Defense

ü Questioned Comptroller General David Walker during a House Armed Services Committee hearing about the GAO’s assessment of progress in Iraq. The GAO, or Government Accountability Office, is an independent investigating arm of Congress. Mr. Walker testified that the GAO concluded that as of August 1, 2007, the Iraqi government had fully met 3 of 18 benchmarks, and partially met 4 others. Congressman Forbes asked Mr. Walker 1) who had the best information on the situation in Iraq and 2) whether he would have chosen the same 18 benchmarks to fully evaluate the situation in Iraq. Mr. Walker testified that Gen. Petreaus, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, would have more information to conditions on the ground with regard to the military, and that if given a clean sheet, he would not have selected those particular benchmarks to assess the situation.

ü Submitted Questions for the Record for witnesses testifying before a House Armed Services Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing about the way forward in Iraq. The joint hearing, which consisted of 107 Members, or nearly a quarter of the whole House of Representatives, included testimony from Gen. Jack Keane, former Army Vice Chief of Staff, the Hon. William Perry, former Secretary of Defense, and Gen. John Batiste, a retired general who previously commanded the 1st Infantry Division in Iraq.

ü Voted for and praised the final passage of H. Con. Res. 181, which recognizes and commends all volunteers who provide support to the families and children of members of the Armed Forces who are deployed in service to the United States. Congressman Forbes was an original cosponsor of this legislation.

ü Cosponsored H. Res. 604, which expresses the nation's sincerest appreciation and thanks for the service of the members of the 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) upon the occasion of the final reunion of the 303rd Bomb Group (H) Association. The 303rd Bombardment Group (H), "Hell's Angels," included nearly 5,000 listed as missing in action during its 364 combat missions during World War II. The 303rd Bomb Group (H) Association's final reunion will be held in Washington, DC in September 2007.

 Transportation

ü Supported H.Con.Res. 165, which supports the goals and ideals of National Teen Driver Safety Week. This resolution encourages the people of the United States to observe the week with activities that promote licensed teenage drivers to drive safely. 

Science

ü Voted in favor of H.R. 694, the Minority Serving Institution Digital and Wireless Technology Opportunity Act of 2007, which was introduced by Congressman Forbes. H.R. 694 establishes a grant program within the Department of Commerce to assist eligible institutions in acquiring and augmenting their use of digital and wireless networking technologies to improve the quality and delivery of educational services at eligible institutions. This legislation will help to ensure Minority Serving Institutions have the technology tools necessary to prepare their students to engage and participate in today’s workforce. In Virginia, there are six HBCUs that could benefit from this program: Virginia State University, Norfolk State University, St. Paul’s College, Virginia Union University, Virginia University of Lynchburg, and Hampton University.

üSupported H.R. 2850, the Green Chemistry Research and Development Act of 2007. H.R. 2850 would establish a Green Chemistry Research and Development program to promote and coordinate federal green chemistry research, development, demonstration, education, and technology transfer activities. The term green chemistry refers to chemistry and chemical engineering that focuses on creating chemical products and processes that reduce the generation and use of hazardous substances. The program would provide merit-based grants for researchers as well as grants for collaborative research and development partnerships among universities, industry, and nonprofit organizations. 

China

ü Joined House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton in leading a Congressional Delegation (CODEL) to China. The delegation met with Chinese military leaders and other top officials. Priorities for Congressman Forbes included gathering information and obtaining answers about China’s military build-up, religious freedom, human rights concerns, and product safety issues, particularly with regard to recent recalls of consumer goods and food imported from China.

ü Voted in favor of H. Res. 552, a resolution that calls on the government of the People's Republic of China to remove barriers to United States financial services firms doing business in China. H. Res. 552 expresses the sense of Congress that the Government of the People's Republic of China should immediately implement all of its World Trade Organization commitments to date in financial services and calls on them to implement their commitments made during the Strategic Economic Dialogue initiated by the Secretary of the Treasury.

Judiciary

ü Questioned witnesses at a Crime Subcommittee hearing on H.R. 2726, the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2007. Introduced by Congressman Forbes, H.R. 2726 would ensure that qualified retired law enforcement officers be able to carry concealed firearms. This legislation is necessary because some states have refused to issue identification verifying the officers’ firearms qualifications. To address this issue, H.R. 2726 would provide an alternative to a state-issued document by allowing an officer to receive a certification from a firearms instructor that verifies the officer’s qualifications in firearms training as established by the state or a law enforcement agency in the state. The Fraternal Order of Police testified that the ability of retired law enforcement officers to carry concealed firearms is a top priority for its members because it is a critical officer safety issue.

ü Cosponsored the Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2007, which would require that strong, mandatory sanctions be imposed on those who file frivolous lawsuits in federal court. In addition, this legislation would limit inter-state (state-to-state) forum shopping, whereby litigants seek venues which may be more favorable to an outcome in their favor. This legislation would require that personal injury cases be brought only in the state in which the plaintiff resides or the State in which a substantial part of the acts or omissions giving rise to the claim asserted occurred. If no state or federal court would have jurisdiction over the case on those grounds, then the case could be brought in a state if the defendant’s residence or place of incorporation is located there.

Taxes

ü Cosponsored H.R. 2380, the Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act, which would provide better financial stability to small businesses and family farms by eliminating the federal estate and gift taxes. This legislation would also make permanent the estate tax approved by Congress five years ago, set to expire in 2010.

