Congressman Randy Forbes | Washington Update
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Week of February 14 - 18, 2011 Twitter Facebook YouTube Digg RSS
Reducing Federal Spending by $61.5 Billion


Congressman Forbes supported the Fiscal Year 2011 Continuing Resolution (H.R.1) reducing federal spending by $61.5 billion through September 30, 2011. The bill included the elimination of federal funding for abortion and public broadcasting and prohibited the use of funds this year for the disestablishment of U.S. Joint Forces Command. During the more than 90 hours of debate, Congressman Forbes voted on over 100 amendments. The legislation is currently pending in the Senate and must be acted on by March 4, 2011.
This bill passed by a vote of 235 -189.
Opposing Offering Defense Contracts to China


Congressman Forbes, along with eight other Members of Congress, sent a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates expressing concern over recent news that Chinese-owned defense companies plan to seek U.S. defense contracts. The Wall Street Journal previously reported that Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC), a state-owned Chinese defense company, is working with a U.S. firm to prepare bids for the new presidential helicopter and the replacement training jet for the Air Force. The letter encourages the Secretary of Defense to consider the national security implications of such a decision and encourages him to work closely with Congress to ensure hardware vital to national security is not procured from state-owned foreign sources.
Opposing Funding to Implement the Controversial Health Care Law

Congressman Forbes supported an amendment (H.AMDT.102) prohibiting the use of funds to pay any employee, officer, contractor, or grantee of any department or agency to implement the provisions of the controversial new health care law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
This amendment passed by a vote of 239-187.
Defense

Blocked the disestablishment of U.S. Joint Forces Command. The House of Representatives passed an amendment offered by Congressman Forbes (H.AMDT.127), to the Fiscal Year 2011 Continuing Resolution that would prohibit the use of any funds to shutter the U.S. Joint Forces Command (JFCOM) for the fiscal year to allow Congress the time to study how restructuring JFCOM could impact national security and the ability of the Armed Forces to work jointly. The Department of Defense has targeted the Command for closure but has not provided justification, cost-benefit analysis, or a defined provider of this function in the future. Last year, 37 bipartisan Members of Congress from 22 states signed a letter requesting a subpoena of Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to provide information justifying the closure of JFCOM and other defense initiatives.
This amendment was agreed to by a voice vote.

Cut the Secretary of Defense’s “party fund.” The U.S. House of Representatives approved an amendment offered by Congressman Forbes (H.AMDT.128) to the Fiscal Year 2011 Continuing Resolution to eliminate $2 million allocated to the Secretary of Defense to host parties and dinners until the Department of Defense complies with the law requiring auditable financial statements. The Department of Defense is one of only two cabinet level departments that have never been able to receive a clean audit opinion of its financial statements.
This amendment passed by a vote of 241-184.

Opposed a monopoly of F-35 alternative engine development. Congressman Forbes opposed an amendment (H.AMDT.16) to the Fiscal Year 2011 Continuing Resolution eliminating funding for the F-136 engine program. The engine is under development and in competition with the F-135 engine to equip the three planned variants of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter for the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps. Competition between the F-135 and F-136 industry teams, unlike the sole source contract currently pursued by the DoD, will lead to continued technological advancements and cost efficiencies ensuring the DoD is afforded the opportunity to select the best engine for an aircraft that will constitute the bulk of the United States' fighter aircraft fleet by 2025.
This bill passed by a vote of 233-198.
Family Values

Rescinded government funding for abortion. Congressman Forbes supported an amendment offered by Rep. Mike Pence (H.AMDT.95) to the Fiscal Year 2011 Continuing Resolution (H.R.1) that eliminates federal funding for Planned Parenthood. The organization reported receiving $363 million in federal funding during the past fiscal year.
This amendment passed by a vote of 240-185.
Veterans

Supported our military veterans. Congressman Forbes cosponsored a proposed change to House Rules (H.Res.15) that would require the annual veterans spending bill be considered alone. In the past, spending bills that include veterans spending have been used by some to insert controversial items that are unrelated to our nation’s veterans. This rules change would require veterans spending be considered as a standalone bill, preventing those individuals from tacking on controversial or wasteful items in a “must pass” bill.
Government Reform

Supported transparency in public pension systems. Congressman Forbes cosponsored a bill (H.R.567) that would require state and local government employee pension plans to file an annual report on their financial status with the Secretary of the Treasury in order to receive certain tax benefits. Currently, many of these pension funds use unrealistic assumed rates of return when determining their level of unfunded future liabilities. Specifically, the bill would require that they report their funding status, contribution schedule, projections for the next 20 years and assumed rate of return in the estimate, statement of unfunded liabilities and a statement of the amount of pension obligations outstanding. The bill also directs the Secretary of the Treasury to make this information available via searchable website so that American taxpayers can be informed of the true level of indebtedness of many state and local pension funds.
Homeland Security

Extended PATRIOT Act provisions. Congressman Forbes supported extending expiring provisions of the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 and the Intelligence Reform of Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. The bill, H.R.514, will temporarily extend the provisions for three-months while the House Judiciary Committee holds hearing to consider full reauthorization.
This bill passed by a vote of 279 -143.
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.

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