Washington Update - Spurring International Investment in the U.S. and Creating Jobs

Congressman Randy Forbes | Washington Update

Send me an email | Forward to a Friend

Week of March 19 - 23, 2012

Spurring International Investment in the U.S. and Creating Jobs

Congressman Forbes supported a bill, H.R. 3992, to spur international investment in the United States and create jobs. Specifically, the bill would allow Israeli nationals to apply for an E-2 investor visa to the United States, adding them to a list of over 75 countries already eligible for E-2 visas. E-2 visas are temporary visas available to foreign nationals who must be a national of a country with which the United States has a treaty. The legislation brings Israeli investors one step closer to expanding their businesses to the United States and creating jobs for hardworking American workers. This bill passed by a vote of 371-0.

Repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board

Congressman Forbes worked to lower costs and ensure access to care by supporting the Protecting Access to Healthcare (PATH) Act, H.R.5, to reduce costs and reform our medical malpractice liability system by reducing frivolous lawsuits that drive up health care costs. The legislation included another bill, the Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2011, to repeal the provision in the health care law that created the Independent Payment Advisory Board, a board of unelected bureaucrats whose sole purpose is to save money by restricting access to care of Medicare beneficiaries. This bill passed by a vote of 233-182-1.

Questioning the Administration’s Proposed BRAC Round

Congressman Forbes held a House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee hearing on March 8th to evaluate the necessity of the Obama Administration’s proposal for another round of Base Realignment and Closures. The Congressman questioned the strategy behind such a move expressing his opinion that peace would come from retaining our military strength and that reducing our military now is a dangerous decision in such an uncertain global environment. Click here to watch Congressman Forbes’ remarks in the hearing.

Government Spending

Cut government waste and unnecessary spending. Congressman Forbes supported passage of the Excess Federal Building and Property Disposal Act of 2012, H.R. 665. This bill requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to conduct a program for the disposal of wasted or unnecessary federal property. Within the first 19 years, this bill requires the OMB Director to save $19 billion through the closure and sale of these wasteful properties. At a time when our nation’s debt is over $15 trillion, Congressman Forbes continues to support measure that end the irresponsible waste of taxpayer month on wasteful federal properties. H.R. 665 passed the House by a vote of 403-0.

Defense

Held the President accountable on strategic deterrence and missile defense. Congressman Forbes cosponsored a bill, H.R. 4125, which would prohibit the transfer of classified missile defense technology to the Russian Federation. This legislation was introduced in response to the President’s signing statement for the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which indicated he would not enforce similar provisions to this bill contained in an amendment to the NDAA (Section 1244). Additionally, Congressman Forbes cosponsored Rep. Turner’s (R-OH) Maintaining the President’s Commitment to our Nuclear Deterrent and National Security Act of 2012, H.R. 4178. This legislation cites the President’s promises surrounding nuclear modernization, and codifies those commitments into law. Specifically, the bill would directly link reductions in U.S. nuclear forces with successful execution of the President’s nuclear modernization plan.

Supported a strong submarine industrial base. Congressman Forbes, along with Reps. Langevin, Wittman and Courtney, signed a letter to the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee voicing their strong support for the Virginia Class Submarine Program and the industrial base that supports it. In this letter, the Congressman and his colleagues specifically urged support for continued multi-year procurement authority for the Virginia Class Submarine Program and for the consideration of alternative strategies that would sustain submarine construction at two a year in 2014 and through the course of the Block IV multi-year contract.

Questioned the Navy on maintenance and readiness issues. Congressman Forbes chaired a House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee hearing on March 22nd. At the hearing he questioned Navy leaders on how the retiring of seven cruisers, the inability of the Navy to meet Combatant Commanders requirements, the future submarine shortfall, and the possibility of sequestration will impact the Navy’s readiness posture.

Questioned the DoD on why the report on China’s military power is late. Congressman Forbes wrote a letter to Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta asking why the China Military Power Report was not delivered to Congress on March 1st, the date required by law. With the administration’s strategic pivot to Asia, this report is more important than ever for the National Defense Authorization process and needs to be delivered to Congress so lawmakers can fulfill their obligation of oversight of the Department of Defense.

Questioned General Allen on the Afghanistan War. On Tuesday March 20th, the House Armed Services Committee held a hearing on recent developments in Afghanistan. At this hearing, Congressman Forbes asked General Allen how our progress in Afghanistan has made America safer and how the investments we have made in Afghanistan will be sustained beyond 2014.

Supported our forward deployed National Guard and Reserve troops. The Post Deployment Respite Absence Program (PDMRA) Program aims to provide service members deployed in excess of 12-24 months the opportunity to spend more time with their families by allowing them to accrue leave in addition to their regular leave. However, the DoD altered this policy on September 30^th 2011, effectively reducing PDMRA benefits promised. Congressman Forbes cosponsored H.R. 4045, a bill that seeks to exempt from this change in policy any member of the National Guard and Reserve whose mobilization and deployment commenced before policy took effect in October 2011.

