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| Week of October 11-14, 2011 |
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| Supporting a Job Creating Environment, Relieving Government Regulation |
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Congressman Forbes supported H.R. 2250, the Regulatory Relief Act. This legislation prevents the Environmental Protection Agency from piling new, expensive regulations on manufacturers, schools, and hospitals. Any business that uses an industrial boiler or incinerator would be subject to new onerous emissions standards that for many employers would have been prohibitively expensive. At a time when millions of Americans are out of work and our nation’s industrial base is looking for stability, it is inappropriate for the Federal Government to impose additional regulatory uncertainty and operating costs on our employers, schools, and hospitals.
The bill passed the House by a vote of 275-142.
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| Introducing the Strong Defense, Strong America Resolution |
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Congressman Forbes and 34 other Members of Congress introduced H. Res 441, a resolution stating that a strong military is vital to a strong economy. Today, Congress and the Administration are making decisions to cut our defense budget that will have long-term effects on the future of America's national security, as well as exacerbating already staggering unemployment. Moreover, the Strong Defense, Strong America resolution states that further cuts to national defense will only weaken our nation and constrain our ability to protect our most vital interests. Congressman Forbes does not support solving the fiscal crisis on the backs of the men and women defending our nation; he released a video explaining the impact of defense cuts to jobs and those that serve, which is available here.
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| Preventing Taxpayer Dollars from Subsidizing Abortion Services |
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Congressman Forbes supported the Protect Life Act, H.R. 358, to amend the recent health care law by prohibiting the use of federal taxpayer dollars to purchase insurance plans that cover abortion services. The bill also prevents the government from forcing private insurance companies to cover abortion, and provides conscience protections for health care providers to ensure that they are not discriminated against for objecting to abortion. Each year, several appropriations policies must be renewed to prevent taxpayer funding for abortion. These policies prohibit federal funds from being used to directly provide abortion services, and prevent abortions from being covered by federally sponsored health plans or programs. However, concerns arose during debate over the controversial health care bill that these annual policies were not enough to prevent the potential use of federal subsidies to purchase health insurance that includes abortion coverage from a state health insurance exchange.
The bill passed the House by a vote of 251-172.
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| Armed Services |
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Questioned Secretary Panetta on defense budget cuts. Congressman Forbes participated in a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee to receive the testimony of Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Martin Dempsey on the impact of defense budget cuts. Secretary Panetta insisted that further cuts to the defense budget would be "catastrophic" when the military is already battling terrorists worldwide, waging two overseas wars, monitoring Iran and China, and struggling with emerging cyberthreats. Watch Congressman Forbes question Secretary Panetta here.
Participated in a House Armed Service press conference. Congressman Forbes spoke at a House Armed Services Committee press conference on the impact further defense cuts would have on our national security, industrial base, and military servicemembers and their families. Video from the press conference is available here.
Listened to former Armed Services Chairmen offer perspectives on defense budget cuts. Congressman Forbes attended a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee in which former chairmen provided their views on further cuts to national security spending. The Committee heard from former Senator John Warner (R-VA), former Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee as well as former Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA) and former Congressman Ike Skelton (D-MO), both previous Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. All three expressed concerns about budgeting for defense without first taking a close look at strategy and the threats faced by the United States.
Called on Secretary Panetta to Review GE-AVIC partnership. Congressman Forbes sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta asking him to conduct a National Security Review of the joint venture between General Electric and the Chinese company AVIC. This venture aims to develop, in the People's Republic of China (PRC), an Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) hardware and software system for jets to be manufactured in that country, which will compete with U.S. firms such as Boeing. The letter also asks what other U.S. defense contractors have entered into joint ventures with entities in the PRC.
Voiced concern that defense cuts will impact military jointness. Congressman Forbes sent a letter to Congressman Bill Young, Chairman of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, expressing his concern with the reductions recommended by Chairman Young’s subcommittee to Joint Systems Integration Command (JSIC) and reductions recommended by the Senate Appropriations Committee to Joint Experimentation. JSIC is a program that conducts vital assessments of existing and developing military command and control equipment to ensure the systems are operable across the services. Joint Experimentation is a program that tests the operational concepts and plans for joint military forces.
Weighed in on future of U.S. Forces in Iraq. Congressman Forbes joined 30 members of the House of Representatives in sending a letter to President Obama urging him to ensure that any agreement between the United States and the Iraqi government to commit troops after the end of the year include immunity from Iraqi prosecution for our brave men and women in uniform. Our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines have selflessly sacrificed the last eight years to put Iraq on a path toward peace, stability, and democracy. To ask their continued sacrifice while failing to grant them legal immunity from frivolous and politically-charged prosecutions would simply be unacceptable.
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| Veterans Affairs |
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Increased veterans employment. Congressman Forbes supported the Veterans Opportunity to Work Act of 2011, H.R. 2433. This legislation makes much needed improvements to a number of veteran employment and job training programs. Today there are more than 1 million unemployed veterans in the United States; this number includes 236,000 Vietnam veterans, 258,000 Cold War veterans, 182,000 Persian Gulf War veterans and 192,000 Afghanistan veterans. Congressman Forbes believes that our nation’s veterans deserve better.
The bill passed the House by a vote of 418-6.
Improved sexual assault prevention in the VA. Congressman Forbes supported the Veterans Sexual Assault Prevention Act, H.R. 2074. This bill requires the Veteran’s Administration (VA) to develop a comprehensive policy for reporting and tracking sexual assaults and other safety incidents at VA medical facilities.
