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Washington Update Congressman J. Randy Forbes, Virginia's Fourth Congressional District Week of January 29 - February 2, 2007 |
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ü Cosponsored The Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act of 2007, H.R. 119, which would allow a woman to make the decision whether to stay in the hospital to recuperate from a mastectomy, or whether she has enough support to get quality care at home after this surgery. Unfortunately, some insurance companies have refused to cover hospital stays after a woman has undergone a mastectomy, a difficult surgery both emotionally and physically.
ü Cosponsored the National Language Act, which would designate English as the official language of the United States. The bill would require the U.S. government to conduct official business in English and to preserve and enhance the role of English as the official language of the U.S.
ü Testified before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission on Thursday, February 1 regarding the status of U.S.-China relations and the work of the Congressional China Caucus. Click here to read Congressman Forbes' testimony. For more information on the Caucus, click here.
ü Cosponsored The Pledge Protection Act, H.R. 699, which protects our Pledge of Allegiance by preventing judges and lawyers from questioning the constitutionality of the phrase “under God,” as well as stopping those who would like federal courts to ban the Pledge of Allegiance from schools because it mentions “One nation, under God.”
ü
Cosponsored The Phone Act,
H.R. 740, which
would make it a federal offense for using false caller ID information
or
for using an individual’s caller ID information without their permission.
This practice, more commonly known as “spoofing,” makes a call appear to
have come from any phone number the caller wishes. The practice has been
linked to identity theft and other scams.
ü Joined the Congressional Wildlife Caucus. The purpose of the Caucus is to raise awareness of the national refuge system, to support adequate budgets for refuge systems, and to support priority activities such as hunting, fishing, wildlife photography, wildlife observation, environmental education and interpretation. There are three National Wildlife Refuges in Virginia’s Fourth District: The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (Suffolk and Chesapeake), the Nansemond National Wildlife Refuge (Suffolk) and the Presquile National Wildlife Refuge (Hopewell).
ü Announced co-chairmanship of the Congressional Submarine Caucus at a speech before the Navy Submarine League on January 31. The Submarine Caucus educates and coordinates its members to advance legislation that relates to the Navy’s fleet of 70 submarines. During his speech, Congressman Forbes urged the more than 100 attendees to join him in ensuring that the United States has a strong Navy, particularly in light of recent Chinese developments such as the testing of an anti-satellite weapon and the surfacing of a Chinese submarine within attack range of a U.S. aircraft carrier. Rep. Forbes said, “The price to protect freedom is high, and we must never expect or feel entitled to freedom without responsibility. Rather, we must roll up our sleeves, put our profits, egos, and special interests aside, and ensure that we put the national security of our country first.”
ü Cosponsored The Tax Relief for Families Act, H.R. 411, which would make some of the most popular, common-sense tax cuts permanent to help Americans better provide for their families and help our economy. Specifically, it will make permanent the Child Tax Credit, Marriage Penalty Relief, College Tuition Deduction, State and Local Sales Tax Deduction, School Teacher Expense Deduction, and it would repeal the estate tax.
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