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REMINDER (final notice):

· Medicare Part D Sign Up – Deadline to Sign Up is this coming Monday – May 15th

This is a very important opportunity for Medicare beneficiaries, particularly those who do not have a prescription drug benefit plan, 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.

While the Medicare Part D program officially began on January 1, 2006, Medicare beneficiaries currently on Medicare actually have until May 15, 2006, to make their choice without penalty.

There are numerous plans available to Medicare beneficiaries in Illinois, and I’m sure there are still some questions.

I have hosted many events to help share information for this program and have been receiving some good feedback from those who have taken the time to sign up.

Illinois Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) is the best place to get assistance in making your Medicare prescription drug plan choice. Feel free to contact them at 1-800-548-9034 or visit the Illinois SHIP website, http://www.idfpr.com/DOI/Ship/ship_help.asp.

For more information on how to sign up, please visit my website, www.house.gov/shimkus.

D.C. and District Talk

· Funeral Protests

This week, the House of Representatives passed an important bill, H.R. 5037, the Respect for America’s Fallen Heroes Act.

This bill gives our fallen members of the armed services and their families the relief from undue protest. This bill in no way infringes upon a person’s right to free speech, but rather uses the definition in the Constitution to let these individuals have their peace. It does not dictate content of protest, but rather states the proper time and place for such protest.

H.R. 5037 will prohibit any demonstration within 500 feet of national cemeteries for 60 minutes before and 60 minutes after a funeral, memorial service, or ceremony.

While dealing with the loss of a dear friend or family member who gave their life in service to our country, those who grieve should not have to deal with people shouting or holding signs. Protesting at a military funeral is just wrong. The dignity, peace, and respect that should be evident at these funerals is lost when interrupted by protestors.

I was honored to co-sponsor and vote for legislation such as this for our military men, women, and families, and would encourage each state and local government to do the same. The Illinois House of Representatives has passed similar legislation that is now pending in the Illinois State Senate.

For more information on this H.R. 5037, please visit the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Committee website, http://veterans.house.gov.

· Taxpayer Protection

This week, the House of Representatives also passed the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act, H.R. 4297, which will prevent tax increases on many hardworking taxpayers.

The capital gains and dividend tax rates are five percent in 2007 and zero in 2008 and, now 2009 and 2010, for those in the ten and 15 percent tax brackets, and 15 percent for those in other tax brackets.

Nearly one in two senior citizens will benefit from the dividend provisions, and nearly one in three seniors will also benefit from the capital gains portion.

The Alternative Minimum Tax exemption level will remain at $62,550 for joint filers and $42,500 for single filers in 2006. Claiming tax credits will not count against AMT levels.

And the small business provision provides for the expensing of up to $100,000 in depreciable assets, continuing current law through 2008 and 2009.

To help offset these tax breaks, several corporate tax provisions have been enacted.

For more information on H.R. 4297, please visit the House Committee on Ways and Means website, http://waysandmeans.house.gov.

· DoD Authorization

The House of Representatives continues to show its dedication to our nation’s military men and women through the passage of H.R. 5122, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007.

H.R. 5122 authorizes $512.9 billion in budget authority for the Department of Defense, including national security programs within the Department of Energy. Also included is $50 billion in supplemental funding to operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere in the Global War on Terrorism.

This bill works to improve our capabilities to counter improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Included are the best available IED-jamming devices for vehicle convoys and dismounted personnel.

It also establishes a Strategic Materials Protection Board to create a process for identifying critical areas to United States national security interests. We must ensure that our critical needs are not dependent on foreign suppliers.

H.R. 5122, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007, will actually prohibit the Department of Defense from implementing its proposed increases for military retirees enrolled in the TRICARE program. It also calls for an independent analysis to determine the proper cost-sharing formula for this program.

To increase the use of their mail order pharmacy program, they have also decided to reduce the costs of generic and formulary drugs, through the mail, to zero. H.R. 5122 also adds money to restore proposed funding cuts, adds forensic exams in the case of sexual assaults and domestic violence, covers anesthesia and hospital costs for dental care for children and mentally or physically challenged beneficiaries, among other things.

For more information on this H.R. 5122, please visit the House Armed Services Committee website at http://armedservices.house.gov.

· Farm Feedback

Representative Goodlatte, Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, recently launched a web-based farm bill feedback form.

Since the farm bill policy directly affects our farmers and ranchers, we need to make sure that they are able to report back on how the policies have impacted them. This is a great way for our farmers and ranchers to give feedback, which can in turn be used to form future farm policy.

For more information of to provide feedback, please visit http://agriculture.house.gov.

Constituent Corner

· Tornado Recovery

As we continue to work on our recovery from the tornadoes that swept through the Springfield area, we want to ensure that any unmet needs are taken care of.

Registration deadlines are soon approaching with May 27 as the last day to register for FEMA assistance and May 30 as the final day to register for Small Business Administration (SBA) assistance.

For more information on this recovery please contact the Springfield Area Tornado Recovery Team at 217-525-0500, and ask for a START case manager. You may also try 1-800-621-FEMA, or their website, www.fema.gov.

· Medicaid or Medicare Part B

If you use Medicaid or Medicare Part B as your primary insurance and have diabetes, you may be eligible for a free pair of diabetic shoes.

