Congressman Randy Forbes spoke on behalf of the Legislative Branch at the 61^st Annual National Day of Prayer Observance about the vital role that prayer plays in strengthening the fabric of our society. Organized on Capitol Hill, the event was attended by over 300 individuals including several members of Congress who gathered together for prayer and fellowship.

In 2005, Congressman Forbes along with Congressman Mike McIntyre of North Carolina formed the Congressional Prayer Caucus to preserve the presence of religion, faith, and morality in our country. The CPC meets regularly to pray for America and to work on legislative policies that will protect religious freedom in America. Today, the CPC has grown into a bipartisan group with 105 members.

In addition to the National Day of Prayer event, Congressman Forbes was a guest on The Mike Huckabee National Radio Show.  You can listen to that interview here.

Transportation and infrastructure projects create thousands of jobs across America and encourage the free flow of goods and products that help support our local economies.  In fact, transportation and roadway projects employ 21,000 individuals in Virginia. The Port of Virginia, which currently ranks as the third largest container port on the East Coast, is one of the largest drivers of the Hampton Roads and Virginia economies, contributing to 343,000 jobs throughout the state.

Here are some steps I’ve taken to bolster this vital industry in Virginia:

The 414 Plan. I have worked hard to repeal costly, outdated federal requirements, while continuing to give states and localities flexibility in utilizing federal funding for road and bridge projects. I’ve introduced the “414 Plan,” legislation that suspends for five years all federal regulations that do not pertain to the safety or durability of highway facilities or of public and workplace safety.  It also expresses the sense of Congress on the need for greater interagency cooperation among project stakeholders to further expedite surface transportation projects. 

Dominion Boulevard. Realizing the benefit to economic and job growth and the benefit to traffic congestion, I’ve helped secure significant funding for the Dominion Boulevard bridge replacement project. Dominion Boulevard is one of 16 transportation projects that would expand Virginia’s economy by $4.1 billion and support 56,798 additional jobs.

Fourth District Transportation Projects. I’ve taken the following actions on these key Fourth District transportation projects. 

• Urged state officials to allocate funds to complete the Gilmerton Bridge replacement project;
• Investigated rules and regulations concerning the construction of a New Jordan Bridge;
• Helped to replace the two-lane Deep Creek AIW Bridge with a 5-lane, dual bascule bridge, thus providing a new structurally sound bridge and reducing traffic congestion along the corridor;
• Assisted in the improvement of U.S. Route 460 in the Petersburg-Hampton Roads Corridor; and
• Improved the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal to protect the navigation route between the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River and the VA-NC state line in the North Landing River.

Virginia’s Ports.  I supported the passage of three new Free Trade Agreements with South Korea, Columbia, and Panama, as well as the reauthorization of the Generalized System of Preferences.  These agreements mean millions of dollars in new exports from the Commonwealth of Virginia and will strengthen Virginia’s vital ports, shipping, and transport industries. 

Read more about my work for jobs in Virginia’s Fourth District in this detailed memo.

Congratulations to Virginia State University’s Reginald F. Lewis School of Business for being named best in the Country among the 108 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) by The Center for HBCU Media Advocacy. 

The Center annually recognizes a program which has demonstrated a commitment to innovation and community contributions in research exposition and professional development. This is a great honor and Dr. Keith Miller, VSU President, and Dr. Mirta Martin, Dean of the Business School should be proud.  

Today I was honored to accept the prestigious Guardian of Senior’s Rights Award. Over the past 10 years I have fought hard to protect the right to Medicare and Social Security for senior citizens.  I believe that it is vital that we protect the level and quality of care that is provided to seniors.  

The 60 Plus Association is a 20-year-old nonpartisan organization working for death tax repeal, saving Social Security and Medicare, affordable prescription drugs, lowering energy costs and other issues featuring a less government, less taxes approach as well as a strict adherence to the Constitution.  60 Plus has been called “an increasingly influential senior citizen’s group” with the support of over 7 million activists. 60 Plus publishes a newsletter, SENIOR VOICE, and a Scorecard, bestowing awards on lawmakers of both parties who vote "pro-senior."  

I'm happy to share with you that this week the House of Representatives passed, with my support, H.R. 4089 to protect sportsmen from government over-regulation. The legislation is a combination of four different bills that expands recreational hunting, shooting and fishing opportunities, reaffirms existing laws, and staves off bureaucratic efforts to deny hunters and shooters from using traditional ammunition.

Specifically, the Sportsmen’s Heritage Act of 2012:

• Supports access for hunting and fishing on public lands. By implementing an “open until closed” management policy, it protects sportsmen from arbitrary efforts by the federal government to block public lands from hunting and fishing activities.
• Protects against unnecessary closures of certain public lands to recreational shooting.
• Eliminates government red tape for the importation of specific, legal hunting trophies. It is focused on resolving specific, existing cases and doesn’t open the door to unlimited future imports.
• Protects the use of traditional ammunition and tackle by blocking an end-run around existing federal law and barring the EPA from banning such ammunition.

Outdoor hunting and fishing are an important part of our heritage. This legislation takes commonsense efforts to protect the rights of hunters, fishers, and recreational shooters and ensures that they have continued access to public lands.

You can read more about this legislation here.