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Washington Update Congressman J. Randy Forbes, Virginia's Fourth Congressional District Week of June 9 - 13, 2008 |
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ü Introduced H.R. 6260, the New Manhattan Project for Energy Independence Act of 2008. This bill challenges the United States to achieve 50 percent energy independence in ten years and 100 percent energy independence in 20 years. To achieve this goal, the New Manhattan Project will bring together the best and brightest scientists in our nation in a competitive format to effectively research one of seven established energy goals and will award significant prizes to any group, school, team, or company who accomplishes the goal. The project will challenge scientists and researchers to:
- Double CAFE standards to 70 MPG while keeping vehicles affordable ü Cosponsored H.R. 3089, the No More Excuses Energy Act of 2007. This legislation would immediately impact the price at the pump by encouraging construction of new refineries, reducing greenhouse emissions, boosting alternative energy development, increasing American oil production and encouraging the construction of new nuclear power plants. ü Signed a discharge petition to bring H.R. 3089 to the House floor for a vote. If a majority portion of the House of Representatives sign their name to have a vote on a bill that addresses energy prices, the Speaker would have no choice but to allow it to be considered. Currently, 139 Members of Congress have signed the discharge petition for this bill. ü Cosponsored H.R. 2471, the Refinery Streamlined Permitting Act of 2007. This bill would help streamline the oil refinery permitting process by requiring the various agencies responsible for permitting to work together to bring new refineries online. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, there has not been a new refinery built in the United States since 1976, which has contributed to the higher price of gas by restricting supplies. ü Cosponsored H.R. 6107, the American Energy Independence and Price Reduction Act. This bill would reduce the price of gasoline by opening the Arctic Energy Slope to environmentally sensitive American energy exploration. The development footprint would be limited to 0.01% of the Refuge, and revenue received from the new leases would be invested in a long-term alternative energy trust fund.
ü Supported H. Res. 1235, which expressing support for National D-Day Remembrance Day. D-Day was June 6, 1944, and reopened a Western front against the Germans in World War II through a beach assault at Normandy, France. The D-Day assault, codenamed Operation Overlord, was the most extensive amphibious invasion ever to occur, and involved 5,000 ships, over 11,000 sorties of Allied aircraft, and 150,000 American, British, and Canadian troops on the first day of the operation. American troops suffered significant losses during the assault, including over 6,500 casualties. The resolution before the House expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that June 6 should be recognized as a National D-Day Remembrance Day. ü Supported H. Con. Res. 336, honoring the sacrifices and contributions made by disabled American veterans. There are approximately 2.8 million veterans whose disabilities were sustained while defending our Nation. Those disabled veterans are entitled to benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The resolution recognizes the great sacrifices made by disabled veterans and their families and calls on the people of the United States to honor all disabled American veterans and the freedom for which they sacrificed.
ü Opposed H.R. 5749, the Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2008. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill would increase the federal deficit by $14 billion, because there is not offset for the cost of extending benefits offered in the bill. The bill would extend unemployment benefits from six months to one year and provide a total of 18 months of unemployment benefits in states where the unemployment rate is six percent or higher, but does not require beneficiaries to work for 20 weeks to be eligible for the benefits, which is required under current law. ü Supported S. 254, to award posthumously a Congressional gold medal to Constantino Brumidi, the Italian artist who painted such masterpieces as The Apotheosis of Washington inside the Capitol Dome and other art work throughout the United States Capitol. ü Supported H.R. 2268, the Mother's Day Centennial Commemorative Coin Act, which instructs the Treasury Department to mint 400,000 one dollar coins to honor the 100th anniversary of President Wilson's proclamation designating the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day. ü Supported H.R. 3229, National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center Commemorative Coin Act, which instructs the Treasury Department to mint one dollar coins emblematic of the courage, pride, sacrifice, sense of duty, and history of the U.S. Infantry, in commemoration of the legacy of the U.S. Army Infantry and the establishment of the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center.
ü Voted in favor of H.R. 1553, the Conquer Childhood Cancer Act of 2007. This bill establishes special research programs in the area of pediatric cancers through the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute. It would also establish grants for the operation of a population-based national childhood cancer database, the Childhood Cancer Research Network, and support recognized childhood cancer professional and advocacy organizations that raise public awareness of currently available information, treatment, and research to ensure access to best available therapies for pediatric cancers.
