Tightened Washington's belt.  Congressman Forbes supported the Fiscal Year 2012 omnibus spending bill that cut an additional 5.2% from the operating budget for the House of Representatives.  Since 2010, the House has reduced its own funding by more than 10 percent.

Strengthened our national defense.  As Chairman of the House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee, Congressman Forbes worked with his colleagues to include a number of policy provisions of broad importance to the defense of the United States in the Fiscal Year 2012 National Defense Authorization Act.  These provisions are designed to improve: long-term strategic planning and financial management.
Long-Term Strategic Planning
- Forbes’ Amendment declaring the QDR a critical strategic document that should not be influenced by budgetary pressures. In recent years, the QDR review has become overly constrained and informed by budget limitations. The Forbes amendment addresses this problem by making clear that the QDR is a strategic document, not a budgetary document, and should be based upon a process unconstrained by budgetary influences so that such influences do not determine or limit its outcome. (Sec. 942) 
- Requiring DOD analysis of the U.S. industrial base and dependence issues in the event of a global conflict. DoD relies on thousands of suppliers to ensure that it has the weapons, supporting equipment, and raw materials it needs to support current and future conflicts against conventional opponents. However, increasing globalization in the defense industry presents uncertainty in the U.S. forces’ ability to maintain a reliable and sufficient supplier base in the event of conflicts. As a result, the conference report language requires a specific assessment by DoD of the vulnerabilities posed to defense systems. (Sec. 852)
Financial Management: Audit Readiness and Cost-Savings
- Improving DoD’s financial management to expedite audit readiness.  The conference report language requires the Department to establish a specific plan, with interim objectives and milestones, for meeting the September 30, 2014 deadline for audit-ready statements of budgetary resources, to develop metrics and mitigating strategies for missed milestones and program delays, and to report to Congress on the steps taken and to be taken.  (Sec. 1003) 
- Encouraging DoD to lower energy costs by focusing on alternatives with demonstrated returns on investment. Congress continues to monitor DOD’s energy use and encourages the Department to be more energy efficient, enhance energy security, make strategic investments, and demonstrate the payback associated with its investments and appropriate stewardship of taxpayer dollars. This year’s conference report language includes several energy-related provisions for operation and maintenance, operational energy, and military installation energy. (Sec. 2830)

Called for a closer look at China’s military modernization. Congressman Forbes supported the addition of a number of provisions that will help transform Congress’ approach to the growing military threat of China in the Western Pacific.  Key provisions include:
- Strengthening the annual military power report on China. An amendment introduced by Forbes and incorporated into the final conference report expands the requirement of the annual military power report on China to include an assessment on the nature of China’s cyber activities directed against the Department of Defense (DoD) and related damage as well as China’s efforts, including technological transfer and espionage, to access DoD information. (Sec. 1238)
- Requiring the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to identify Pacific Command’s most critical needs. The conference report requires the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to submit to Congress, as part of the Chairman’s assessment of risks under the National Military Strategy, an assessment of the critical deficiencies and strengths in force capabilities (including manpower, logistics, intelligence, and mobility support) identified during the preparation and review of contingency plans of each geographic combatant commander and assess the impact on security objectives and strategic plans. The intent of the provision is to encourage a holistic approach in evaluating our global force structure and resources in light of China’s rapid military modernization and to ensure Congress is aware of the most critical needs of our combatant commanders in executing their mission. (Sec. 941) 
- Evaluating the United States’ industrial base to identify potential gaps that might affect military readiness. DoD relies on thousands of suppliers to ensure that it has the weapons, supporting equipment, and raw materials it needs to support current and future conflicts against conventional opponents. However, increasing globalization in the defense industry presents uncertainty in the U.S. forces’ ability to maintain a reliable and sufficient supplier base in the event of conflicts. The Committee notes that studies by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) have found that DoD lacks a framework and consistent approach for managing supplier base concerns such as counterfeit parts in the supply chain, and reliance on rare earth materials from the People’s Republic of China in military equipment and systems. As a result, the conference report requires a specific assessment by DoD of the vulnerabilities posed to defense systems by disruptions in critical items to the defense supply chain. (Sec. 852) 
- Enhancing readiness force posture in the Western Pacific to balance China’s increasing military power. The conference report enhances the readiness posture of the Armed Forces in the Asia-Pacific in response to the region's shifting security environment, including China's military modernization, through a new independent assessment to review force posture, options for realignment, and views of noted leaders in the field. (Sec. 346) 
- Reviewing and reporting on Iran’s and China’s conventional and anti-access capabilities. The conference report language requires an independent review by the Comptroller General assessing the gaps between conventional and anti-access capabilities of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the People’s Republic of China, in addition to an assessment of the United States Armed Forces’ ability to overcome such capabilities. (Sec. 1232)