The bill passed the House by voice vote.
Supported improving administration of veteran's benefits. Congressman Forbes supported the Veterans' Benefits Training Improvement Act of 2011, H.R. 2349. The bill addresses various aspects of the administration of veteran's benefits and performance awards within the Veterans Affairs Department.
The bill passed the House by voice vote.
Increased mortgage protection for military spouses. Congressman Forbes supported a bill to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, H.R. 1263. The bill extends current protections against seizure and foreclosure, and increases these protections to the widowed spouses of servicemembers.
The bill passed the House by voice vote.
Supported recognizing the veteran status of reserve service. Congressman Forbes supported H.R. 1025 amending title 38, United States Code, to recognize the service in the reserve components of certain persons by honoring them with status as veterans under law. The bill provides honorary veteran status to individuals who served at least 20 years in the reserves, are under age 60 and were never called to active duty.
The bill passed the House by voice vote.
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Taxes
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Opposed excessive direct IRS involvement in personal tax filings. Congressman cosponsored the Taxpayer Freedom to File Protection Act, HR 2528, to prohibit the Secretary of the Treasury from developing or implementing a return-free tax system. The bill seeks to ensure that the Internal Revenue Service does not start filing taxes for people in the name of “customer service.”
*The House Clerk has not yet added Congressman Forbes as a cosponsor online.
Supported free online filing for federal income taxes. Congressman cosponsored the Free File Program Act, H.R. 2569, to make the Internal Revenue Service Free File Program permanent. The Free File Program provides eligible taxpayers with free online individual income tax preparation and electronic filing services.
*The House Clerk has not yet added Congressman Forbes as a cosponsor online.
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| Health Care |
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Supported reducing health care costs for families and businesses. Congressman cosponsored the Health Equity Act, H.R. 2662, which allows individuals and small businesses to deduct costs associated with their health insurance. This legislation also allows individuals to use their HSAs and FSAs for wellness programs and permits individuals to deduct up to $1,200 for the costs associated with fitness centers and wellness programs.
Supported repeal of burdensome regulations in health care law. Congressman cosponsored the American Job Protection Act, H.R. 1744, to repeal the employer mandate in the health care law. Beginning in 2014, employers with 50 or more employees will be fined if they do not offer a certain level of health care coverage.
*The House Clerk has not yet added Congressman Forbes as a cosponsor online.
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Labor
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Protected jobs from government inference. Congressman cosponsored the Employee Workplace Freedom Act, H.R. 2833*, to repeal a recent ruling by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) that will require more than six million businesses to post an outline of National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) by November 14, 2011 or potentially face legal action for failure to comply. Over the past two and a half years, American businesses—both small and large—have dealt with an onslaught of new mandates, regulations and taxes. The National Labor Relations Board added yet another rule recently when it announced that employers must display 11 by 17 inch signs outlining the 76-year-old National Labor Relations Act. This needless requirement, which falls outside the NLRB's statutory authority, opens the door for legal action by the NLRB against companies that do not comply.
*The House Clerk has not yet added Congressman Forbes as a cosponsor online.
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| Trade |
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Spurred economic growth, expanded trade. Congressman Forbes supported the passage of three new free trade agreements between the American People and South Korea, Columbia and Panama. These agreements, H.R. 3078, H.R. 3079, and H.R. 3080, are expected to increase exports from Virginia’s agricultural, electronics and manufacturing sector by millions of dollars each year; passage of these trade agreements began under the George W. Bush Administration. Congressman Forbes joined a bipartisan effort to ensure that our nation’s producers are given fair market access for their goods.
All three agreements passed the House and the Senate and were signed into law by the President.
Ensured access to Trade Adjustment Assistance for Virginia’s workers. Congressman Forbes supported a Senate amendment to H.R. 2832 to extend the Generalized System of Preferences. This amendment funded the Trade Adjustment Assistance program by cutting down on fraud in the unemployment insurance program and making Medicare contracts more competitive. Trade Adjustment Assistance is a federal program that provides aid to workers who lose their jobs as a result of increased imports. This aid may come in the form of training, job relocation, and income support. Due to the importance of these two programs to Virginians in all industry sectors, Congressman Forbes voted in favor of H.R. 2832.
The bill passed the House 307-122.
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Foreign Policy
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Urged the Administration’s swift engagement on behalf of Christian Pastor facing death sentence for his beliefs. Congressman Forbes joined 89 of his colleagues in urging Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s swift engagement in support of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani’s immediate release in Iran. Pastor Nadarkhani faces execution for refusing to denounce his Christian faith. Congressman Forbes and his colleagues in Congress continue to call for the immediate release of Pastor Nadarkhani and hope that his case reminds all Americans that we must never take our own religious freedom for granted. The letter is available here.
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China
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Condemned China’s imprisonment, torture and execution of prisoners of conscience. Congressman Forbes cosponsored H. Res. 416, a resolution condemning the People’s Republic of China for its treatment of prisoners of conscience who have been tortured, imprisoned, and executed because of their political, religious, and conscientiously held beliefs. The resolution also urges the Administration to raise the issue of prisoners of conscience in its diplomatic meetings with China and expresses a sense of Congress in sympathy for the families of individuals who have been murdered, imprisoned, or tortured by the Chinese government.
*The House Clerk has not yet added Congressman Forbes as a cosponsor online.
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About Washington Update
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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.
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