International Relations

Worked to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Congressman Forbes cosponsored H.Res. 568, a resolution that expresses that it is vital for U.S. interests to prevent the Islamic Republic of Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability. In urging Iran to suspend all uranium-enrichment activities, this bill supports the use of increasing economic and diplomatic pressure to support the universal human rights of the Iranian people and opposes any attempt to implement a policy of “containment” in response to an Iranian nuclear threat. Congressman Forbes remains dedicated to preventing Iran from developing a nuclear capability that would destabilize the region and threaten Israel, our nation’s closest ally in the region.

Ensured continued support for Israel. Congressman Forbes cosponsored H.R. 4133, the United States – Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act of 2012, which reaffirms the commitment of the United States to Israel’s security as a Jewish state, expands cooperation between our two nations, and encourages Israel’s neighbors to recognize the nation’s right to exist.

Clarified U.S. authority to impose financial sanctions against Iran. Congressman Forbes cosponsored H.R. 4070, a bill that clarifies U.S. authority to seize financial assets of the Islamic Republic of Iran that are being held in the United States. This means that U.S. banks that are holding Iranian funds frozen by U.S. sanctions can be seized by the U.S. government rather than be returned to the Iranian regime. This clarification would allow victims of Iranian terrorism, such as the families of the victims of the 1983 Marine Corps barracks bombing in Beirut, Lebanon, to pursue these seized funds as compensation for damages. In the case of the victims of the Beirut bombing, U.S. courts have already ruled that the Iranian government owes these families compensation. This bill provides an avenue for those families to finally receive some payment from Iran for the death of their loved ones.

China

Demanded justice for thousands hurt by Chinese drywall. Congressman Forbes joined Reps. Rob Wittman, Scott Rigell and Bobby Scott, in introducing H.R. 4212, the Contaminated Drywall Safety Act of 2012. This bill declares that drywall manufactured in China is imminently hazardous and a banned hazardous substance. The bill also urges the U.S. State Department to work to ensure that Chinese manufacturers are held accountable for the damage that they have done through their harmful products. Thousands of Americans have been forced out of their homes through no fault of their own as a result of this contaminated drywall from China.

Environment and National Resource

Preserving access to Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Congressman Forbes cosponsored H.R. 4094, the Preserving Access to Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area Act. This bill would ensure that pedestrians and motorized vehicles continue to have access to Cape Hatteras while maintaining a mechanism to protect the seashore’s wildlife and natural beauty.

Helping to bring jobs to Virginia. Congressman Forbes supported H.R. 2087, a bill to remove deed restrictions on a parcel of land in Accomack County, Virginia. In the 1970s, as part of the Federal Land to Parks program, the federal government gave 32 acres located near NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility to the Commonwealth of Virginia. When this land was given it came with restrictions that this land was to be designated for recreational use. Now, over 30 years later, this land represents a significant potential for economic development and could bring much needed jobs to the Commonwealth. H.R. 2087 simply removes the deed restriction that prevents the community from taking advantage of this resource. H.R. 2087 passed the House by a vote of 240-164.

Veterans
Honored WWII veterans of the Civil Air Patrol. Congressman Forbes supported a bill, H.R. 719, to award a Congressional Gold Medal to collectively honor the unusual civilian wartime service of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP). During the war, CAP volunteers used their own aircraft to provide extraordinary combat and emergency services during a critical time for the nation.

Judiciary
Supported the loan of artwork to the United States. Congressman Forbes supported the Foreign Cultural Exchange Jurisdictional Immunity Clarification Act, H.R.4086, to clarify the immunity of foreign nations with respect to art exhibits or other cultural objects on loan for display in the United States. This bill passed the House by voice vote.

Financial Services
Honored the U.S. Marshals Service. Congressman Forbes supported the United States Marshals Service 225th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act, H.R.886, to direct the Treasury to mint and issue coins to commemorate the 225th anniversary of the U.S. Marshals Service. This bill passed by a vote of 409-2-2.

Family Values

Defended the presence of a cross at veterans memorial. Congressman Forbes led 33 Members of Congress in submitting an amicus curiae brief to the Supreme Court, defending the presence of a cross at the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial in California. The brief asks the Supreme Court to reverse a lower court decision that held the cross’s presence at the memorial unconstitutional. In recent years, lawsuits have alleged that the cross is an unconstitutional endorsement of religion. A cross has been at the memorial since 1913, and Congress has tried repeatedly to preserve this historic monument to our veterans. Congressman Forbes will continue working to ensure that memorials to our nation’s veterans are not dismantled and stripped of symbols that honor their service.

About Washington Update

Washington Update serves as a resource to the constituents of the Fourth Congressional District of Virginia on the work of Congressman Forbes. It is published weekly while Congress is in session. Hyperlinks to bill information are provided if the information disseminated by the House of Representatives is available at the time of distribution.

As always, Congressman Forbes welcomes your comments. To share your thoughts on legislation, votes or issues, please visit http://randyforbes.house.gov to send an e-mail or call any of Congressman Forbes' three district offices.

Home | Contact | Forward to a Friend | Unsubscribe | Subscribe | Privacy | Office Locations
Please do not reply to this message. This email address does not accept incoming messages. To send an email, click here.