Washington Update - Week of July 27

Weeks of July 27- July 31, 2009

	Creating Transparency in the Legislative Process Congressman Forbes introduced legislation, H.Res.694, to ensure Members can demand a reading of a bill prior to a vote on the House floor, especially in circumstances where insufficient time had been given for the review of that measure. Current House rules include the right for any Member to demand a reading of the bill, but this rule is routinely waived.

	Extending Homebuyer Opportunities to Service Members Congressman Forbes introduced legislation to ensure deployed service members are not excluded from the opportunity to take advantage of first-time homebuyer tax credits. H.R.3389, the Bring Assistance to Heroes (BAH) Act of 2009 would extend the $8,000 first-time homebuyer federal tax credit for one calendar year to any service member that served on qualified official extended duty at any time during the first 11 months of 2009. The bill would also waive the recapture requirement for service members called to deploy after purchasing a home.

	Doubling Funding for Medical Research Congressman Forbes introduced the Accelerate Cures for Patients Act, H.R. 3475, which would direct new funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to those research projects that have the most clinical benefit for patients in the near-term. Delaying the onset of diseases such as Diabetes, Parkinson's, Alzheimers, heart disease, and others would help improve the lives of millions across the country and save billions of dollars in healthcare costs.

Healthcare

Discussed healthcare with constituents during a telephone town hall meeting. Congressman Forbes held a conference call to hear from residents of Virginia’s Fourth District on healthcare reform. Constituents shared their ideas and concerns on issues like maintaining current Medicare benefits for seniors, making insurance available across state lines, and insuring the uninsured, as well as sharing examples of the impact of a government-takeover of healthcare and noting concerns of waste, fraud, and abuse in the healthcare system. Over the past few weeks, Congressman Forbes has spoken with physicians, nurses, hospital administrators, and citizens on healthcare. To read Congressman Forbes’ thoughts on the telephone town hall meeting, visit his blog.

Proposed making health insurance more affordable for those without employer coverage. Congressman Forbes cosponsored H.R. 3218, the Improving Health Care for All Americans Act, which provides a refundable tax credit of up to $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for families for medical costs. The bill would improve access to health insurance coverage by allowing individuals to pool together through associations and reducing costs for high-risk individuals by increasing support for high risk insurance pools. The bill also allows those who have insurance through their employer to keep it.

Spoke on the House floor about health care reform. Congressman Forbes shared with the House of Representatives the concerns he has heard from citizens in the Fourth District, including how the proposed health care plan would impact senior citizens. To watch the floor speech, click here.

Economy

Opposed additional government intervention in the auto industry. Congressman Forbes voted to oppose H.R. 3435, a supplemental to the Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Program, known as the "Cash for Clunkers" program. "Cash for Clunkers" uses federal money to issue vouchers between $3,500 and $4,500 for consumers that buy a new car upon the trade-in of a less fuel-efficient used vehicle. Last week, it was reported that the program was running out of funds after one week. In response, H.R. 3435 would transfer an additional $2 billion to the program from the Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Program in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This $2 billion is in addition to the $84 billion already committed by American taxpayers for the automotive industry.
This bill passed the House by a vote of 316-109.

Opposed more government control of private business. Congressman Forbes voted to oppose H.R. 3269, which would regulate executive compensation of publicly traded companies. The bill requires shareholders to hold annual votes on executive compensation and would also require federal bureaucrats to prohibit any private compensation structure that they deem “inappropriately risky."
This bill passed the House by a vote of 237-185.

Homeland Security

Called for requiring a plan before closing Guantanamo Bay. Congressman Forbes voted to support H.Res.636 in a House Judiciary Committee markup, which would require the Attorney General to provide a basic plan to Congress on the transfer or release of detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba before the detention center were to close. Attorney General Eric Holder has kept secret the Administration’s plans for closing the facility and their intentions for the 200+ detainees currently housed there. Congressman Forbes visited the Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay facility two weeks ago. Read his thoughts here.

Supported a state-wide exercise to improve disaster preparedness. At Congressman Forbes’ request, funding was included in the Defense Appropriations bill, H.R. 3326, to create complex and collaborative exercises across the Commonwealth of Virginia to help strengthen disaster preparedness. The exercises will include cooperation between state, federal and local officials to prepare for both man made and natural disasters.
This bill passed the House by a vote of 400-30.

Small Business

Supported technological advancement in small business. Congressman Forbes supported H.R. 1807 to direct the Small Business Administration (SBA) to contract with qualified vendors to distribute throughout the United States technology related to entrepreneurship, credit management, financial literacy, and federal small business development programs.

This bill passed the House by voice vote.

Transportation

Voted to restore the Federal Highway Trust Fund balance. H.R. 3357 would transfer $7 billion to the balance, which is needed to prevent significant reductions in Fiscal Year 2009 federal highway programs. The bill will allow the Commonwealth of Virginia to move forward with transportation projects with the assurance that they will receive the amount of transportation funds pledged to them under federal law.

The bill passed the House by a vote of 363-68.

