J. Randy Forbes RSS Feed

Forbes Announces Items of Interest for China’s Military Modernization in NDAA

Thu, 10 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman J. Randy Forbes (VA-04), Chairman of the House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee and Co-Chairman of the Congressional China Caucus, announced that the annual national defense policy bill, or the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, (H.R. 4310), recently approved by the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), includes several important provisions central to U.S.-China relations.

“Over the past decade, the People's Republic of China (PRC) has rapidly modernized its military, including another double digit increase in its military budget this year, with aspirations of supplanting the U.S. position in the region,” said Congressman Forbes. “The House Armed Services Committee has Committee has continued to call attention to the PRC's actions while strengthening our ability to better organize, train, and equip our Armed Services to meet this challenge.”

Key provisions regarding China in the national defense policy bill include:

Strengthening the annual military power report on China. An amendment introduced by Rep. Forbes and adopted by the full Committee expands the Congressionally-mandated military power report on China to include a Pacific Command (PACOM) Combatant Commander’s assessment of any gaps in intelligence that limit the ability to address challenges posed by the PRC. Instead of providing a frank assessment of People's Liberation Army capabilities, the China power report has become a political document that is watered-down by various government agencies to avoid offending the PRC. This Amendment aims to change this trend by also including the best professional judgment of the PACOM Commander, the military leader in the region with the best knowledge of PRC capabilities, into the annual assessment. (Text)

Competitive Strategies Study on China and Iran. The Committee approved an amendment introduced by Rep. Forbes that directs the DoD to further develop its policies for deterring aggression through closer examination of military strategies and capabilities that impose disproportionate costs on potential adversaries such as China and Iran. In a landscape where the DoD is cutting programs with little to no pre-decisional analysis, tasking the organizations we have, long-term strategic thinking such as this will greatly assist HASC's ability to understand and prepare for future security needs. (Text)

Enhanced Readiness in Communications-Denied Environments. Directs the Secretary of Defense to better prepare our military to operate in tomorrow’s potential security environments, where access to satellites communications or the Global Positioning System may be denied.

Transfer of Technology to Foreign Entities (In response to GE/AVIC). Underscores the obligation of the Department of Defense to ensure that Congress is advised of the potential national security implications of the transfer of technologies initially developed under Department of Defense contracts. This includes the transfer of technology that has dual-use or military applications, to foreign entities. The committee encourages the Secretary of Defense to take such steps as necessary to prevent the illicit transfer of defense technologies to foreign entities, and to advise the relevant congressional committees of the risks associated with any such commercial transactions or joint ventures. The Director of the Defense Security Service, in coordination with the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manufacturing and Industrial Base Policy, is directed to conduct an assessment of the impact of joint ventures related to the cleared U.S. defense contractor community, and the potential for transference of U.S. technologies to another nation as a result of such ventures.

About the Annual National Defense Policy Bill
The annual national defense policy bill, or National Defense Authorization Act of 2013, authorizes the enactment of appropriations for DoD programs and initiatives while setting forth priorities, organizational structure, and responsibilities of program and agency officials. The bill consists of portions, or marks, written and approved by each Subcommittee. The full Armed Services Committee is considering the legislation, including proposed amendments, and will vote to report the bill for consideration before the House of Representatives. Upon passage, the bill is then sent to the senate. Typically after the Senate passes its version of the legislation, Members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees conference to reconcile differences and agree upon a final version of the National Defense Authorization Act, which will be sent to the President for his signature.

Forbes Announces Details of Defense Bill Passed by House Armed Services Committee

Thu, 10 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman J. Randy Forbes (VA-04), Chairman of the House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee, announced that the full House Armed Services Committee approved the annual national defense policy bill, or the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2013, (H.R. 4310), that includes his work to improve the readiness posture of the nation’s Armed Forces.