Supported Virginia and the 4^th Congressional District in Defense Policy Bill.  Due to Congressman Forbes' efforts, the final national defense policy bill contains a number of provisions important to the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Fourth Congressional District, and Virginia’s many defense installations and service members.
- Fully funding shipbuilding construction plans. The conference report language provides $14.9 billion and supports 10 new construction ships. (Sec. 4101) Specifically, the conference report language provides:  $4.68 billion for procurement of nuclear-powered Virginia-class submarines for immediate construction and long-term planning; $555 million for nuclear aircraft carrier construction; and $530 million to support nuclear aircraft carrier refueling .
- Authorizing nearly $75 million for modernization and improvements to Norfolk Naval Shipyard. At the Navy’s request, the conference report authorizes $74.864 million for the construction of a controlled industrial facility to improve and modernize Norfolk Naval Shipyard, the Navy’s oldest and largest industrial facility. (Sec. 4601)
- Authorizing $108.3 million for improvements at Norfolk Naval Station.  At the Navy’s request, the conference report authorizes $81.3 million to construct a new-enlisted bachelor quarters housing 620 junior sailors as part of the Navy’s Homeport Ashore initiative and $27 million for a decentralized steam plant. (Sec. 4601)
- Investing $11 million in Fort Pickett for Combined Arms Collective Training Facilities (CACTF). At the Army’s request, $11 million is authorized for military construction allowing Fort Pickett to construct Combined Arms Collective Training Facilities (CACTF). CACTF are designed to provide individuals battalion-level, home station, and urban operations training. These new training facilities will allow units to train soldiers on building entry and room clearing techniques under live and blank-fire conditions and limited subterranean training in an urban training facility large enough to conduct combined arms force-on-force collective training at the battalion/task force level. (Sec. 4601)
- Investing $113 million in needed military construction at NAB Little Creek and JB Langley-Eustis. An additional $37 million in funding was authorized for the SOF Seal Team Operational Facility at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek while Joint Base Langley-Eustis received $50 million in funding for barracks and $26 million for an Aviation Training Facility. (Sec. 4601)
- Increasing funding for Navy ship maintenance. The conference report increases the President’s requested $6.18 billion for Navy ship maintenance by $150 million for Navy ship depot maintenance only. This is $217 million less than the Navy requires to fully fund ship maintenance. Ensuring the maintenance of preexisting equipment is particularly vital at a time of increased pressure on DoD to reduce spending, which is part of Congressman Forbes' rationale in withholding his signature from the conference report. (Sec. 4301)
- Directing the Secretary of Defense to perform cost/benefit analysis of Africa Command basing alternatives. Report language directs the Secretary of Defense to conduct this basing review in an open and transparent manner.  It encourages the Secretary to locate Africa Command in an area like Virginia that is capable of providing the maximum military value to the realigned command and at the minimum cost required to implement the relocation. (H.R. 1540 Report Language)
- Requires DoD to employ a competitive strategy for procuring engines on the Next Generation Bomber. The conference report language directs the Air Force to develop a competitive acquisition strategy for engines on the Next Generation Bomber, offering an opportunity for Virginia companies to compete and save American taxpayer money by driving down costs. (Sec. 220)  

Protected Virginia employers from job-destroying regulations.  Congressman Forbes supported the Fiscal Year 2012 omnibus appropriations bill, which prohibits the Department of Labor from proposing or implementing the controversial H-2B wage requirement rules.  In January 2011, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued a final rule revising how wages paid to H-2B workers are calculated.  At a time when companies are struggling to stay in business, this recalculation will cause all H-2B workers’ wages to substantially rise.  Many employers will be unable to pay these wages; as a result, they will be unable to hire these workers, their work will go undone, and significant revenues will be lost.  In short, this could lead to the loss of American jobs that are supported by H-2B workers.  In response, Congressman Forbes signed a letter to House Appropriators specifically requesting that language be included in the bill to prohibit the implementation of this job-destroying rule. 

