Supported revising the tax code.  Congressman Forbes cosponsored H.R.462, the Tax Code Termination Act, which will abolish the Internal Revenue Code by December 31, 2015, and call on Congress to approve a new federal tax system by July of the same year. The most serious problem facing taxpayers—and the IRS—is the complexity of the Internal Revenue Code. Individuals and businesses spend 6.1 billion hours preparing their returns, about a year’s labor by three million full-time workers.

Opposed costly backdoor implementation of cap-and-trade.  Congressman Forbes cosponsored the Ensuring Affordable Energy Act, H.R.153, which prohibits federal funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement or enforce a cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gases.  Although the unpopular cap-and-trade legislation has not become law, the Administration has indicated that it will implement this policy through new EPA regulations without congressional approval.  This bill, if passed, will put an end to any back-door attempt to go around Congress and circumvent the will of the people.

Supported renewable energy development.  Congressman Forbes cosponsored the American Energy Independence and Price Reduction Act, H.R.49, which uses revenue from the oil and gas production in a 2,000 acre section of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) for a vast array of renewable energy programs.

Increased environmentally responsible oil exploration.  Congressman Forbes cosponsored H.R.1287, the Domestic Jobs, Domestic Energy, and Deficit Reduction Act (3-D Act), to create jobs by increasing domestic energy production off the outer continental shelf and opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) for environmentally responsible oil and gas production.

Defunded controversial health care law.  Congressman Forbes cosponsored H.R.127 to defund President Obama’s health care law.  This bill specifically prohibits any funds from being authorized to implement any provisions within the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.

Reined in unlimited federal healthcare spending.  Congressman Forbes supported H.R.1213 restricting the unchecked and unlimited spending authority granted to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to establish state based healthcare exchanges.  The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates this legislation would reduce federal deficits by $13 billion over the FY2012 to FY2016 period.
This bill passed the House by a vote of 238-183.

Questioned Attorney General on alleged gas price gouging and law enforcement issues.  Congressman Forbes questioned Attorney General Eric Holder in a House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing.  Concerned about price gouging and price collusion in the oil and gas industry, Congressman Forbes inquired as to what the Department was doing about rising gas prices.  General Holder was unable to name a single prosecution the Department of Justice has undertaken to pursue these possible criminal acts during his tenure.  Congressman Forbes also asked General Holder about the enforcement of the law in regard to prosecuting obscenity, particularly illegal adult hardcore pornography.  He urged the General to assign more prosecutors to these cases.  Last month, Congressman Forbes sent this request in a letter to General Holder, co-signed by 74 Members of the House of Representatives.  Read the letter here.

Opposed the sale of illegal drugs.  Congressman Forbes cosponsored H.R.1065, the Pill Mill Crackdown Act, which amends the Controlled Substances Act to provide for increased penalties for operators of pill mills, or phony pain management clinics.  The sale of illegal narcotics at these clinics had resulted in the deaths of many Americans from prescription drug overdoses.

Preserved free speech. Congressman Forbes signed onto the Broadcaster Freedom Act, H.R.642, which would prohibit the FCC from having the authority to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine and would preserve the fundamental right to free speech.  The fairness doctrine was overturned by the FCC in 1987 because, contrary to its purpose, it failed to encourage the discussion of more controversial issues. There were also concerns that it was in violation of First Amendment free speech principles.

Restored private property rights.  Congressman Forbes cosponsored the Private Property Rights Act, H.R.1433, which would restore the property rights of all Americans and prevent the federal government from using economic development as a justification for exercising its power of eminent domain.  The bill would also withhold federal funds from state and local governments that seize private property for commercial purposes.

Opposed desecration of the U.S. flag.  Congressman Forbes cosponsored H.J.Res.13, a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution providing Congress with the power to prohibit the physical desecration of the United States flag.

Called for U.S. Navy to comply with the Defense of Marriage Act.  Congressman Forbes joined 62 other members of the House of Representatives in sending a letter to Navy Secretary Ray Mabus calling for the Navy to obey the law in regard to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).  This comes in response to a recent Navy memo allowing for military bases and facilities to be used for same-sex marriage ceremonies as well as allowing Navy chaplains to perform same-sex marriages in their official capacity. Read the letter here.

Discussed aid to Pakistan on FoxNews.  Congressman Forbes appeared on the FoxNews Channel’s “America’s News HQ” to discuss the death of Osama bin Laden and the future of the United States’ relations with Pakistan. He stated in the interview that the United States must press for answers from Pakistan regarding the government’s knowledge of bin Laden’s whereabouts just over thirty miles from their capital city for over five years. Watch the interview here.

Protected American defense forces from the costs of military operations in Libya.  Congressman Forbes co-sponsored legislations, H.R.1323, that would require the President to submit recommended non-security accounts to be cut to fund operations in Libya.  Congress could then reallocate the funds the President recommends to the Department of Defense in order to fund more urgent national defense priorities.

