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D.C. and District Talk

· Victory in Iraq

The House of Representatives passed H. Res. 612, “Expressing the commitment of the House of Representatives to achieving victory in Iraq,” with an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 279 – 109.

The Iraqi people have shown their resolve to take the future of their country into their own hands by voting on December 15, for the third time this year. Our own nation took years to develop our current Constitution, yet the Iraqis have done so in less than a year.

The voter turnout in Iraq was much higher than in the United States. How many of us would walk two or three blocks, much less a mile, to vote?

This resolution states:

“...the Iraqi election of December 15, 2005, was a crucial victory for the Iraqi people and Iraq’s new democracy, and a defeat for the terrorists who seek to destroy that democracy…” and

“…the continued presence of the United States Armed Forces in Iraq will be required only until Iraqi forces can stand up so our forces can stand down, and not longer than is required for that purpose; setting an artificial timetable for the withdrawal of United States Armed Forces from Iraq, or immediately terminating their deployment in Iraq and redeploying them elsewhere in the region, is fundamentally inconsistent with achieving victory in Iraq…”

Currently there are 100 Iraqi Ministry of Defense combat battalions, eight operational division headquarters, and 31 operational brigade headquarters. There are also 28 Iraqi Ministry of the Interior special police commando, public order, or mechanized police battalions. Over 215,000 Iraqis are in the trained and equipped security forces.

The military decisions must be in the hands of the military leaders on the ground, not the politicians in Washington, DC. Congress does maintain a role in oversight, which is reflected in the 29 hearings held before the Armed Services Committee over the last three plus years…nearly one each month.

For more information on H.Res. 612, please visit http://thomas.loc.gov.

· End of Year

The House of Representatives has worked through the weekend to pass Conference Reports on the Deficit Reduction Act (H.R. 4241), the Department of Defense Appropriations legislation (H.R. 2863), and the Department of Defense Authorization Bill (H.R. 1816).

The Deficit Reduction Act provides nearly $40 billion in savings over the next five years. The goals of these savings are to provide assistance toward hurricane recovery, slow the growth of entitlement spending, and stimulate reform of these entitlement programs. We have also included increases in areas such as the Low Income Heating Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which has been increased by $1 billion.

The Department of Defense Appropriations Legislation includes troop support in the form of military pay raises, end strength levels requested for active duty and Guard and Reserve Personnel, and increases for military family assistance. It includes funding for the war in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the war on terrorism. Also included are disaster assistance for areas affected by hurricanes, as well as funding for the Army Corps of Engineers, which has already played a large part in this effort.

The Department of Defense Authorization provides for our brave men and women serving both here and abroad. It shows the continued support of Congress to make sure that our men and women are taken care of with “Up-Armored Humvees”, enhanced body armor, and other needed equipment. On the matter of treatment of detainees, we prohibit inhumane treatment and protect our U.S. personnel. We do not provide immunity for anyone who breaks the law, but we must provide protections for our own men and women.

This final legislation of the year assures that the American people can continue to be assured both economic and national security for their families and loved ones.

Now we must await Senate approval of this legislation.

For more information on these bills, please visit http://thomas.loc.gov.

Constituent Corner

· Reminder: Medicare Drug Seminars

I will be hosting three seminars on Wednesday, December 21, for Medicare beneficiaries to gather additional information on the new Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit.

This is a very important opportunity for Medicare beneficiaries, particularly those who do not have a prescription drug benefit, to obtain one through Medicare. I want to make sure that seniors and others who apply, first, get all the information they need to make a decision; second, that they understand they have choices and options and need to make a decision that fits their personal needs.

The seminars will be held on Wednesday, December 21, in Taylorville, Jerseyville, and Edwardsville. The exact times and places are:

9:00 a.m. – St. Vincent Hospital, 201 East Pleasant Street, Taylorville;

1:00 p.m. – Jerseyville Community Hospital Classroom, 400 Maple Summit Road, Jerseyville;

3:00 p.m. – YMCA Multipurpose Room, 1200 Esic Drive, Edwardsville.

