Congressman Randy Forbes | Washington Update
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Weeks of February 22- February 26, 2010 Twitter Facebook YouTube Digg RSS
 
Ending Monopoly Protections for Insurance Companies
Congressman Forbes voted to support the Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act, H.R. 4626, which would remove antitrust exemptions for health insurance companies and restore competition to the health insurance market to provide more affordability and consumer choice.
This bill passed the House by a vote of 406-19. 
 
Questioning the Mayport Carrier Homeporting Decision
Congressman Forbes questioned the Secretary of the Navy and Chief of Naval Operations during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on how moving a carrier from Norfolk, Virginia to Mayport, Florida fits within the Navy's budget proposal. The Navy provided the Committee a list of unfunded requirements that equal more than $523 million – a sum that Congressman Forbes pointed out could be paid for by foregoing the unnecessary replication of facilities in Mayport, Florida.
 
Keeping America's Homeland Safe
Congressman Forbes voted for H.R. 3961, to extend the USA PATRIOT Act for an additional year. The PATRIOT Act has been a crucial tool in the arsenal of law enforcement in keeping our country safe from future terror attacks.
This bill passed the House by a vote of 315-97.
Healthcare
Encouraged bipartisan dialogue in healthcare. Congressman Forbes is opposed to a government takeover of healthcare, but welcomes any dialogue that moves us closer to the healthcare solutions needed by our citizens, such as the Blair House Healthcare Summit led by the President last week.
 
Voted to ensure seniors' and military families' access to physicians. Congressman Forbes voted in support of a measure that would avert a payment cut to physicians who serve seniors and military families.
This bill passed the House by a vote of 315-97.
Economy
Extended vital highway and small business programs. Congressman Forbes voted to support a one month extension of programs in H.R. 4691 including federal highway programs, unemployment insurance benefits, COBRA health care subsidies, flood insurance program, and the Small Business Administration loan guarantee program.
This bill passed the House by voice vote.
Defense

Ensuring appropriate body armor for our men and women in uniform. Congressman Forbes participated in a House Armed Services Committee hearing on the Army’s FY2011 Budget where he received assurance from the Secretary of the Army, the Honorable John McHugh and the Army Chief of Staff General George Casey that the Army will establish a program to encourage the robust development of lightweight body armor to reduce the burden on our nation’s fighting men and women.

Encouraged transparency in our national defense procurement processes. Congressman Forbes sent a letter to the Secretary of Transportation expressing his concerns that highly-qualified and experienced defense contractors with locations in Virginia were being excluded from bidding for the operation and management of certain military vessels.

Called for realistic and achievable green energy goals for military bases. As Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee, Congressman Forbes expressed his support for the military’s progress in the use of clean energy technology so long as the Pentagon is also ensuring these moves do not impeded or hinder military training and use of ranges. Congressman Forbes encouraged the Department of Defense to utilize modeling and simulation as part of their green energy planning in order to reduce the interference of the devices.
  
Called for bipartisan intelligence legislation. Congressman Forbes voted against a partisan Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010, H.R. 2701. In addition to cutting $30 million in funding, the bill does not prohibit using intelligence funds to bring Guantanamo detainees into the United States or prohibit secret payments to relocate detainees to foreign countries. In addition, the bill requires videotaping of all CIA interrogations, potentially endangering value of information collected and intelligence personnel.

Judiciary
Supported creating a national missing children’s database. Congressman Forbes supported Billy’s Law, H.R. 3695, which would direct the Attorney General to maintain a public database known as the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), to help solve cases with unidentified human remains.
This bill passed the House by voice vote.

Voted to increase awareness of urban crime. Congressman Forbes supported National Urban Crimes Awareness Week, H.Con.Res. 227, to call attention to the incidence of violent urban crime and seek to decrease such crime.
This bill passed the House by a vote of 411-0.
Foreign Affairs
Called for freedom of religion in Iraq. Congressman Forbes supported H.Res.944, which calls for a comprehensive plan to protect religious minorities in Iraq and urges the Iraqi government to integrate religious minorities into the government, ensure that places of worship are safe, and work toward making elections safe, fair, and free of intimidation.
This legislation passed by a vote of 415-3.
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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