Ensured Funding for Important Immigration Programs.  During debate of the Homeland Security Appropriations bill, Congressman Forbes supported a number of amendments designed to secure our nation’s borders, prevent backdoor amnesty policies from being implemented, and protect our citizens living along our southern border from cross-border violence.  Facing escalating violence and an evolving security threat, it is imperative that the Department of Homeland Security be given the tools they need to protect the American people. 

Supported Fiscally Responsible Funding of Key Energy and Water Programs.  Congressman Forbes supported H.R. 5325, the Energy and Water Appropriations bill for the Fiscal Year 2013, a bill that cut spending on energy and water programs by $1.2 billion from the Administration’s request.  This legislation ensured sufficient funding for our nation’s critical nuclear weapons and nuclear security programs, guaranteed that the Army Corps of Engineers can continue its important work around the country, and provided the Department of Energy with the funding it needs to conduct its core responsibilities.  Importantly, the legislation struck an essential balance between cutting spending and maintaining programs and research that will preserve our nation’s waterways, meet our energy needs, and protect our nuclear capability. 

Letter to the Palestinian Authority.  Congressman Forbes, along with 25 of his colleagues, sent a letter to the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, urging that the PA respect religious freedom and cease its discrimination of the First Baptist Church of Bethlehem.  Under PA control, this church has been denied formal recognition, resulting in church member’s being denied basic documents, prevented from voting and precluded from other basic services.  By refusing the First Baptist Church of Bethlehem recognition, the PA is denying the church members the basic human right of religious freedom.  Congressman Forbes’ letter was signed by 26 bipartisan members of the House of Representatives. 

Ensured Children and Families have Access to Child Support.  Congressman Forbes supported the International Child Support Recovery Improvement Act, H.R.4282, to ensure that the U.S. can comply fully with the obligations of the Hague Convention of November 2007 on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance, which the Senate gave its advice and consent to in 2010.  Under the current child support enforcement program, states have the option to recognize child support orders from other countries; however, some countries do not reciprocate our states’ efforts to collect child support from a noncustodial parent living abroad.

Prohibited the use of Federal Funding for Elective Abortions for Detainees. Congressman Forbes voted in favor of the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act (H.R. 5855), which included a provision that prohibited funds from being used to pay for abortions for detainees held in Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers.  The bill also contained conscience protections to prevent any person from being forced to participate in the performance of an abortion.  The provisions were added to H.R.5855 when it became apparent that, due to a loophole inadvertently created by the Homeland Security Act of 2002, nothing in the statute prevented taxpayer dollars from being used to fund abortions for detainees.