial development programs, creates a new small business assistance program for veterans, and creates on-line resources for new small businesses. 

Agriculture

ü Met with farmers in the 4th Congressional District at the Annual Farm Credit Legislative Luncheon. The Farm Credit System provides loans to farmers for buildings farm machinery, livestock, and other farming needs. Last year, $1.8 million was repaid to farmers in the Fourth Congressional District through the System.

Judiciary

ü Questioned Attorney General Eric Holder during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on plans for suspected terrorist detainees at the Guantanamo Bay facility. In response to questions from Congressman Forbes, the Attorney General stated that no prisoners would be released if they are determined to pose a threat to the people of the United States. The Attorney General also said that the Justice Department has not completed any assessments of the potential risks to localities if these detainees are released into the United States. Congressman Forbes introduced H.R. 1186, to prevent detainees from being housed in Virginia.

Banking

ü Called for the Federal Reserve to be audited. Congressman Forbes cosponsored H.R. 1207, which would order the Comptroller General to complete an audit of the Federal Reserve board and banks before the end of 2010. The Federal Reserve’s role has grown significantly due to the volatility in the financial markets. 

ü Increased protections for credit card holders. Congressman Forbes voted for H.R. 627, which would increase credit card companies’ disclosures on fees and terms to consumers, prohibit extending credit to minors that do not have income, and limit unfair fees on card holders. The bill also prohibits a creditor from changing the interest rate on existing balances unless there is a 45 day written notice. Finally, the practice of “double cycle billing,” where a creditor imposes a finance charge on a credit card account based on balances from any billing cycle that precedes the most recent billing cycle, is also prohibited.

Foreign Affairs

ü Cosponsored H.R. 2194, the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act of 2009. This bill would impose sanctions on countries or businesses that conduct more than $20 million in business that refines oil for Iran. The Obama Administration has made it clear that they will have a dialogue with Iran, and this bill is aimed at strengthening the leverage of any talks with Iran. On Monday, May 18, 2009, Iran tested a long-range missile that traveled approximately 1,200 miles.

ü   Met with members from the American Chamber of Commerce China on issues related to China. Congressman Forbes met American entrepreneurs whose companies have business ties with China. As the co-chair and founder of the China Caucus, Congressman Forbes meets regularly with those who have interests related to China.

 Transportation

ü Met with city officials from Suffolk, Virginia to discuss on-going projects, transportation issues, and concerns about federal regulations impeding road repairs within the City. 

ü Voted against increasing passenger airport fees. Congressman Forbes voted against H.R. 915, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009, which would increase the maximum fee airports could charge each passenger by $2.50 per ticket on top of the $4.50 fee that is currently allowed. The bill would also increase taxes by $1.3 billion on non-commercial aviation fuel.

ü Sent letters to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in support of expanding the Port of Virginia and the National Gateway project. These projects would allow increased shipment of goods from the Port to the Midwest and along the East Coast of the United States. 

Housing

ü Supported legislation to halt home foreclosures. Congressman Forbes voted for S. 896, which would implement programs to encourage loan modifications for delinquent mortgages. The bill also changes the $300 billion Hope for Homeowners Program in an attempt to increase participation. The program, Congressman Forbes did not support when passed by Congress last July, was touted to help up to 400,000 homeowners modify their loans. Today, less than 100 mortgages have been processed and modified under the program. S. 896 would provide incentive payments to mortgage services under the program to encourage participation and expand the number of homes that could be kept out of foreclosure. 

ü Supported efforts to identify mortgage and financial security fraud. Congressman Forbes voted for S. 386, to expand current laws against financial crimes to include mortgage fraud and securities fraud cases. 

Immigration

ü Called for reforming the visa lottery program. Cosponsored H.R. 2305, to eliminate the visa lottery program that awards approximately 50,000 permanent resident visas to foreign nationals based on pure luck by conducting a random lottery. The State Department’s Inspector General recently testified that the visa lottery program contains 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. Furthermore, family-sponsored immigrants currently wait years to be reunited with their families. Each year, the visa lottery program pushes 50,000 random immigrants ahead of these family-sponsored immigrants waiting to be reunited with their families.

ü Protected Americans Social Security benefits.  Cosponsored H.R. 2287, which would prevent illegal aliens from receiving Social Security benefits.

 Second Amendment

ü Supported gun owners rights to possess guns in National Parks. Congressman Forbes voted for Senator Coburn’s amendment to H.R. 627. This amendment would prohibit National Parks from banning guns in parks where States permit gun possession. 

Family Values

ü Cosponsored H.J.Res.50, the Marriage Protection Amendment. This resolution would amend the United States Constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman.

Government Reform

ü Cosponsored H.R. 450, the Enumerated Powers Act, which would require each bill passed by Congress to contain a clear statement of constitutional authority for the provisions in the legislation or the bill would be subject to an objection during consideration in the House of Representatives or the Senate.