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Constituent Corner

· Reminder: Medicare Drug Seminars

I will be hosting three seminars on Wednesday, January 11, 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; and 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, January 11, in Albion, Carmi, and Mt. Vernon. The exact times and places are:

10:00 a.m. – Albion Senior Center, 323 North Fifth Street, Albion;

1:30 p.m. – University of Illinois Extension Meeting Room, 1715 College Avenue, Carmi;

3:30 p.m. – Rolland Lewis Community Building, 800 South 27th Street, Mt. Vernon.

While November 15 was the first date that Medicare beneficiaries could sign up, they actually have until May 15, 2006, to make their plan choice.

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 anyone with questions will attend on January 11th.

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.

· New Office Hours

My office in Olney, located at 120 South Fair Street, has begun working under new office hours.

Starting on January 5, 2006, the office will be open on Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. This will allow local residents an opportunity to meet with a member of my staff in person to discuss any problems that one may have in relation to the federal government.

Please feel free to contact my office regarding federal legislation or any problems that you may have with a government agency, including Social Security, Medicare, military, Veterans Affairs, IRS, EPA, FEMA, INS, HUD, USDA, and more. While the office is open for visits only on Thursdays, please feel free to call because the phones will be forwarded to another office.

The phone number in Olney is 618-392-7737. For more information on my office hours, please visit my website at www.house.gov/shimkus.

· Energy Efficiency Tax Credit

As of January 1, 2006, tax credits became available for the purchase and installation of energy efficient appliances and products, as well as the purchase of fuel efficient vehicles such as hybrids.

These tax credits will allow people to reduce their 2006 tax bills, while saving money on everyday expenses throughout the year. This is just one of the steps in our most recently passed Energy Bill that works to promote energy efficiency. The tax credits give an incentive to purchase equipment that will help save money for years.

For more information, please visit the Department of Energy’s new website at www.energy.gov.

· Energy Assistance

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced the distribution of $100 million in emergency funds to states.

Illinois will receive $6,560,144, the fourth largest amount in the nation. These funds will be disbursed through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This program assists low-income families with their energy costs, which will be needed this year with the high heating costs.

LIHEAP will only make a one time payment to your energy provider. A cutoff notice or overdue bill is not necessary to qualify. A single individual will qualify with a gross income in the 30 days prior to applying for assistance of $1,196; a family of four would qualify with gross income of $2,420.

Illinois also has a Good Samaritan Energy Trust Fund to which tax-deductible contributions may be made. The fund distributes energy assistance to the poor in your county. For more information or to contribute call 1-800-252-8643.

To find the specific agency in your county that handles LIHEAP, log onto www.liheapillinois.com/community.html.

· Scholarship Opportunity

Starting on January 1, 2006, the Best Buy Scholarship program will be available for all 2006 graduating high school seniors.

In the past four years, Best Buy and the Best Buy Children’s Foundation have awarded over $7 million in scholarships. This year, they plan to give out $2.4 million in scholarships to over 1,500 students across the nation.

Recipients are chosen based on community service and academic achievement, with plans to enter an accredited U.S. university, college, or technical school in the fall immediately following their high school graduation.

The application deadline is February 15, 2006, so I would encourage all graduating high school seniors to apply as soon as possible at www.bestbuy.com/scholarships.

· Youth Advocates

The American Diabetes Association is currently accepting applications for the 2006-2007 National Youth Advocate (NYA) program.

Applicants must have diabetes, be articulate, be between the ages of 9 and 17 on June 30, 2006, and be available for travel with a parent or adult guardian. The application deadline is February 28, 2006.

As a member of the House Diabetes Caucus, I would encourage any interested individuals to gain more information and apply by visiting the American Diabetes Association website, www.diabetes.org.

· Domestic Violence Counseling

The Provident Counseling programs have received additional funding for programs to help individuals affected by domestic violence in St. Clair and Madison Counties.

This was made possible in the Science-State-Justice-Commerce Appropriations bill recently signed into law. I was pleased to be able to work with my colleague, Congressman Jerry Costello, as well as Senators Durbin and Obama, to help secure these funds.

This program, the Provident Counseling’s Families for Safe Environments (FFSE), will help educate both children and adults to make them aware of domestic violence and work to decrease it. They have helped hundreds of children over the years, and this will allow them to come to the aid of many more.

If you would like more information regarding this program, you may contact Provident’s office at 618-398-7250 or visit their website at www.providentc.org.

· Illinois Stories

The Illinois Humanities Council (IHC) has announced that “Illinois Stories” will be on the radio towards the end of February into April.

“Illinois Stories” is a radio series that features the voices of the state’s youth, artists, farmers, musicians, nurses, and volunteers. They will cover a large variety of topics.

Please feel free to tune in at 98.7 FM. It will air every Monday at 6:50 p.m. and every Saturday morning at 6:00 a.m. beginning on February 20, running through April 10.

For more information, visit the IHC website at www.prairie.org.

· HUD Grants

Three agencies in the 19th District are going to receive funding through the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), through the Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Program.

BCMW Community Services, based in Centralia, will receive $19,597 for their Stepping Stones Transitional Housing Project. The Family Counseling Center, based in Vienna, is receiving $186,248. Also, Hoyleton Youth and Family Services, based in Hoyleton, will receive $82,723 for their Life Skills for Vocational Success program.

This money was made available by the Supportive Housing Program that provides funds to acquire, build, renovate and operate a facility serving the homeless. They must also provide services that help the homeless move out into independent living.

For more information on these grants, please visit www.hud.gov.

· Grants for the Hungry

Grants have been awarded to local counties from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Funding is based on unemployment and poverty levels: Wabash County, $7,755; Edwards County, $2,750; Clay County, $8,489; Lawrence County, $9,110; Richland County, $9,562; White County, $7,228; and others. For a larger list, please visit my website at www.house.gov/shimkus/press2005.shtml.

These grants can go towards food and different shelter related expenses.

For more information on these grants, please visit the DHS website at www.dhs.gov or the FEMA website at www.fema.gov.

· Local Television

This coming Monday, January 9, I will be on “Conversation with Lee Presser” at 7:00 p.m. This show can be found on Charter channel 18 in St. Louis County, parts of Jefferson County, and the Metro-East.

If you miss the interview this Monday, it will be replayed on January 23 at 7:00 p.m.

Anticipated Action on the House Floor Next Week

· The House of Representatives will remain in recess until January 31, 2006

· 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?

· Ask the White House

An online interactive forum was introduced by the White House, in April 2003. This site will allow you to pose questions and have online discussions with Cabinet Secretaries, Senior White House Officials, behind-the-scenes professionals, and others at the White House. You may also take a look at transcripts of other questions and conversations. This site is located at www.whitehouse.gov/interactive/.

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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