Defense

Offered amendment to fix Navy’s ship repair shortfall. Congressman Forbes offered a bipartisan amendment to the annual Defense Appropriations bill to increase funding for ship repair by $200 million. This funding was one of the top concerns of the Navy. The amendment would remove $200 million from the research and development of the Presidential (VH-71) helicopter program and instead direct the funding towards the Navy’s ship repair account. The Navy has identified ship repair funds as its number two priority on a list of requests that did not get fully funded in the Fiscal Year 2010 budget. The Rules Committee, which determines which amendments will be considered on the House floor, denied the amendment.

Discussed issues facing the U.S. shipyard industrial base. Congressman Forbes met with Matthew Paxton, President of the Shipbuilders Council, to discuss a wide range of issues including shipbuilder assistance and safety programs. Congressman Forbes reiterated the significant role of the shipbuilding industry and its important role in our economy.

Met with the top Pentagon official for military installations and the environment. Congressman Forbes and Dr. Dorothy Robyn discussed the Navy’s ongoing selection of an Outlying Landing Field (OLF) and the Navy’s proposal to move an aircraft carrier to Mayport, Florida.

Supported the 2010 Defense Funding Bill. Congressman Forbes voted in support of H.R. 3326, the Department of Defense Appropriation Act, 2010, which funds the Department of Defense’s annual operations and programs.

This bill passed the House by a vote of 400-30.

Recognized the service of noncommissioned officers (NCOs) of the U.S. Army. Congressman Forbes cosponsored and supported H.J.Res. 44 to express appreciation for NCOs who serve or have served in defense of the United States.

Requested an evaluation of the way the Department of Defense (DoD) utilized stimulus funds. Congressmen Forbes and Congressman Solomon Ortiz, Ranking Member and Chairman of the House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee, sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office asking it to examine the means in which the DoD allocated over $12 billion dollars in stimulus funds. Specifically, Rep. Forbes and Rep. Ortiz questioned how the DoD will use the stimulus funds to address unfunded requirements, how the funds will be used to increase the quality of life for military personnel, and how it will track and monitor the use of the stimulus funds.

Opposed relocation of National Guard Headquarters from Ft. Pickett. Congressman Forbes sent a letter to Governor Tim Kaine regarding plans to move the Headquarters to Sandston, Virginia. The House Armed Services Committee has expressed its concern that the funding for this construction project could be used to reduce the equipment backlog facing our National Guard.

Veterans

Increased funding for home improvement for disabled veterans. Congressman Forbes voted in support of H.R. 1293, which would increase the amount authorized for disability-related improvements made to homes of veterans with service-connected disabilities.

This bill passed the House by a vote of 426-0.

Increased assistance for caregivers of disabled veterans. Congressman Forbes supported H.R. 3155 to make support services available to caregivers of disabled veterans, both family and non-family. These services include educational sessions teaching caring techniques, strategies, respite and nursing care, counseling and mental health services, medical care, lodging and subsistence.

This bill passed the House by voice vote.

Increased insurance availability for veterans. Congressman Forbes supported H.R. 3219 to establish permanent extension of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) coverage for completely disabled veterans. This legislation also allows veterans under age 60 to increase coverage under Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) in increments of up to $25,000 during each five-year period, to a maximum amount of $400,000.

This bill passed the House by voice vote.

Supported the growth of veteran-owned businesses. Congressman Forbes supported H.R.1803 to establish Veterans Business Center program to provide entrepreneurial training and counseling to veterans.
This bill passed the House by voice vote.

Second Amendment

Opposed an "all or nothing" approach to firearm regulation. Congressman Forbes cosponsored H.R. 2296 the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives (BATFE) reform bill to modernize and improve BATFE operations. The bill will prevent BATFE from having to take an “all or nothing” approach to violations by allowing appropriate actions between warnings and revocation. Under current law, for most violations, BATFE can only give a federal firearms license (FFL) holder a warning or totally revoke his or her license. H.R. 2296 would allow fines or license suspensions for less serious violations, while still allowing license revocation for serious violations such as impeding an investigation or putting guns in the hands of criminals.

Environment

Protected the public from beach pollution. Congressman Forbes supported H.R. 2093 to require states and local governments to test their beach waters for pollution and notify the public of any threats to human health. This bill also creates a “rapid testing” program to report coastal water quality no more than six hours after a sample is collected. The majority of beach closings in the United States are due to indications of the presence of high levels of harmful microorganisms found in untreated or partially treated sewage. Children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are most likely to develop illnesses or infections after swimming in polluted water.
This bill passed the House by voice vote.

Housing

Supported permitting rural homeowners to refinance their loans. Congressman Forbes supported H.R. 2034, the Rural Homeowners Protection Act, to permit refinancing of certain loans under the Rural Housing Service program for guaranteed loans for rural housing. Currently, rural families who obtain a mortage from a private lender for a single-family residence are not permitted to refinance their loans through the Rural Housing Guaranteed Loan Program. This bill would make rural families who meet current income and geographic criteria eligible to refinance their private home loans through the program.
This bill passed the House by voice vote.

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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