Strengthened our nation’s border security.  Congressman Forbes supported the Fiscal Year 2012 omnibus appropriations bill, which made significant investments in improving our nation’s s border security.  The bill provided new funding for border security operations, intelligence activities and the acquisition of essential new tactical resources.  Passage of the omnibus appropriations bill means that our borders will now be protected by over 21,000 border patrol agents along with new tactical assets, stemming the tide of illegal immigration.

Opposed release of sensitive, personal information of judges.  Congressman Forbes supported a Senate amendment to H.R. 1059, a bill to protect the safety of judges by extending the authority of the Judicial Conference to redact sensitive information contained in their financial disclosure reports for a period of 6 years through December 31, 2017. 
This bill passed the House by voice vote.

Supported financial reform and increased accountability.  Congressman Forbes supported a Senate amendment to H.R. 2056, a bill intended to instruct the Inspector General of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to study the impact of insured depository institution (bank) failures.  The bill also directs the Government Accountability Office to carry out a separate study on the causes of high rates of bank failure in states that have had 10 or more failures since 2008. 
This bill passed the House by voice vote.

Reduced the budget for the Department of Education and preserved funding for key programs.  Congressman Forbes supported the Fiscal Year 2012 omnibus appropriations bill, which reduced funding for the Department of Education by $153 million from last year’s level and $9.3 billion below the President's budget request.  Notably, Title I Grants, or grants to local school districts to help all children become proficient in reading and math, are increased to ensure our nation's children have basic reading and math skills.  The bill also supports special education programs to help school districts pay for the extra costs of educating all children with disabilities and cuts funding for the Administration’s inflexible “Race to the Top” initiative by more than 20 percent.  Finally, the legislation ensures that the maximum Pell grant award is continued at $5,550 while making common-sense reforms to the Pell grant program to ensure its financial stability in future years. These include: limiting grants per student to a maximum of six years/12 semesters; requiring a high school diploma, GED or completion of a homeschooling program to receive a Pell grant; slightly adjusting the minimum Pell grant; and reducing the income level below which a student will automatically receive the maximum Pell grant from $30,000 to $23,000. These reforms are estimated by the Congressional Budget Office to save more than $11 billion over the next 10 years.

Prevented tax dollars from being used to curb Second Amendment rights.  Congressman Forbes supported the Fiscal Year 2012 omnibus appropriations bill, which prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from activities that advocate or promote gun control; previously, this prohibition only applied to the Center for Disease Control.  Additionally, the legislation prevents federal funds from being used for lobbying efforts designed to support or defeat the passage of legislation by Congress or any state or local legislative body. 

Supported fiscally responsible disaster relief.  Congressman Forbes supported two pieces of legislation that fully funded the federal government’s programs that assist states and communities recovering from natural disasters.  The first bill, H.R. 3672, provided funding for fire assistance, emergency declarations, major disasters, surge operations, and disaster readiness support.  These funds will help cover costs associated with large-scale disasters such as Hurricane Irene.  The Army Corps of Engineers also received funding to repair damage to critical infrastructure caused by recent storms and floods.  The second measure, H.Con.Res. 94, ensured that this disaster assistance funding would not add to our nation’s deficit.  By cutting 1.83% of federal government discretionary spending across-the-board, the House of Representatives fully paid for this investment in disaster preparedness.  This across-the-board cut did not impact our nation’s vital Department of Defense, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs budgets. 
H.R. 3672 passed the House by a vote of 351-67 and H.Con.Res. 94 passed the House by a vote of 255-165.

Protected our nation’s nuclear arsenal.  Congressman Forbes supported the Fiscal Year 2012 omnibus appropriations bill approved by the House and Senate that provided vital funding to the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to ensure that our nation’s nuclear weapons are protected and maintained properly.  The NNSA is responsible for the development, maintenance, and disposal of U.S. nuclear weapons, as well as preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Stopped the implementation of costly and unnecessary light bulb standards.  Congressman Forbes supported the Fiscal Year 2012 omnibus appropriations bill that prohibited the federal government from funding any enforcement or implementation of new light bulb efficiency standards.  Unchecked, these federal standards would have effectively prohibited the use of traditional incandescent light bulbs and required that the American people purchase more efficient fluorescent bulbs.  These fluorescent bulbs, while more efficient, also include toxic mercury.  While this bill does nothing to impact the sale of fluorescent bulbs, it prevents the federal government from removing the American consumer’s choice to purchase the type of light bulbs they desire.