“This year’s defense authorization bill not only ensures that our nation’s military is ready, but it makes key investments to maintain its future success,” said Congressman Forbes. “Despite an Administration that is dedicated to dismantling our Armed Services through budget cuts, base closings and pink slips, this bill maintains the strong national defense that every American deserves.”

Key Provisions of the NDAA include:

Rejects the Administration's Base Closure and Realignment Proposal.
Denies the Administration's plan to scrap three cruisers in FY13 well before the end of their expected service life of 35 years. Legislation will not only retain these national assets but also prohibit the expenditure of FY13 funds to make preparations to retire or deactivate any Cruisers or Dock Landing Ships (LSDs).
Authorizes a multi-year procurement for up to 10 Virginia-class submarines and restored advanced procurement for one submarine that the Administration had proposed to eliminate.
Authorizes a multi-year procurement for up to 10 DDG-51 Arleigh Burke class destroyers.
Prevents the administration from ending the homeland aerospace defense mission at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, a decision the Administration made without cost-benefit and risk-based assessment.
Protects the skilled labor force for our aircraft carrier industrial base by ensuring the nuclear refueling, defueling and complex overhaul of a carrier will continue to be conducted by America's shipyards.
Rejects attempts to arbitrarily cut the size of the DOD civilian workforce by over 118,000 people.
Strengthens conscience protections for Chaplains and Servicemembers to protect individual religious freedoms from Religious persecution. Also prevents use of federal military facilities for same sex marriage ceremonies, consistent with the Defense of Marriage Act.
Authorizes $497.2 million TOTAL for Virginia military construction projects as requested by the services in the President's Budget, including $81 million for an Individual Training Barracks Complex at Fort Lee and $11.1 million for a Special Operations Force Combat Service Support Facility at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek- Fort Story.
Honors its commitment to generations of service members and their families by rejecting Administration proposals to increase some TRICARE fees and establish other new TRICARE fees. In addition, the FY 13 NDAA authorizes a 1.7% pay increase for our men and women in uniform and caps the number of troops that can be separated from the force in a single year.
Includes provisions to encourage the development and promulgation of a set of Modeling and Simulation Grand Challenges for the research community that would enhance interagency coordination.

About the Annual National Defense Policy Bill
The annual national defense policy bill, or National Defense Authorization Act of 2013, authorizes the enactment of appropriations for DoD programs and initiatives while setting forth priorities, organizational structure, and responsibilities of program and agency officials. The bill consists of portions, or marks, written and approved by each Subcommittee. The full Armed Services Committee considered the legislation, including proposed amendments, and voted to report the bill for consideration before the House of Representatives. Upon passage, the bill will be sent to the Senate. Typically after the Senate passes its version of the legislation, Members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees conference to reconcile differences and agree upon a final version of the National Defense Authorization Act, which will be sent to the President for his signature.

Question of the Week: With defense cuts imminent, what measure are you most concerned about?

Wed, 09 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Looming defense cuts are scheduled to go into effect at the end of this year. The cuts have the potential for drastic consequences to our military, our security, our economy and our veterans.

Question of the Week: With defense cuts imminent, what measure are you most concerned about?

( ) Pink slipping 13% of our warfighters. Roughly 200,000 active duty service members will have to leave the service.

( ) "BRAC"-ing Military Retirement. Payment of full retired pay could be delayed until the age of 57 or 60

( ) Devastating State Economies. Under defense cuts, 122,800 jobs will be lost in Virginia and the Commonwealth will lose $10.5 billion in Gross State Product.

( ) All of the above.

( ) Unsure

( ) Other (Leave your comments below)

Take the poll here.

Find the results of last week’s instaPoll here.

Forbes Named “Legislator of the Year” by the Virginia Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America

Tue, 08 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

The Virginia Council of Chapters of the Military Officers Association of America (VCOC MOAA) announced that Congressman J. Randy Forbes (VA-04) has been awarded the Legislator of the Year.

