Science

ü The House of Representatives unanimously passed H. Res. 487, a resolution introduced by Rep. Forbes recognizing the contributions of modeling and simulation (M&S) and recognizing M&S as a National Critical Technology.  Historically, a National Critical Technology is one that has particular value to the national security of the United States and/or significant economic impact on the country. 

ü Hosted the Second Annual Capitol Hill Modeling & Simulation (M&S) Expo on Thursday, July 19^th, 2007, in conjunction with the event sponsor, the National Training and Simulation Association. The expo is the premier M&S event in the nation’s capital bringing nearly 30 exhibitors from a myriad of industries to showcase M&S applications to Capitol Hill leaders in an effort to promote the development of this high-tech tool in a growing number of fields and specialties. The exhibition included demonstrations from the medical, defense and engineering fields. Participants tried their hand at firing a machine gun, evacuating a major city from an impending hurricane, piloting a fighter plane, designing their own sky-scraper, and performing hands-on surgery.  Rep. Forbes, Rep. Heather Wilson from New Mexico, and Rep. Bobby Scott from Virginia made remarks at the expo, and more than thirty other Congressional offices were represented at the event. 

Defense

ü Cosponsored H.R. 23, a Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II, which would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay a monthly benefit of $1,000 to certain honorably-discharged veterans of the U.S. Merchant Marine, or their survivors, who served between December 7, 1941, and December 31, 1946.

üAttended Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus breakfast on Thursday, July 19th with members of the House Armed Services Seapower Committee. The breakfast provided an opportunity for Members of Congress to interact with shipbuilding suppliers and discuss ongoing issues and solutions to ensure the long-term domestic capability to build naval vessels for the United States. 

ü Joined other members of the Virginia Congressional delegation in pushing a review of the hyperbaric chambers at Portsmouth Naval Medical Hospital.  Following questioning from the Virginia delegation, the Secretary of the Navy will decide whether or not to move forward on a decision to complete construction of two unused hyperbaric chambers at Portsmouth Naval Medical Hospital.  The Navy Medicine Division is recommending that the chambers not be completed after three private hospitals in the region developed the hyperbaric chamber capability before the Navy completed its chambers.   

Homeland Security

ü Supported S. 966, the Passport Backlog Reduction Act of 2007, which would authorize the Secretary of State to employ foreign service retirees to assist in the processing of passport applications and visa applications. This assistance is needed due to recent changes in travel laws where U.S. citizens are now required to have a valid passport when traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. Because of this change, passport processing times have increased greatly due to a high volume of requests.

ü Voted against H.R. 556, the Foreign Investment and National Security Act of 2007, after the Senate weakened provisions passed earlier by the House of Representatives this year that strengthened the veto power of intelligence officials in the federal government to provide oversight on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).  CFIUS is responsible for approving the foreign acquisition, merger, or takeover of U.S. companies, such as the UAE-based Dubai World Ports deal that did not move forward last year.

Healthcare

ü Hosted a bipartisan press conference announcing H.R. 2807, the Patients First Act, which Congressman Forbes introduced. The Patients First Act promotes research using stem cells that are ethically obtained and show evidence of providing near-term clinical benefit for human patients without the creation of human embryos, or the destruction or discarding of human embryos. The bill will intensify research that may result in treatments for diseases and other adverse health conditions.

ü Cosponsored the Help Efficient Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2007, H.R. 2580. Recent surges in medical malpractice lawsuits over the past few years have caused many physicians to close their practice or retire due to skyrocketing malpractice insurance costs. Without committed health care providers, patients cannot get the high quality care that they need to stay healthy. The HEALTH Act of 2007 sets forth provisions regulating medical malpractice lawsuits, specifically for health care liability claims concerning the provision of health care goods or services, or any medical product affecting interstate commerce.

ü Cosponsored H.R. 2302, the Health Insurance Affordability Act of 2007, which would allow individuals and families who buy healthcare for themselves to deduct from their taxes the premiums of high-deductible health insurance plans associated with Health Savings Accounts. Currently, individuals' contributions to Health Savings Accounts are tax deductible, but the premiums paid for the high-deductible insurance associated with the accounts usually are not.

ü Signed a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) asking that they provide coverage for erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), a treatment that plays an important role in helping cancer patients cope with the debilitating side effects of chemotherapy. Congressman Forbes is a member of the Cancer Care Working Group.

ü Joined the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Caucus. The purpose of the caucus is to serve as a forum to discuss critical health care, disability, research, and other issues affecting people living with MS as well as to raise awareness of the disease. MS affects more than 400,000 people in the United States.

ü Joined the Congressional Vision Caucus (CVC). The CVC is a bipartisan coalition of Members of Congress dedicated to strengthening and stimulating a national dialogue and policy on vision-related problems and disabilities.

ü Supported H.Res 208, a resolution recognizing the 25th anniversary of the founding of Operation Smile. Operation Smile is an organization of volunteer medical professionals committed to traveling around the world to treat children suffering from facial deformities.

Energy

ü Supported H.Res. 500, a resolution that expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should make clear to the governments of major natural gas exporting countries that it regards the manipulation of the supply of natural gas to the world market for the purpose of setting a nonmarket price, or as an instrument of political pressure, to be an unfriendly act prejudicial to the security of the United States and of the world. H.Res. 500 also states that the U.S. should develop a joint strategy with its allies and all countries that are importers of natural gas to prevent the establishment of a cartel and that we should work with our allies to reduce our dependence on natural gas and to increase and promote the utilization of clean energy sources.

