| Photo Essay: Chesterfield Town Hall & Listening Series |
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Over the past week, I have traveled throughout Chesterfield listening to your thoughts, concerns, and ideas for the future of America. Hundreds of Fourth District residents attended town hall meetings. Business leaders and educators shared their concerns about the future of our country. We discussed strengthening Social Security and Medicare with our seniors. Overwhelmingly, you said you were concerned about the cost of gas, sacrificing the strength of our military, and changes in the new health care law. You believe our nation needs to cut its spending. You want to see Congress work together.
I discussed what I've been hearing over the week on Richmond's 1140 WRVA morning show with Jimmy Barrett. You can listen to that interview here.
This photo essay will give you a glimpse of my time in Chesterfield. You can also view the photos in a slideshow here.
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Clockwise from Left: 1. Congressman Forbes prepares for a town hall meeting over the telephone. 2. Hundreds of Fourth District residents gathered for two town hall meetings. 3. Congressman Forbes fields questions on the budget and rising gas prices. 4. Congressman Forbes says hello to constituents as they arrive at town hall meetings.
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Clockwise from Left: 1. At a roundtable discussion, Congressman Forbes hears from business leaders. 2. Congressman Forbes talks education with local educators. 3. Between meetings, Congressman Forbes stops for lunch at Antonio's. 4. Congressman Forbes hears from the health care community at John Randolph Medical Center in Hopewell.
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Clockwise from Left: 1. After a town hall meeting, Congressman Forbes stops for frozen yogurt at Sweet Frog in Chester. 2. Congressman Forbes talks with seniors at a town hall at Tyler's Retreat. 3. VSU President Miller and Congressman Forbes talk education. 4 Student leaders at VSU gather for a roundtable discussion with Congressman Forbes.
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Clockwise from Left: 1. At a second town hall, Congressman Forbes addresses partisanship in Congress. 2. Congressman Forbes talks one-on-one with constituents at his town hall meeting. 3. Congressman Forbes attends the Black History Month Breakfast in Chesterfield. 4. Congressman Forbes thanks constituents for coming to speak with him.
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| Two Bills to Get Spending Under Control |
| I believe one of the first steps we must take to turn our nation’s fiscal course is to quit spending money we do not have and fix the broken budget process. The American people need to know that they have a fact-based, honest budget, and that leaders in Washington are making every effort to expedite spending cuts. I recently supported two bills that would bring us closer to that end.
Reform the Budget Process. I supported the Budget and Accounting Transparency Act, H.R. 3581. This would bring government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on-budget and require consideration of the market risk when calculating the cost of federal loans and guarantees. Read more here.
This bill passed the House by a vote of 245-180.
Expedite Consideration of Spending Cuts. I supported H.R.3521, to provide for an expedited process for spending cuts in which the President can submit to Congress proposed discretionary spending cuts from appropriations bills. The President cannot unilaterally veto funding; this bill simply allows the President to propose a rescission, and for that proposal to receive expedited consideration in Congress. It would be voted on by the House and Senate and would have to be signed by the President to become law. Read more here.
This bill passed the House by a vote of 254-173.
Read more about my work to cut spending here.
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| Defending Defense |
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| Congressman Forbes discussed defense budget cuts at a "Defending Defense" Conference on Capitol Hill. Read more on his blog. |
| Follow this link to learn more. |
| Celebrating African American History Month |
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| This month, we set aside time to recognize the contributions African Americans have made to American history. |
| Follow this link to read more. |
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