The award “for exemplary support of the national security of the United States and the current and past members of the Armed Forces and their families” was presented by COL Don Kaiserman, USA, Ret., VCOC President, COL Al Pianalto, USAF, Ret., Southside Virginia Chapter MOAA President, and COL Victoria Revilla, USA, Ret., VCOC MOAA Treasurer.

“I am honored and humbled MOAA selected me to receive this award,” said Congressman Forbes. “I am working hard for our active duty military families and veterans in Washington. Never before has this cause been more important than it is now.”

Congressman Forbes is the Chairman of the House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee. For more information on Congressman Forbes’ work on these issues, visit his website forbes.house.gov.

The Virginia Council of Chapters of the Military Officers Association of America is an affiliation of MOAA chapters throughout Virginia. There are 18 MOAA chapters and over 40,000 MOAA members in Virginia. http://www.virginiamoaa.com

MOAA is the nation's largest and most influential association of military officers. It is an independent, nonprofit, politically nonpartisan organization with about 370,000 members from every branch of service - including active duty, National Guard, Reserve, retired, former officers, and their families. http://www.moaa.org/

Congressional Prayer Caucus Urges Vanderbilt University to Stop Discriminating Against Religious Student Groups

Mon, 07 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Today I led 35 Members of Congress in sending a letter to Chancellor Nicholas Zeppos of Vanderbilt University, urging him to ensure that the school’s nondiscrimination policy is not being interpreted in a manner that discriminates against religious student groups.

Last year, several religious student organizations at Vanderbilt University, including the Christian Legal Society and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, were placed on “provisional status” for requiring their student leaders to share the groups’ religious beliefs. Vanderbilt’s nondiscrimination policy requires all student groups to open leadership positions to all students. Yet the university has exempted fraternities and sororities from the requirement, while refusing to exempt religious student groups. As a result, religious student groups are prohibited from selecting leaders who adhere to their core beliefs and can lead in group activities like worship or Bible study. If Vanderbilt does not change its nondiscrimination policy, at least 11 groups will be forced to leave campus and drop their affiliation with the university.

Vanderbilt’s policy defies common sense. Religious student groups form around specific beliefs, and their leaders obviously lead the groups’ activities. As such, religious groups must be allowed to select leaders that share their core religious beliefs in order to carry out their most basic functions. It is not discrimination; it is common sense.

Members of the Congressional Prayer Caucus sent the first letter to Vanderbilt University in October 2011 expressing their concerns with this troubling policy. This policy not only discriminates against religious student groups whose rights are protected by the Constitution, but also leaves the appearance that it is the religious groups that are specifically targeted.

Congressman Forbes Represents Legislative Branch at the National Day of Prayer

Fri, 04 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

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.

Congressman Forbes credited individuals from around the country with playing an integral part in preserving prayer and freedom of faith and asked that they continue to stand up for what is right.

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.

Music Legend Pat Boone Sings Praises of Representative Forbes

Thu, 03 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Legendary entertainer Pat Boone, spokesman for the 60 Plus Association, announced that Representative Randy Forbes has earned the group’s highest honor, the Guardian of Seniors’ Rights award.

In a statement released by 60 Plus, Boone remarked, “I’m still singing at concerts, but today I’m singing the praises of Representative Forbes. Seniors can depend on Representative Forbes.” Boone, 77, and his wife, Shirley, have been married for 57 years and reside in Beverly Hills, California.

Boone is also familiar to audiences as a star of film and television. Boone has had 38 top-ten hits since his recording career began in the 1950s, and, according to Billboard magazine, holds the record for the most consecutive weeks (220) on the charts by any performer.

60 Plus Chairman Jim Martin, who founded the organization in 1992, presented the award last week at a ceremony on Capitol Hill. 60 Plus is a national non-partisan senior citizens group.

