"As regular consumers of our natural resources, we have a responsibility to be good stewards of our environment. We need to seek a ‘double bottom line’ of what’s good for our environment and what’s good for our economy. We can do this by leveraging America's greatest strengths of free market, technological innovation, and incentives towards the goal of a safer, cleaner, healthier environment for America."
Randy's Plan for Our Environment
Funding Research and Development
Congressman Forbes believes environmental change is not built on the back of quick, politically-charged ideas. We need to pursue long-term solutions to our environment issues, and the best way to do this is through research and development. Congressman Forbes has introduced legislation to create a commission of the brightest scientists working together in an effort to find scientific-based solutions to energy issues that are impacting our environment.
Protecting the Chesapeake Bay
Congressman Forbes has been a champion of clean-up and restoration efforts on the Chesapeake Bay and has supported legislation to help area farmers control excess runoff that contributes to polluted waters across the Chesapeake Bay. He has supported efforts to curb the current high level of chemicals, including nitrogen, phosphorus, fertilizers, manure and other substances from local farms that are impacting the Bay. Congressman Forbes has received awards from the Elizabeth River Foundation for his work to protect the Chesapeake Bay.
Focusing on Technological Innovation To Reduce Environmental Impacts
America has a proven track record in technological innovation, and we ought to use this strength to our advantage in our environment. Congressman Forbes supports the use of technology that is environmentally friendly, and supports offering incentives to those individuals and businesses that are willing to use new technology. As founder and chairman of the Congressional Modeling and Simulation Caucus, Congressman Forbes also supports the use of modeling and simulation technology to model cities with green initiatives through computer-based systems so that we are able to determine if it is an effective course of action before we implement such initiatives in our communities.
Protecting Wildlife and Wildlife Refuges
Congressman Forbes serves on the Congressional Wildlife Refuge whose purpose 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).
Protecting Water Quality in Our Communities
Congressman Forbes has voted to direct grant funding for local communities for technology development in water use. Through these grants, communities will develop alternative water sources and increase their ability to use water more effectively and efficiently. The goal of these projects is to retain and increase the clean water supply by encouraging innovation in water use and conservation. Congressman Forbes is also working toward a sustainable, long-term solution to address the nation's decaying water infrastructure as well as legislation that encourage the public and all levels of government to renew the commitment to restoring and protecting the nation's rivers, lakes, streams, marine waters, and wetlands for future generations.
Supporting Public-Private Partnerships for the Environmental Advancements
Congressman Forbes serves on the International Conservation Caucus, a group committed to helping the United States lead public and private international partnerships that provide stewardship of natural resources for habitat and bio-diversity protection, economic development, and regional security.