ü Cosponsored H.R. 1767, the Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act. This bill would protect small businesses from costly lawsuits while also protecting consumers from unfair business practices by requiring rental-purchase agreements to contain specific disclosures of information. ü Supported H.Res. 1236, which expresses the sympathy of the House of Representatives to the citizens of Black Hawk, Buchanan, Butler, and Delaware Counties, Iowa, who were victims of the devastating tornado that struck their communities on May 25, 2008.
ü Signed a letter to House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Dingell and Ranking Member Barton in support of Title V Abstinence Education programs. This letter expressed support for reauthorizing and maintaining the integrity of this important program that teaches teens how to make healthy decisions about their future. These programs have been shown to be effective in nearly a dozen different studies. The Title V program provides $50 million annually for abstinence education that is distributed on a formula basis to states, and every four federal dollars must be matched by three state and local dollars. Without Congressional action, Title V is set to expire on June 30, 2008. ü Voted in favor of H.Res. 1243, Recognizing the immeasurable contributions of fathers in the healthy development of children, supporting responsible fatherhood, and encouraging greater involvement of fathers in the lives of their children, especially on Father's Day. This resolution commends the millions of fathers who serve as wonderful, caring parents for their children, and calls on fathers across the United States to use Father's Day to reconnect and rededicate themselves to their children's lives, spend Father's Day with their children, and express their love and support for their children. It also urges men to understand the level of responsibility fathering a child requires, especially in the encouragement of children's moral, academic and spiritual development.
ü Advocated for a comprehensive approach to address gang violence during a House Judiciary Crime Subcommittee Oversight Hearing. Rep. Forbes pushed for an approach to combat gang violence that would emphasize tearing down gang networks, using faith-based organizations to work with former gang members, and targeting gang members who have come to this country illegally. Rep. Forbes said, “We need a combined approach that tears down the gang networks, that understands murder by a 17 year-old is not any less fatal than murder by an 18 year-old. And an approach that recognizes that when 80 percent of some of the most violent gangs in our country come here illegally, you will not stop this with prevention programs alone.” ü Supported S. 2516, the Kendell Frederick Citizenship Act, which uses fingerprinting to search naturalization records for security purposes. The bill would check an individual’s fingerprints at times of military enlistment or immigration status adjustment to ensure that an individual meets naturalization background security checks. üVoted to support H.R. 5057, the Debbie Smith Reauthorization Act of 2008 during a House Judiciary Committee markup. The bill provides federal grant money to states to reduce the DNA backlog in criminal investigations. $150 million will be spent annually over five years to assist states in collecting and processing DNA samples that will be used to help apprehend criminals. ü Supported H.R. 2352, the School Safety Enhancements Act of 2007 during a House Judiciary Committee markup. This bill will help school safety by providing matching federal funds for public elementary and secondary schools that install surveillance equipment. It will also allow these funds to be used to establish hotlines for reporting potentially dangerous students. ü Supported H.R. 4044, the National Guard and Reservist Debt Relief Act of 2008 during a House Judiciary Committee markup. This bill will help National Guardsmen and Reservists avoid Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings as a result of their service. Chapter 7 bankruptcy uses a means test to determine payment to creditors. Under this bill, Guardsmen and Reservists will receive a limited exemption from the means test if they have been called to active duty after September 11, 2001 for a period of 60 days.
ü Spoke on the House floor in support of H. Res. 1263, a resolution alerting Congress of the threats posed by China-based computer hackers. Information contained on the computers of several Members of Congress and the House Foreign Affairs Committee has recently been compromised by hackers working in China. This resolution makes Congress aware of the potential threats to their electronic information. In addition to joining Mr. Frank Wolf in speaking on the resolution, Mr. Forbes has introduced H.R. 3806, the S.P.I.E.S. Act, to strengthen laws against these serious foreign espionage threats.
ü Opposed H.R. 6003, the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008. This bill would authorize another $15 billion of taxpayer money to subsidize Amtrak, which provides train service throughout the country. It was estimated that Amtrak would break even by 1974, but it has never had a profitable year. The $3 billion in annual spending is more than double the current federal subsidy of $1.3 billion. For a comprehensive look at Congressman Forbes' work on legislative issues, visit the Spotlight Issues page on his website.
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Energy
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