“Representative Forbes can be counted on to preserve Social Security and Medicare,” Martin said. “Forbes is a tax cutter, protecting the pocket books of senior citizens and Representative Forbes is fighting wasteful spending of our tax dollars which has our government now borrowing over 40 cents of every dollar to pay its bills. Seniors have to live within their means and so should our government.

“As to the phony charge that Representative Forbes wants to ‘end Medicare as we know it,’ they say a lie can travel halfway around the world before the truth catches up to it. The truth is that scaring seniors is apparently in the Democrats’ ‘DNA’. Look at their record. This despicable Medi-Scare tactic has now been used for over 15 years.

“In 1996, Nancy Pelosi’s predecessor, Rep. Dick Gephardt (D-Mo), said the same thing,that Republicans were going to dismantle Medicare. But in an editorial, even the liberal leaning Washington Post said Gephardt’s charges were, and I quote, ‘bullfeathers, and Mr. Gephardt knows it.’ unquote. The Post went on to say ‘the Republican plan to save Medicare from bankruptcy is credible’ (emphasis added) and ‘Republicans are right to accuse Democrats of conducting a campaign based on distortion and fear….It is useful to them (Democrats) politically. It allows them to attack and to duck responsibility, both at the same time. We think it’s wrong.’”

Martin added, “They now run television ads showing granny being pushed over a cliff in a wheelchair. It was irresponsible then. It’s irresponsible now. But scaring seniors with these false attacks is unfortunately in the Democrats’ ‘DNA.’ Seniors deserve better.”

The Association’s Guardian Award is presented to Democrats and Republicans in Congress based on their “senior friendly” voting records.

Jobs in Virginia’s Fourth District: Energy Industry

Thu, 03 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Did you know that opening new offshore areas for American energy exploration could bring a potential 1,900 jobs to Virginia?

Domestic energy production remains an industry where there is significant room for growth and job creation. Yet, the Department of the Interior recently cancelled Virginia's scheduled offshore lease sale for 2011, pushing any possible lease sales to 2018, and the Administration has rejected opening the Keystone XL pipeline, despite the fact that it could create thousands of jobs.

Greater domestic energy production means more jobs for American citizens and we need to take advantage of the opportunity to develop our domestic energy resources, including those available in Virginia (In fact, Governor McDonnell recently signed energy legislation from the Virginia General Assembly that would advance Virginia as the energy capital of the East Coast.)

I have made it a priority in Congress to encourage the development of new energy sources with my New Manhattan Project for Energy Independence, support efforts to increase off-shore drilling, and call for the opening of the Keystone XL Pipeline to reduce our dependency on foreign oil. I’ve also fought against costly regulations that have caused companies like Dominion Power to close plants in Virginia.

The energy industry is ripe to bring more jobs and investment to the Commonwealth and across the United States.

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

Jobs in Virginia’s Fourth District: The Shipping, Transport, and Transportation Industry

Wed, 02 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

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.

Question of the Week: As the 2011 term of the Supreme Court comes to an end, what case are you most interested in?

Wed, 02 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

( ) The Immigration Debate.
Will the Supreme Court uphold Arizona's law on combating illegal immigration?
To learn more about this issue click here.

( ) The Health Care Debate.
Does the Commerce Clause allow Congress to impose the individual mandate in President Obama's Patient health care law?
To learn more about this issue click here.

( ) FCC Indecency Standards Debate.
Will the Supreme Court uphold the broadcast indecency standards established by the Federal Communication Commission?
To learn more about this issue click here.

( ) The Stolen Valor Act Debate.
Will the Supreme Court overturn a fine imposed on an individual who falsely claimed to have been awarded the Medal of Honor?
To learn more about this issue click here.

( ) The Prison Term Debate.
Will the Supreme Court uphold the sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole for someone who was convicted of murder when he was a juvenile?
To learn more about this issue click here.

( ) I am unsure.

( ) Other (leave your comment below).

Take the poll here.

Find the results of last week’s instaPoll here.