Gratitude
By Randy
April 10, 2008

This week I had the honor of presenting to an individual one of our nation's most honored medals - the Purple Heart. As I thought about the medal and what it stands for, I couldn't help but be overwhelmed with gratitude for the sacrifices and commitment of our nation's veterans. At a glance, our veterans may seem like ordinary men and women, but I would submit their committment and sacrifice make them truly extraordinary individuals. There is a greatness that lies within our veterans' hearts, and it is in moments like this Purple Heart ceremony that their heroic lives are truly revealed.

So, in what way can we accurately express our deep gratitude for the many sacrifices that our veterans have made for our safety and freedom? By listening to and sharing their stories, we are celebrating their patriotism and willingness to serve and sacrifice for our country. The Veterans History Project collects and preserves audio- and video-recorded oral histories from America’s war veterans and those who served in support of them, along with other first-hand materials such as memoirs, photographs, diaries, and letters.  The project also presents an online National Registry of Service listing the names of all individuals from whom the Veterans History Project has received oral histories. Watch this video on the project and find out how you can get involved.

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Patients First
By Randy
March 14, 2008

This week I hosted a briefing for Members of Congress and staff on recent breakthroughs in stem cell research. Recently, we've seen a lot of success in treating patients with their own adult stem cells. Adult stem cells have been used to successfully treat over 1,800 patients who suffered from severe heart failure, and they have even been used to cure patients of their Type 1 Diabetes. Last summer, I met with a gentleman named Stephen Sprague who was cured of leukemia as a result of adult stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood. You can read more about his story here. Unfortunately, we don’t often hear of these success stories, mostly because they are clouded by the ongoing debate over embryonic stem cell research. We invited Dr. Richard Burt of Northwestern University School of Medicine to speak specifically on this issue at the briefing. Dr. Burt spoke about the dramatic success he has seen with adult stem cells and expressed concern that the medical research community has focused more on embryonic stem cells than on adult stem cells, even though the vast body of evidence shows that more promise lies with adult stem cell therapies.

Proponents of embryonic stem cell research argue that embryonic stem cell treatments may be successful in 20 or 30 years, but what we are seeing is that adult stem cells are treating people now. We have the opportunity to make a difference in individuals' lives right now simply by prioritizing our research and focusing funding towards adult stem cell efforts. I’ve introduced the Patients First Act, H.R. 2807 that would do just this. The bill would provide funding for stem cell research, so long as human embryos are not destroyed, and would prioritize research on adult stem cell efforts that are treating people in the near term. The Patients First Act bridges the political divide over stem cell research and focuses our efforts on the common goal of curing and treating patients.

The following video shows highlights of the briefing.




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China's Military Power
By Randy
March 4, 2008

Yesterday, the Department of Defense released its annual report to Congress on China’s military power. As Founder and Chairman of the Congressional China Caucus, I have made it a priority to study China’s emergence as a political, economic, and military actor on both the regional and global stage. The report released yesterday confirms what we have been continually observing in China over the past years: China is strategically focused on securing its status as a great military power, and they are doing so with limited regard to transparency.

As I saw on my most recent visit to China last August, the Chinese are continuing to invest heavily in creating a military muscle. In particular, Chinese progress in both long range radar and anti-ship missiles reflect a growing assertiveness in the region. The sheer pace and extent of China’s military buildup, coupled with its leaders’ lack of disclosure on defense expenditures and military objectives, make it difficult to evaluate China’s intentions.

I remain concerned about the international community’s limited knowledge when it comes to China’s military objectives. Without transparency, there are misunderstandings, and misunderstandings lead to missteps – missteps that we cannot afford. The continued increase in Chinese military buildup with limited transparency will have long-term implications on the Western Pacific region as well as U.S.-Sino relations.

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Shipbuilding
By Randy
February 27, 2008

Today I spoke before the National Ship Repair Industry Conference on the importance of shipbuilding and ship repair to our national security.  As Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee, our military readiness is a key concern of mine.  For the readiness of our Navy, keeping our ships in working order is critical.  Here in Virginia, we play a big role in keeping our ships ready at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard.  The shipyard is the fourth largest employer in the Hampton Roads area.  

Looking at growing our Navy is going to continue to be a priority for Congress.  Right now, America currently possesses its smallest Naval fleet since 1917.  This comes at the same time that countries such as China are continuing to grow their Navy to be capable of operating beyond their coastline.  We need to keep a close on this, and the readiness of our Navy, if we want to remain competitive with other countries around the world.  We made progress in last year's defense bill, and we need to keep on track this year and in coming years.

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Unsafe Imports
By Randy
February 25, 2008
What’s in My Inbox Today

One of the emails that I got today that stuck out in my mind was an email from a resident in the Fourth District who is concerned about unsafe imports:

“The recent flood of unsafe Chinese imports into the U.S.—contaminated pet food, toxic toothpaste, lead-laden toys, hazardous tires, contaminated seafood, and unsafe electrical items--clearly shows that we are not stopping unsafe products at our borders. It's time to pass legislation to hold manufacturers, importers and retailers to a higher standard and effectively enforce that standard…Please help restore my confidence in the safety of the items in my cart.”

The safety of our imports is an issue that concerns me, particularly after a recent trip to China in August 2007. U.S. imports currently total $2 trillion every year and estimates predict up to $6 trillion in imports by 2015. We unfortunately cannot automatically trust that products imported into the U.S. are safe and we need to take greater responsibility for our own safety.

One step I was happy to see was the creation of the Interagency Working Group on Import Safety, led by Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt. The Interagency Working Group on Import Safety was called for by the President on July 18, 2007, and is designed to conduct a thorough review of all of the different types of products imported to the United States from around the world.