Cut $30 million in funding to send a nuclear aircraft carrier to Mayport, FL.  Congressman Forbes submitted a request to the House Appropriations Military Contruction and Veteran Affairs subcommittee requesting the elimination of $30 million in funding that the Administration has requested to prepare Mayport, Florida to homeport a nuclear carrier currently stationed in Norfolk, Virginia.  Congressman Forbes was joined by five other members of the Virginia Congressional delegation in making this request. 

Supported full compensation of military families.  Congressman Forbes signed onto legislation, H.R.178, that would allow the surviving spouse or children of service members killed in action or by a service connected cause to receive their full compensation.  Under current law, members of a military family entitled to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation after the loss of a loved one are no longer eligible to what they were otherwise entitled to under the Survivor Benefit Plan, severely impacting approximately 60,000 military widows and widowers.

Kept dangerous terrorists off U.S. soil.  Congressman Forbes cosponsored legislation, H.R.513, to prohibit the use of federal funds for transferring detainees, currently held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to the United States.  Congressman Forbes offered a similar provision to the fiscal year 2011 Defense Authorization Bill that would prevent the Department of Defense from using its funds for this purpose.  H.R. 513 is broader in that it covers all federal money and does not expire at the end of the current year.

Called on Secretary Gates to submit overdue military power report on China.  Congressman Forbes sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Gates urging the Department of Defense to release the overdue annual report on the military power of the People’s Republic of China.  The Secretary of Defense is required to submit the report by March 1, each year.  Now two months late, Congress is beginning the process of authorizing appropriations for the Department of Defense without the Department’s perspective on the Chinese military.  Since the delayed submission of last year’s report, China has made considerable advancements in military capability.  These advancements include their first stealth jet fighter, an anti-ship ballistic missile that can target U.S. aircraft carriers, and the near completion of the nation’s first aircraft carrier.  Congressman Forbes continues to insist that Secretary Gates, as the head of the Department of Defense, provide legally mandated timely reports to Congress on the current and future threats facing our nation. Read the letter here.

Supported Governor McDonnell’s efforts in Asia.  Congressman Forbes joined his colleagues from the Virginia Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to the People’s Republic of China’s Ambassador to the United States, asking the Ambassador to convey their support for Governor McDonnell’s efforts to remove devastating bans on poultry and lumber exports from the Commonwealth of Virginia.  Gov. McDonnell is currently in the midst of a trade mission to Asia where he will meet with officials from the Chinese government to discuss the removal of these bans.  Congressman Forbes has been actively pursuing the removal of these unwarranted bans since their inception and supports the Governor’s actions while in Asia.  Read the letter here.

Putting a check on government overreach.  Congressman Forbes joined 170 of his colleagues in writing to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Jackson, and Assistant Secretary to the Army Darcy, urging their reconsideration of a proposed shift in jurisdictional guidelines for the application of the Clean Water Act (CWA).  This shift would vastly expand the CWA’s jurisdiction to regulate a many more bodies of waters, effectively moving the role of the CWA far beyond congressional intent.  Congressman Forbes believes that our system of checks and balances must be maintained and that the Executive Branch cannot be permitted to circumvent Congress’s authority to set statutory limits.

Supported needed tax deductions for teachers.  Congressman Forbes cosponsored H.R.694, the Teacher Tax Deduction Act, which amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the tax credit for expenses incurred by elementary and secondary teachers from $250 to $500.  The bill would extend the credit through December 31, 2011.

Moved to restrict taxpayer funding of abortion.  Congressman Forbes supported the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, H.R.3, which prohibits taxpayer funding of elective abortions, in addition to any insurance coverage that includes elective abortions.  The legislation removes all federal subsidies for abortions under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, prohibits a tax-preferred status for abortions as part of health savings accounts, and codifies the conscious clause of the Hyde-Weldon Amendment into law, providing protection for healthcare professionals, hospitals, and insurers who choose not to cover or perform abortions.
This bill passed the House by a vote of 251-175.    

Recognized America’s spiritual heritage. Congressman Forbes introduced the Spiritual Heritage Resolution, H.Res.253 which recognizes America’s rich spiritual heritage and designates the first week in May as “America’s Spiritual Heritage Week.”

Preserved the fundamental institution of marriage.  Congressman Forbes cosponsored the Marriage Protection Amendment, H.J.Res.45, which amends the United States Constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman.  On February 23, 2011, President Obama ordered the Justice Department to stop defending the Defense of Marriage Act, unilaterally deciding that the law barring the government from recognizing same-sex unions was unconstitutional.

Strengthened conscience protections for healthcare entities. Congressman Forbes cosponsored the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act, H.R.361, which would strengthen conscience protections for healthcare entities by prohibiting the government from discriminating against them for refusing to provide abortion-related services. The bill also would make conscience protections more enforceable by giving healthcare entities an opportunity to initiate legal action if they experience abortion-related discrimination.

Supported a worker’s right to a secret ballot election.  Congressman Forbes cosponsored H.R.1047, the State’s Right to Vote Act.  This bill amends the National Labor Relations Act to protect State requirements for a secret ballot election of labor organizations.