National Security

Championed the Child Custody Rights of Military Servicemembers. Congressman Forbes, along with 390 members of the House, voted overwhelmingly to pass the Servicemember Family Protection Act of 2012 (H.R. 4201). This bill would prohibit state courts from using past deployments or the possibility of deployment against servicemembers when making child custody determinations.  Additionally, the bill prohibits courts from permanently altering custody orders during a parent's deployment, and requires pre-deployment custody to be reinstated unless not in the best interest of the child. The legislation now awaits consideration by the Senate.

Authorized vital funding for the U.S. Intelligence Community. Congressman Forbes supported the bipartisan Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, H.R. 5743. This bill authorizes funds for the Intelligence Community to continue to protect the American people from threats to our national security, including terrorism, cyber attacks, and espionage. This authorization also ensures that the Director of National Intelligence will work with relevant agencies in responding to the threat from drug traffickers, including drug trafficking along our southern border. Congressman Forbes voted in favor of H.R. 5743 to ensure that vital national security and intelligence programs are authorized in a timely manner to instill funding certainty and effectively protect the American people.
H.R. 5743 passed the House of Representatives 386-28.

Promoted information sharing to protect against Weapons of Mass Destruction. Congressman Forbes supported passage of H.R. 2764, the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Intelligence and Information Sharing Act. This bill provides congressional direction for the Department of Homeland Security’s program to conduct and share WMD Intelligence Analysis with other departments and agencies.  Since September 11, 2001, we have learned the immense importance of effective intelligence information sharing. The Department of Homeland Security, a critical component of our nation’s national security apparatus, conducts analysis of terrorism related to chemical, biological, radiological and even nuclear threats. Ensuring that this analysis and the critical information gathered is shared throughout the Intelligence Community is vital to preventing a key fact or threat from falling through the cracks. 
H.R. 2764 passed the House of Representatives by voice vote.

Supported efficiency in the judicial system. Congressman Forbes supported the Divisional Realignment Act, H.R. 5512, to realign judicial divisions within the Eastern District of Missouri and the Northern District of Mississippi in order to improve judicial administration and benefit litigants and jurors.  This bill passed by voice vote.

Ensured continued access to Flood Insurance for Virginia Homeowners. Congressman Forbes supported a two-month extension of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) (H.R. 5740) to make certain that the program didn’t end on May 31^st. Nearly 20,000 communities across the United States participate in the NFIP by adopting and enforcing flood plain management ordinances to reduce flood damage. In exchange, the NFIP makes federally backed flood insurance to homeowners, renters, and business owners in these communities. Community participation in the NFIP is entirely voluntary. This two-month extension of the NFIP was passed by the House of Representatives, with Congressman Forbes’ support, by voice vote.

Called for increased transparency of FCC. Congressman Forbes supported the Federal Communications Commission Consolidated Reporting Act, H.R. 3310, to consolidate the reporting obligations of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to Congress and require reports to include the state of the communications marketplace, including competition and barriers to entry for entrepreneurs and other small businesses. This bill passed by voice vote.