In November 2007, they released a strategic framework that is an overview of the current import cycle in the United States and their recommendations for increasing safety at different steps in the process. You can read the document at: http://forbes.house.gov/uploadedfiles/safetyreport.pdf. You can also stay up-to-date on their work at http://www.importsafety.gov/.

I’m looking forward to more reports from the group on steps Congress and the Administration can take to better protect the United States from contaminated or dangerous imports.

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My Thoughts on Protecting America
By Randy
February 15, 2008

Over the past few weeks, the House of Representatives has been debating reauthorizing the Protect America Act, which was scheduled to expire on February 1, 2008 (the date was ultimately extended to tomorrow, February 16, 2008, after a vote in the House and Senate).  In August, I believe that Congress took an important step toward modernizing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act  (FISA) of 1978 by enacting the Protect America Act. While only in effect for only six months, the Protect America Act has temporarily allowed the United States to close an intelligence gap by enabling our intelligence professionals to collect, without a court order, foreign intelligence on targets located overseas. Unless reauthorized by Congress, however, the authority provided in the Protect America Act will expire.

On Tuesday, February 12, the Senate passed a bipartisan compromise bill, which I would support.  Unfortunately, however, the Democratic Leadership of the House refused to let this compromise bill even come to the House floor for a vote, and instead allowed the House to go on a one-week recess.  This makes it clear that the Protect America Act will expire while the Hosue is on recess.  I think this was the wrong decision, and one that hinders the ability of intelligence officials to adequately protect the United States from terrorists.

Yesterday, I submitted the following blog entry to The Hill, a Capitol Hill newspaper, with more of my thoughts on reauthorizing the Protect America Act:

"As a Member of the House Judiciary Committee, and having served as Ranking Member on the Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security Subcommittee, I have spent a lot of time trying to reform our FISA laws so that they are up-to-date with current technology and best protect our country from terrorists. I believe that it is imperative that Congress act responsibly and give the Director of National Intelligence the authority he needs to collect foreign intelligence information. It is clear that the House of Representatives has yet to do that.

While I understand that enacting this important legislation takes time and we need to come to a bipartisan agreement, House leadership has continued to play partisan games and stall real progress on coming to an agreement. The Senate has taken important steps forward to close the terrorist loophole in our intelligence laws. The Senate bill also grants liability protection to companies that helped the government after September 11. I believe this protection is critical if we want to prevent a chilling effect the next time we need help from the private sector to help the government protect the United States.

We need a long-term solution, not extension after extension. We need to give our intelligence officials – at home or on the battlefield – the assurance that the government stands behind them in the pursuit of terrorists who wish to do harm to our citizens. I cannot underscore enough the harm our failure to act would do to the safety and security of Americans – we, as elected officials entrusted with the public’s confidence, – owe it to our constituents to keep them as safe as we possibly can. I call on the House leadership to allow us to vote on the long-term FISA bill passed by the Senate yesterday."

To view The Hill's blog, click here.

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Caring for Our Environment
By Randy
February 11, 2008
What’s in My Inbox Today

One of the emails I got recently from one of my younger constituents was the following:

“I am a boy scout doing the Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge and I wanted to talk to you about are environment…What do think about the ways Americans are treating are environment?”

I think there is a lot we can do to improve the way we treat the environment. As a member of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus, I am looking at cutting-edge technologies that protect the environment while still giving us the energy we need to power our homes and businesses.

An example in the Fourth District of the damage that has been caused by pollution is the Chesapeake Bay. Centuries of change, transformation, and mobility have placed serious strain on the Chesapeake Bay. Although the Bay still looks beautiful from the surface, it continues to be plagued by pollution. The amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution in the Bay have intoxicated its glassy waters to the point that many of the pollutant substances are even found in tributary streams and rivers many states away from the Chesapeake Bay.

Over five years ago, the Chesapeake Bay states, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia, signed a recommitment that set specific pollution reduction goals to be met by 2010. Now, just two-and-a-half years from the 2010 deadline, we are still benchmarks away from reaching the pollution reduction goals.

To help address this, I have cosponsored The Chesapeake’s Healthy and Environmentally Sound Stewardship of Energy and Agriculture Act of 2007 (CHESSEA) which has the potential to have a major impact on Chesapeake Bay conservation. To learn more about this particular environmental project, read my Capitol Monitor on the issue at: http://www.house.gov/forbes/newsroom/enewsletter/2007/07132007.htm

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What Parents Need to Know: Staph Infections
By Randy
February 8, 2008

There has been a lot of news coverage in recent months on drug-resistant staph infections, particularly those in schools across the country. This has even happened in our own backyard - one case back in October 2007 was reported on in The Virginian Pilot.  The article reported that a student in Chesapeake had a confirmed case of a drug-resistant staph infection. As a parent, I know that many other parents across the Fourth District are likely concerned about staph infections and the safety of their children’s schools. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has put together a question and answer guide on staph infections that I encourage everyone to visit. You can find it here at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_mrsa_ca_public.html.

The CDC recommends the following prevention tips to help lower the risk of contracting a staph infection:

Practice good hygiene:

1. Keep your hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
2. Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed.
3. Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages.
4. Avoid sharing personal items such as towels or razors.

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Welcome to the New Forbes Blog
By Randy
February 8, 2008

As we continue to look at ways to better communicate with our constituents, starting a blog was one idea that we thought would add a lot of value.  Like the new multimedia content we have added to the Web site, the blog will be a way for me to communicate with members of the Fourth District on a daily basis.  Whether sharing my thoughts on a news article, a vote in Congress, or what's in my inbox, the blog will be a place to where anyone can access a lot of information about my views on current events.  I am looking forward to writing here on a regular basis, and welcome your feedback on topics you would like to see me write about on the blog.  I look forward to staying in touch.

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