ü Cosponsored H.R. 1304, the Motorsports Fairness & Permanency Act, which would permanently extend the tax depreciation provisions of the 2003 tax cuts, which are set to expire in 2008. This would allow the Richmond International Raceway and the Martinsville Speedway to plan for capital improvements to keep them competitive and keep motorsports thriving in Virginia.

ü Cosponsored H.R. 1576, the Tax Credits for Land Conservation Act, which would make permanent the tax credit for conservation easement donations. H.R. 1576 would raise the deduction a landowner can take for donating a conservation easement from 30% of their income in any year to 50%. In addition, this legislation would allow qualifying farmers and ranchers to deduct up to 100% of their income. Finally, H.R. 1576 would extend the carry-forward period for a donor to take tax deductions from 5 to 15 years. H.R. 1576 would help the Commonwealth achieve its goal of establishing 400,000 conservation acres.

Immigration

ü Cosponsored H.J.Res. 6, a constitutional amendment which would require the U.S. Census to exclude illegal immigrants from the official population count. The number of representatives a state sends to the House of Representatives as well as the number of votes a state has in the Electoral College are determined by a state’s population. Some states have inflated populations due to the number of illegal immigrants counted in the Census.

ü Cosponsored H.R. 3145, the Prohibition Against Criminal Alien Reentry Act, which would give the Department of Justice more authority to prosecute illegal immigrants involved in criminal actions. H.R. 3145 would allow U.S. Attorneys to prosecute criminal aliens who re-enter the United States if that alien has been convicted of two or more misdemeanors involving drugs, crimes against persons, or a felony. This legislation also increases the maximum penalties for illegal re-entry by aliens previously convicted of a felony (from 10 to 20 years) or aggravated felony (from 20 to 30 years).

ü Cosponsored H.R. 3494, the Charlie Norwood Clear Law Enforcement for Criminal Alien Removal (CLEAR) Act. H.R. 3494 would provide clear authority for local agencies to enforce immigration law; improved information sharing so local agencies can practically enforce immigration law; requirements for the federal government to remove and deport criminal aliens; increased federal resources for local governments that choose to enforce the law; and reduced federal resources for local governments that provide sanctuary to violent criminal aliens. This legislation will provide local law enforcement with the tools they need to enforce laws against the more than 400,000 alien absconders in the United States, of which an estimated 85,000 have criminal records.

Health

ü Cosponsored H.R. 3057, Medicare Long-Term Care Patient Safety and Improvement Act, which prevents the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) from reducing Medicare payments to Long-Term Care Hospitals or reducing the threshold of patients from a co-located hospital.

ü Cosponsored H.R. 1193, Kidney Care Quality and Education Act, which would create a pilot program designed to increase public awareness about factors leading to chronic kidney disease. This legislation will establish educational programs to highlight kidney disease treatment and prevention. These programs will teach self-management skills to improve quality of life and prevent premature kidney disease. The bill also improves end-state renal disease reimbursement rates under Medicare.

Small Business

ü Voted for H.R. 2992, Small Business Administration Trade Programs Act, which will help small businesses compete in the global marketplace. This bill would require the Small Business Administration and the Office of International Trade (OIT) to develop trade policies and recommendations that support small businesses in domestic and foreign markets. H.R. 2992 would improve access to export financing, counseling and technical assistance programs. The OIT would be tasked with assisting small businesses that are taking legal action to secure their rights to patents, copyrights, and trademarks in foreign countries.

ü Voted for H.R. 3020, Microloan Amendments and Modernization Act, which would raise the minimum amount available in the Microloan program from $7,500 to $10,000.  Microloans are administered by the Small Business Administration and are available to small businesses (with less than five employees) run by low-income owners. Over 700,000 individuals start their own small business each year. This program was created in 1992 and has helped to produce 10,000 jobs each year in areas that need economic revitalization.

Education

ü Co-Sponsored H.R. 2588, the Comprehensive Coverdell Modernization Act, which contains three provisions to keep Coverdell Education Savings Agreements (ESAs) a viable option for families’ long-term financial planning for educational expenses by accounting for the growing rate of inflation and increased tuition costs. Specifically, the Comprehensive Coverdell Modernization Act would double the current after-tax contribution limit to $4,000 from $2,000.

ü Supported the conference report to H.R. 2669, College Cost Reduction Act of 2007, which provides a $1,900 increase (over a five year period) 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 3.4 percent, provide $4,000 grants to promising students who committed to teaching high-need subjects, and provide $510 million to a grant program for schools that serve minorities.

Government Reform

ü Cosponsored legislation that would modify the House Rules in order to provide greater access and more transparency to legislative proposals. This legislation would require the Clerk post an electronic “red line” edition of all bills introduced, showing how the bill proposes to modify current U.S. Code. Such a tool would provide more transparency to legislative proposals by providing a format illustrating how the proposed legislation modifies current law. The proposed rule change would require that the proposed language changes be shown so that anyone can see how the bill proposes to change the code section.

Arts and Humanities

ü Cosponsored H.R.1609, legislation to award posthumously the Congressional Gold Medal to Constantino Brumidi to recognize his contributions as the artist of the United States Capitol. The gold medal would be displayed in the Capitol Visitor Center as part of an exhibit honoring Constantino Brumidi. To learn more about works of art in the Capitol, please click here.