Taxes

ü Cosponsored H.R. 1421, the Parents' Tax Relief Act of 2007, which would expand the daycare tax credit to include stay-at-home parents, supporting the right that parents have to child care choice.  In addition, the bill contains common-sense tax measures such as making marriage penalty relief and the child tax deduction permanent, while encouraging home-based businesses and telecommuting to help parents spend more time with their children.

ü Cosponsored H.R. 2734,  the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2007. H.R. 2734 would make permanent tax reductions enacted by the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001. This tax reductions, which have helped stimulate our economy, include:(1) the tax deduction for state and local sales taxes; (2) the tax deduction for tuition and related expenses; (3) the increased expensing allowance for small business assets and related provisions; and (4) the tax credit for increasing research activities.

Government Reform

ü Supported H.R. 2630, the Campaign Expenditure Transparency Act, which prohibits the spouse of an individual holding federal office or the spouse of a candidate for federal office from receiving payments for services provided to a campaign committee or a leadership Political Action Committee (PAC).  In addition, H.R. 2630 establishes a penalty for candidates and officeholders who violate this Act.

ü Supported H.R. 1239, the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2007.  H.R. 1239 authorizes additional funding to carry out the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1998. This program, administered by the National Park Service, coordinates preservation and education efforts nationwide, and works to integrate local historical sites, museums, and interpretive programs associated with the Underground Railroad into a community, regional, and national network.

Consumer Issues

ü Cosponsored H.R. 1514, The Savings for Working Families Act, which would provide tax credits to financial institutions that match the savings of low-income families. H.R. 1514 would also provide $20 million for financial literacy and education for the savers by nonprofits.

ü Voted in favor of the Federal Customer Service Enhancement Act, H.R. 404. The Federal Customer Service Enhancement Act would require the establishment of performance measures to determine whether federal agencies are providing high quality customer service and standards to be met by federal agencies to provide high quality customer service.

ü Supported H. Res. 526, which declares the sense of the House that government action should be taken to protect buyers from unscrupulous mortgage brokers and lenders.

Immigration

ü Cosponsored a comprehensive immigration reform bill H.R. 2954, the Secure Borders FIRST Act of 2007. This “security first” alternative to legislation like the Senate amnesty bill would emphasize the vigorous enforcement of our current immigration laws, without offering a pathway to citizenship. The Secure Borders FIRST Act focuses on securing our borders by increasing border patrol agents and seeing that penalties for employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants are enforced. The legislation does not provide any amnesty or allow for the legalization of illegal immigrants. In addition, it would make English our nation’s official language.

Agriculture

ü Voted in favor of H.R. 2419, the Farm Bill Extension Act of 2007, a multi-year piece of legislation that evaluates federal farm support, food assistance, agricultural trade, marketing, and rural development policies.

Judiciary

ü Cosponsored H.R. 2183 the Commonsense Consumption Act, or "the Cheeseburger Bill", which would prohibit consumers from suing restaurants for causing weight gain, obesity, or any associated health condition that results from an individuals’ poor eating habits. H.R. 2183 would prohibit these lawsuits from being brought against a manufacturer, marketer, distributor, advertiser, or seller of food, or a trade association.

ü Voted in favor of H.R. 660, the Court Security Improvement Act of 2007, which gives judicial officers, employees and their families the authority to keep personally identifiable information included in financial disclosure statements private.  In addition, this legislation prohibits the publishing of personal information related to Federal, state and local law enforcement officials, witnesses, and paid informants.  Finally, this bill increases the maximum criminal penalties related to assaulting judges.  This legislation is intended to address security and safety issues that may arise before, during or after a trial. 

Crime

ü Cosponsored the Protecting Americans Fighting Terrorism Act, H.R. 2291. This bill would prevent lawsuits against American citizens who report suspicious activity to law enforcement officials. This type of reporting is a helpful resource to law enforcement officers in fighting terrorism.

ü Cosponsored H.R. 3156, the Violent Crime Control Act, an omnibus crime bill that includes measures to strengthen law enforcement, reduce violent crime, protect against terrorist attacks, combat and apprehend sex offenders, and tear down criminal gang networks. The bill was unveiled at press conference with Republican Leader John Boehner and Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith, which Congressman Forbes participated in, on July 25, 2007.

Housing

ü Voted in favor of H.R. 1980, the Housing Assistance Council Authorization Act of 2007, which authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to provide financial assistance to the Housing Assistance Council.  The Housing Assistance Council helps develop the ability and capacity of community-based housing development organizations to undertake community development and affordable housing projects and programs in rural areas.
ü Voted in favor of H.R. 1982, the Rural Housing and Economic Development Improvement Act of 2007.  H.R. 1982 authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to carry out a program, through the Office of Rural Housing and Economic Development, to provide assistance to Indian tribes, State housing finance agencies, State community or economic development agencies, local nonprofit organizations and community development corporations in rural areas to support innovative housing and economic development activities in rural areas.

Education

ü Voted in favor of H.R. 2669, the College Cost Reduction Act, which would provide a $500 increase per student who receives a Pell Grant, a federal grant program that allocates funds to students who demonstrate financial need.  In addition, this legislation would lower student loan interest rates to 3.2%.

Budget/Economy

ü Cosponsored H.R. 473, the SAFE Commission Act, which would establish a Securing America's Future Economy (SAFE) Commission that would review federal spending and develop legislation designed to address: (1) the unsustainable imbalance between long-term federal spending commitments and projected revenues; (2) increases in net national savings to provide for domestic investment and economic growth; (3) the implications of foreign ownership of federally issued debt instruments; and (4) revision of the budget process to place greater emphasis on long-term fiscal issues.