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Washington Update Congressman J. Randy Forbes, Virginia's Fourth Congressional District Week of June 3 - 9, 2007 |
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ü Cosponsored H.R. 2230, which would prevent discriminatory taxation of natural gas pipeline property, including all property owned or used by a natural gas pipeline for the transportation or storage of natural gas. This legislation is designed to protect consumers from higher natural gas costs associated with taxes assessed by states on natural gas pipelines that may be higher than those assessed on other local commercial and industrial property in the same geographic area.
ü
Voted in
favor of
H.R. 1716, the Green Energy Education Act of 2007,
which would authorize the Secretary
of Energy to contribute energy research and development funds to the
National Science Foundation (NSF) for programs to support graduate
education related to energy projects such as the design and construction
of high performance buildings. ü Voted in favor of H.R. 632, the H-Prize Act of 2007, which would direct the Secretary of Energy to award competitive cash prizes biennially to advance the research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of hydrogen energy technologies. Prizes would be awarded for: advancements in certain hydrogen components or systems; prototypes of hydrogen-powered vehicles or other hydrogen-based products; and transformational changes in technologies for hydrogen distribution or production.
ü Joined 176 Members of Congress in opposing S. 5, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007, which would allow federal funding for research that utilizes viable human embryonic stem cells. Federal funding for such research is currently prohibited under federal law. Congressman Forbes supports federal funding for meaningful research using ethically-obtained stem cell lines but does not support the destruction of human life for the purposes of medical research.
ü Participated in a House Armed Services Committee hearing regarding body armor, to address recent allegations that the Army may not be providing the best armor for our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Committee has asked the Army to conduct an independent test of Dragon Skin and any other producer who believes they can improve the current Interceptor Body Armor used by troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. The test is expected to be conducted some time after July.
ü Voted in favor of H.R. 2446, the Afghanistan Freedom and Security Support Act of 2007, which would provide humanitarian and security assistance to Afghanistan. The measure contains provisions to step up counter-narcotic efforts in response to the expansion of growing poppy fields. In the 2005-2006 season, poppy cultivation in Afghanistan grew by an estimated 59%. Over 500,000 laborers and an unknown number of traffickers, warlords, insurgents and officials also participate in and benefit from the drug trade.
ü Hosted a Modeling and Simulation (M&S) Caucus Congressional Policy Breakfast which offered Members and staff the opportunity to learn about recent advances in modeling and simulation. The Congressman also highlighted a resolution he plans to introduce with other members of the caucus next week that would recognize M&S as a national critical technology.
ü Sent a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice requesting that the Department of State address and explain the factors that led to a serious backlog in passport processing for U.S. citizens. The letter requests that the Department explain what actions they have taken to anticipate and prepare for the increased demand in passport processing since December of 2004 when more stringent passport policies were signed into law, and what actions they will be taking in the future to meet upcoming passport application demands. Congressman Forbes also sent a letter to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs requesting that they schedule a hearing on the issue.
ü Supported H. Res. 422, calling on the Government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to use its unique influence and economic leverage to stop genocide and violence in Darfur, Sudan. This legislation follows a letter that was sent by Congressman Forbes and over 100 Members of Congress to PRC President Hu Jintao that led China to dispatch a special envoy to the region. President Bush has also tightened economic sanctions on the government of Sudan and has asked the United Nations to do the same. U.N. peacekeepers have been approved by the U.N. Security Council, but historically peacekeepers have only been sent with permission of the host government. Sudan initially agreed to accept the peacekeepers but have since prevented the peacekeepers from establishing control in Darfur.
ü Supported H. Con. Res. 152 which congratulates Israel on the 40th anniversary of the reunification of the City of Jerusalem. The resolution also reiterates the commitment to the provisions of the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995, which calls upon the Administration to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Israel.
ü Supported H. Res. 397, which condemns recent violence in Estonia and attacks on Estonia’s embassies in 2007 and expresses solidarity with the Government and the people of Estonia. Estonian embassies were subject to riot attacks in Russia and elsewhere following a decision in Estonia to relocate “the Bronze Soldier,” a Russian World War II Memorial that many Estonians view as a relic of the Soviet era of occupation.
ü Voted in favor of H.R. 1467, the 10,000 Trained by 2010 Act, which would require the National Science Foundation (NSF) to award competitive grants for basic research on innovative approaches to improve health care information systems, as well as for scientific and engineering activities to improve education in the health care information fields.
ü Sent a letter to the Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee opposing proposed government payment changes to the upcoming farm bill, which would hurt Virginia peanut farmers. As stated in the letter, it is important to Virginia peanut farmers that the Committee maintain the loan rate, base payment percentage, and direct payments. On June 6th, the subcommittee held a hearing in which they reviewed these changes to the peanut program. The full Agriculture Committee will again consider these provisions in the next few weeks when drafting the final version of the farm bill.
ü Worked to secure authorization of the Chowan River Basin study through a survey resolution. Individuals and businesses in the Chowan River Basin have struggled for years with unpredictable and often devastating flooding in their communities. The Chowan River Basin study would allow the Army Corps of Engineers to take a critical look at the protection of water resources with an emphasis on flood control, environmental restoration, erosion control, and navigation. The study would also look at reducing future flood damages throughout the basin. The potential for severe flooding has grown since Hurricanes Dennis, Floyd, Isabel, and most recently, the devastating floods during October of 2006. Authorization is the first step in a two-part process to secure federal funding. The formal process first consists of the enactment of an authorization measure that creates or continues an agency or program; and second, the enactment of appropriations to provide funds for the authorized agency or program.
ü Voted in favor of H.Res. 401, which supports the goals and ideals of National Trails Day, America's largest celebration of trails and the outdoors. Now in its 15th year, National Trails Day is celebrated the first Saturday in June in all 50 states.
ü Voted in favor of H.Res. 341, which supports the goals and ideals of "American Eagle Day” and celebrates the recovery and restoration of the American bald eagle, the national symbol of the United States since June 20, 1782.
ü Voted in favor of H.R. 964, the Securely Protect Yourself Against Cyber Trespass Act (SPY-ACT). The SPY ACT takes steps to protect consumer computers from unwanted and unauthorized “spying” from spyware software. The FTC defines spyware as software “that aids in gathering information about a person or organization without their knowledge and which may send such information to another entity without the consumer’s consent, or asserts control over a computer without the consumer’s knowledge.” Spyware can be used to obtain personal information such as passwords to bank accounts, and it can record internet site history for targeted advertisements. The spyware can collect this information and then transmit it to a remote user for fraudulent purposes.
ü Participated in a hearing of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security on H.R. 2286, the Bail Bonds Fairness Act. H.R. 2286 limits the circumstances for which bail bonds can be forfeited. Under this legislation, bail bonds would only be forfeited when a defendant fails to appear in court. Congressman Forbes asked the witnesses how often bail bonds are forfeited for reasons other than a failure to appear and the role bail bondsmen should play in those situations.
ü Cosponsored H.R. 1584, the Short Line Railroad Investment Act of 2007, which would extend the existing section 45G short line tax credit for an additional three years through 2010 and increase the per-mile credit of $3,500 to $4,500. The Short Line Tax Credit helps short line railroads improve their existing track to be able to handle heavier railcars and serve local customers in rural areas.
For a comprehensive look at Congressman Forbes' work on legislative issues, visit the Spotlight Issues page on his website.
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