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Electronic Newsletter

Congressman John Shimkus

<http://www.house.gov/shimkus>

Friday, October 1, 2004

Constituent Corner

· New Grants and Legislation to Reduce DNA Backlog

I am pleased to announce two grants from the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) to the Illinois State Police that will aid crime laboratories. I am also working with my colleagues in both the House and the Senate to urge in calling for the Senate to follow the House of Representatives’ lead in passing H.R. 3214, the Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology Act, a bill I cosponsored to help alleviate the backlog in DNA casework. H.R. 3214 passed the House last November 5 but has been in the Senate Committee on the Judiciary since December 9.

The nature of criminal investigation has changed dramatically in recent years. It is important that we provide law-enforcement agencies the funding and the support they need to use new technology efficiently.

The Illinois State Police will receive $1,529,577 through the DNA Capacity Enhancement Program and $1,753,447 through the Forensic Casework DNA Backlog Reduction Program. Both programs are part of the DOJ’s National Institute of Justice.

· Drug Free Communities Grants Awarded

I am happy to announce a $75,000 grant for organizations fighting drug abuse throughout the 19th district as part of the Fiscal Year 2004 Drug-Free Communities Support Program.

The Tri-Cities Drug-Free Communities Coalition, under the direction of Coordinated Youth and Human Services, will take a leadership role in using the grant to mentor three coalitions: United Congregations of Metro East, Drug Task Force, which serves all of Madison County; the Coalition Against Substance Abuse, which serves the East Alton area; and the Collinsville Area Coalition, which serves the Unit 10 School District area of Caseyville, Collinsville, Fairmont City and Maryville.

Southeastern Illinois Counseling Centers’ Project Success Coalition, which is dedicated to the reduction of substance abuse in Edwards County, will be awarded $99,770. A grant of $100,000 will be given to Gallatin County School District’s Southeastern Illinois Coalition Against Drug Abuse. And the Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Foundation will receive $100,000 for the Body Electric program, which promotes healthy lifestyle choices among youth in east-central Illinois.

These organizations are doing outstanding work in our communities, and I am proud to help bring in this federal money, which will allow them to expand their efforts. The Drug-Free Communities Support Program focuses on prevention, which is the preferred and most cost-effective approach to the substance-abuse problem.

The Office of National Drug Control Policy administers the Drug-Free Communities Support Program with partners in the Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

· Adoption Tax Credit Extended

To promote adoption and tax relief, I joined my colleagues in the House of Representatives in unanimously approving a bill that would permanently extend the expanded tax credit for adoption enacted in 2001.

The Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act must pass the Senate before President Bush can sign it into law. To keep an eye on this legislation as it moves through the legislative process please visit http://thomas.loc.gov/ and type in HR 1057 into the bill number box. This site provides up to date information on the status of bills in both the House and the Senate.

I join with President Bush in the call for making all of the provisions of the 2001 and 2003 tax relief acts permanent. I was a cosponsor HR 1057, the Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act, which passed 414-0 on September 23.

· Federal Funding Awarded to Fight Meth

I am pleased to announce a grant of $329,800 from the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) for the Illinois State Police to combat the proliferation of methamphetamine.

As the scourge of meth continues, we must continue to bring our resources to bear to fight the battle. I am pleased to play a part in helping bring more federal dollars to Illinois to aid law enforcement’s efforts.

The DOJ Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) announced a total of $4.6 million in grants to fight meth in 19 jurisdictions. The grants were awarded under the COPS Methamphetamine Training Initiative program and cover expenses associated with training and technical assistance, equipment purchasing, officer overtime, community outreach campaigns, and other approved costs.

The grant recipients were invited to apply for funding based on the severity of the methamphetamine problem in their area as determined by Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration data. Including these awards, COPS has invested more than $350 million in the fight against meth.

For more information on the COPS program please visit http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/.

· New “Traveling Help Desk” Dates

On Friday, October 8, Matt Pickett of my Centralia district office will be available to help the residents of Wamac and Wayne City. In Wamac, he will be at the Wamac City Hall on 361 E 17th Street from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. In Wayne City, he will be in the Wayne City Village Hall on 103 Mills Street from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Appointments are not necessary, so feel free to drop by at any time. For more information, please visit my web page at http://www.house.gov/shimkus/helpdesk.htm. I hope you stop in to see us!

Legislative Week in Review

· The following bills were voted on in the House of Representatives this week:

o H.J.R. 106 – Federal Marriage Amendment: Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 227 - 186 (Roll no. 484). I voted in favor H.J.R. 106.

o H.R. 3193 – District of Columbia Personal Protection Act: Passed by recorded vote: 250 - 171, 1 Present (Roll no. 477). I voted in favor H.R. 3193.

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

Anticipated Action on the House Floor Next Week

· Congress will be in session from Monday through Friday of next week. Some of the legislation which will be considered includes:

o H.R.1769 - Job Protection Act

o H.R. 10 - 9/11 Recommendations Implementation Act

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

· For more information on the status of the FY 2005 Appropriations bills please visit http://thomas.loc.gov/home/approp/app05.html.

Did You Know?

· Presidential and Vice Presidential Debates are this Month!

Don’t forget to tune into the debates this month! With only 32 days until election day it is important for everyone to gain a better knowledge of their candidates so we can all make informed decisions. For more information on the debate process please visit The Commission on Presidential Debates’ website at http://www.debates.org/.

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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