Strengthened sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran.  Congressman Forbes supported H.R. 1905, the Iran Threat Reduction Act.  This legislation stipulates that Congress believes that Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons is a major threat to U.S. national security interests, and that Tehran’s material assistance to known terrorist groups provides the regime the potential to further impact U.S. national security.  As a result, H.R. 1905 declares that it is the policy of the United States to deny Iran the ability to support acts of terrorism and develop unconventional weapons by implementing specific sanctions that can help in successfully executing that policy.  These sanctions are applied to individuals or groups who provide Iran weapons technology, nuclear technology, goods, services, technology, and information or support that could directly contribute to Iran’s ability to import refined petroleum products. 
The bill passed the House by a vote of 410-11.

Supported new tools to counter proliferation of weapons and technology to Iran, North Korea and Syria.  Congressman Forbes supported passage of H.R. 2105, the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Reform and Modernization Act of 2011.  This bill directs the President to report to Congress any foreign person who has transferred or acquired from Iran, North Korea and Syria certain listed nuclear, dual-use, missile, chemical, biological, toxic or prohibited technology.  The bill goes one step further to prohibit any U.S. nuclear cooperation agreements with any country that is assisting Iran, North Korea or Syria, and prevents U.S. visas from being granted to individuals involved with proliferating weapons to Iran. 
This bill passed the House by a vote of 418-2.

Cut U.S. funding for the United Nation’s Population Fund.  Congressman Forbes supported the Fiscal Year 2012 omnibus appropriations bill that cut U.S. contributions to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which has been linked to China’s brutal one-child policy.  Chinese law provides for coerced and forced abortion in order to enforce the birth limitation policy.  Funding for the UN Population Fund was cut off from 2002-2008; however, funding resumed in 2009 under the Obama Administration and from the Fiscal Year 2009 through the Fiscal Year 2011, $145 million has been appropriated for the UN Population Fund.  

Provided needed funding for the Army Corps of Engineers.  Congressman Forbes supported the Fiscal Year 2012 omnibus appropriations bill that fully funded the Army Corps of Engineers as they continue their work nationwide.  This funding means that the Army Corps can continue to ensure that Virginia’s communities have the assistance they need in building and upgrading bridges, dredging important waterways, and developing critical infrastructure. 

Ensured that our national parks will stay open and operating.  Congressman Forbes supported the Fiscal Year 2012 omnibus appropriations bill, which allocated funding to the National Park Service sufficient to prevent layoffs and park closures.  Our nation’s national parks provide unique educational and outdoor opportunities to millions of American’s each year.  Congressman Forbes has remained dedicated to finding the appropriate balance between ensuring our nation’s natural heritage is protected and the pressing obligation to cut federal spending and reduce our nation’s deficit.  This legislation ensured that our national parks will continue to provide their important service while remaining fiscally responsible.

Supported pro-life policies and a balanced approach to sex education for youth.  Congressman Forbes supported the Fiscal Year 2012 omnibus appropriations bill, which includes pro-life policies that prohibit the use of federal funds for abortion within federal employee health benefits, and prohibit federal and local funding for abortions in the District of Columbia. The bill also reduces funding for Title X of the Public Health Services Act, a source of funding for organizations that perform abortions.  Additionally, it ensures pro-life policies in American foreign policy by banning foreign aid from being spent on abortions; ensuring that international family planning programs are voluntary; and prohibiting funds from going to organizations that are deemed to have supported coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization.  In addition to pro-life policies, the bill encourages a balanced approach to sex education by allocating $5 million specifically for abstinence education programs.  Currently, the government funds contraceptive-centered programs above abstinence programs by a rate of 16 to 1.  The provision included in the Fiscal Year 2012 omnibus spending bill will eliminate some of this disparity in funding.

Supported retailers who have maintained a pro-Christmas message. Congressman Forbes joined 21 members of Congress is sending letters of support to retailers who have maintained a pro-Christmas message.  While it has become increasingly popular to secularize the Christmas season, a number of national and regional retailers have chosen to keep “Christ” in Christmas and to celebrate the real reason for the season.  Letters of support were sent to Walmart, Sam's Club, Target, T.J. Maxx, Sears, Lifeway, Michaels, Kohl's, Dollar General, Hallmark, Hobby Lobby, Big Lots!, Dillard's, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela's, Belk's, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Petsmart.  A copy of the letter is available here.