While November 15 was the first date that Medicare beneficiaries could sign up, they have until December 31 to sign up for benefits that begin January 1, 2006 – the first date possible. Medicare beneficiaries currently on Medicare actually have until May 15, 2006, to make their choice without penalty.

Illinois Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) staff will make the detailed presentation on the prescription drug options available to seniors. This will not be a sign-up opportunity; it is just another informational seminar intended to give area Medicare beneficiaries the most opportunities to get answers to their questions.

There are numerous plans available to Medicare beneficiaries in Illinois, and I’m sure there are still many of them with questions. I hope that they will attend on December 21st.

If you are unable to attend these seminars and have questions, please visit the Illinois SHIP website, http://www.idfpr.com/DOI/Ship/ship_help.asp. Also, I will be adding updates on future seminars on my website, http://www.house.gov/shimkus.

· Workers Eligible for Assistance

I am pleased to report that many individuals have been ruled eligible to apply for assistance by the United States Department of Labor.

The economy has been rebounding, but there are still people who have been affected by job losses who need the help these benefits bring. Under recent rulings, all employees of H.B. Williamson Company, also known as The Williamson Company, who became totally or partially separated from employment on or after October 24, 2004, through two years from that date are eligible. This comes under section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974. They are also eligible to apply for alternative trade adjustment assistance under Section 246 of the Trade Act of 1974.

The benefits include training, income support if in a training program, job search assistance, relocation assistance, and health care tax credits.

For more information on this adjustment assistance, please visit www.dol.gov.

· Technology for Teaching

While working to improve teaching, educators often try to add technology to provide new and innovative teaching methods designed to keep learning fun for students.

With this goal in mind, the Hewlett-Packard Company has again introduced the HP Technology for Teaching Grant Initiative. These grants have been given to schools, ranging from K-12 to community colleges and universities.

They are currently offering $8 million in grants to these institutions. I encourage all to apply. The application deadline is February 15, 2006, so apply as soon as you can.

For more information and applications, please visit www.hp.com/go/hpteach.

· Lewis and Clark Grant

I am pleased to announce a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to Lewis and Clark Community College.

This $294,000 grant will be going to the college’s Good Health and Learning through Technology project. This project helps the college extend health care education and services in four school districts, including Calhoun, Carrollton, Greenfield, and North Green schools.

Congratulations to Lewis and Clark Community College for their work. For more information regarding this grant, please visit www.usda.gov.

Legislative Week in Review

· The following bills were passed by the House of Representatives this week:

o H.Res. 612 – Resolution to Achieve Victory in Iraq (Rep. Henry Hyde – House International Relations; House Armed Services)

o Conference Report on H.R. 2863 – Department of Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (Rep. Bill Young – House Appropriations)

o Conference Report on H.R. 1815 – National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (Rep. Duncan Hunter – House Armed Services)

o Conference Report on H.R. 4241 – Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (Rep. Jim Nussle – House Budget)

o H.R. 4437 – Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005 (Rep. James Sensenbrenner – House Judiciary)

o H.R. 1287 – A bill to designate the facility of the United States Post Office located at 312 East North Avenue in Flora, Illinois as the “Robert T. Ferguson Post Office Building” (Rep. Shimkus – House Government Reform)

· To keep up to date on legislation as it moves through the legislative process please visit http://thomas.loc.gov and type in the bill number.

Anticipated Action on the House Floor Next Week

· Congress will not reconvene until January 31st. A copy of the 2006 House calendar is available at www.majorityleader.gov.

· Keep an eye on the Office of the Clerk’s web site for upcoming legislation: http://clerk.house.gov/legisAct/index.html. This site provides up-to-date information on House legislative schedules.

Did You Know?

· Barney-Cam

It is interesting to see what a day in the life of a President is like, but have you ever wondered what a day in the life of a Presidential dog was like? If you would like to see what the life of Barney, the President’s Scottish Terrier, is like, please visit www.whitehouse.gov/barney.

This will be my last newsletter of the year. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year!

Thank you for the interest in my newsletter! Remember to tell your friends about it as well--they can sign up on my web page at http://www.house.gov/shimkus.

Sincerely,

Congressman John Shimkus

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