Phoenix Medical Associates will be coming to Senior Services Plus to measure, complete the paper work, and forward to your doctor for approval. Following approval, shoes may be picked up at the Senior Services Plus. These are offered on the following dates:

o June 15th, 9:00 am until 11:00 am

o July 20th, 9:00 am until 11:00 am

For more information, please call Carol, with Senior Services Plus, at 618-465-3298, or visit www.seniorservicesplus.com.

· National Police Week

The week of May 12 through May 18, we celebrate National Police Week.

This week I would like everyone to join me in thanking our police forces for keeping our families and communities safe day in and day out. I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure that our nations police force and other first responders continue to receive their much deserved funding as they continue to protect us from criminals and work to keep us safe from terror.

Also, May 15 is the National Peace Officers’ Memorial Day, which we remember our fallen protectors. Last year, my great-grandfather, Hiram Mundy, joined many fallen police officers names on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and this year he will be added to the Illinois Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. He was a marshal in Equality, Illinois when he was killed in the line of duty in 1931.

On May 13th, Missouri State Trooper Ralph Tatoian will be honored by the Barwick/Newton National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund at a special ceremony held in Alexandria, Virginia. Trooper Tatoian will be represented by his family who currently live in Glen Carbon, Illinois.

Trooper Tatoian of the Missouri State Highway Patrol was killed when his patrol car struck the back of a truck on I-44, west of Saint Louis. He was responding to a search for a person suspected of shooting a sheriff’s deputy in Gasconade County. His patrol car slammed into the back of the tractor trailer, which was pulled partially off of the highway to assist with a previous accident. Please keep him and his family in your prayers, particularly this weekend.

I thank our police officers for giving themselves to the service of all of our citizens.

For more information on National Police Week, please visit www.nationalcops.org/npw.htm.

· Click It or Ticket

The United States Department of Transportation reports that each year over 40,000 Americans die in motor vehicle crashes. One of the best ways to lower this number is to wear your safety belt.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sponsors the Click It or Ticket mobilization to increase the use of safety belts. This year, this Mobilization will run from May 22 through June 4. Over 12,000 state and local law enforcement officers, highway safety officials, and others will be involved in safety belt checkpoints and other stepped-up efforts.

The use of a safety belt increases a person’s chance of surviving a serious crash by 50 percent.

Over this Memorial Day weekend, remember to drive safe. For more information on this effort, please visit www.buckleupamerica.org.

· The Big Read

The Institute of Museum and Library Services has partnered with the National Endowment for the Arts to increase interest in reading.

This effort, The Big Read, encourages everyone to participate, apply for grants, and work to reverse the decline in reading. The Big Read will be administered by Arts Midwest and will work to award grants generally ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 to more than 100 communities for encouraging reading.

For more information on The Big Read, please visit www.neabigread.org.

· School Bus Grants

The Environmental Protection Agency has decided to use their regional offices to distribute the $7 million 2006 Clean School Bus appropriation.

These funds are to be used for school buses that burn cleaner fuels and have lowered emissions. Each region will determine its own program within EPA’s guidelines. Region 5 (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, and WI) has announced its request for applications, which has $464,324 available.

For more information on these funds, please visit www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/funding.htm.

· Mother’s Day

May 14th we celebrate a great day for the many mothers across the nation and around the world, Mother’s Day.

I would like to thank my mother and my wife for all that they have done for me, my siblings, and my children. I appreciate everything that they continue to do for us.

Please remember to thank not only your mother, but the many other mothers who work hard for the sake of their families.

For more information on the history of Mother’s Day, please visit http://womenshistory.about.com/od/mothersday.

· New “Traveling Help Desk” Dates

On Monday, May 15, 2006, Steve Tomaszewski of my Collinsville district office will be available to help the residents of Geff and Norris City. In Geff, he will be in the Geff Villiage Hall at 220 W. Mechanic Street from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. In Norris City, he will be at the Indian Creek Township Building at 113 ½ Division Street from noon to 1:30 p.m.

For more information, please visit my web page at www.house.gov/shimkus/helpdesk.shtml. I hope you stop in to see us!

Legislative Week in Review

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

o H.R. 5143 – H-Prize Act of 2006 (Rep. Inglis – House Science)

o H.R. 5037 – Respect for America’s Fallen Heroes Act (Rep. Rogers – House Veterans’ Affairs)

o H.R. 4297 – Tax Relief Act of 2005 (Rep. Thomas – House Ways and Means)

o H.R. 5122 – National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (Rep. Hunter – House Armed Services)

· 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 be in session next week from Tuesday through Thursday.

o Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for FY07

o Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for FY07

o Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for FY07

o H.R. 4200 – Forest Emergency Recovery and Research Act (Rep. Walden – House Resources)

· 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?

· Letter Carriers Food Drive

This Saturday, May 13, is the 14th Annual Letter Carriers’ National Food Drive. Last year, the region collected almost 617,000 pounds of food and 71.3 million pounds of food nationwide. To participate, please leave unopened cans of non-perishable food next to your mailbox before your letter carrier delivers your mail.

For more information, please visit www.nalc.org/commun/foodrive/index.html.

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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