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Special Messages

· Correction
Last Friday there was a misprint in the Open Office Hours section of the newsletter. The Vandalia Office Hours will actually be on March 19th which is a Friday not a Monday. A complete listing of all of my open office hours and traveling help desk locations are listed at the end of this newsletter. Thanks for your patience!

D.C. and District Talk

· Terrorist Attack in Madrid
Thursday morning, during rush hour, terrorists attacked a commuter train with ten bombs in downtown Madrid. 199 people have been confirmed dead and over 1400 were injured in this cowardly attack on innocent civilians. It still hasn’t been determined who was behind these horrible bombings, but we will do everything to make sure these people are brought to justice. We stand side by side with the Spanish people in saying that such violence will not be tolerated. Please keep the victims and their families in your hearts and your prayers.

The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have shown their solidarity with the Spanish Red Cross (CRE) which mobilized volunteers and members within minutes of the disaster. The Spanish Red Cross (CRE) has organized more than 300 volunteers, including more than 70 psychological support experts, in Madrid to offer assistance to the injured and bereaved. For more information on the relief effort done by the Red Cross please visit <<http://www.ifrc.org/>>.
Constituent Corner

· Midwest States to Share in More than $93 Million in Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Funds
I’m pleased to announce to the sports enthusiasts in the 19th district that the state fish and wildlife agencies in the Midwest will share more than $93 million in excise taxes paid by America's hunters, anglers and boaters to support fish and wildlife conservation and education programs. Eight Midwestern states including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin, will share more than $52 million in sport fish restoration funds and more than $40 million in wildlife restoration funds, including $8 million in hunter education monies. Specifically, Illinois will receive $5,348,978 in funds.
The agencies will use the money to support conservation programs such as fish and wildlife monitoring, habitat improvement, land acquisition, research, education, and other programs. The funds also will help pay for hunter safety and aquatic education and fish- and wildlife-related recreation projects. The funds are apportioned by formula under two Federal Assistance programs administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For more information on these programs please visit, <http://federalaid.fws.gov/>.
· “Kids Love a Mystery Month” Created
This week I joined with my colleagues in supporting H.Con.Res. 373, "Kids Love A Mystery Month," a resolution to encourage young children to read. It passed the House of Representatives 388-11. This program is a great way to encourage literacy, foster deductive reasoning, and enhance critical thinking skills in our young readers. Reading is essential to success, and I enthusiastically endorse this resolution. Under the sponsorship of the Mystery Writers of America organization, this program brings together authors who write for youth and young adult readers with children, parents, teachers, and librarians in a nationwide series of events each October to celebrate mystery writing. This year, First Lady Laura Bush will serve as the honorary chair of the program. Since it's inception in 1998, the "Kids Love A Mystery" program has involved more than 15,000 young readers in 31 states and the District of Columbia.

· Illinois Receives Wildlife and Habitat Grant
Interior Secretary Gale Norton has announced that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will award $61.2 million in wildlife grants to state and territorial wildlife agencies. Illinois will receive just over $2 million of these funds. The State Wildlife Grant program is designed to assist states in the development and implementation of programs that benefit wildlife, including species not fished or hunted, and their habitats. The funds are made available through annual appropriations. The grant program demonstrates the Administration's commitment to conservation partnerships with state wildlife agencies by helping states tailor their conservation efforts to best fit local conditions. For more information on how you can apply please contact the Illinois Department of Natural Resources <http://www.dnr.state.il.us/>.

· Coal Miner Stamp Initiative
There is an effort in the works to bring about a U.S. Postage Stamp to commemorate the work of coal miners. Coal mining has played a large role in southern Illinois, and the miners have made some very important contributions to our community. To learn more about the history of this endeavor and find out how you can lend your support, please visit: <www.coalminerstamp.com <http://www.coalminerstamp.com>>.

· UIS Receives Federal Funding to Address Math Teacher Shortage
I’m happy to announce that the University of Illinois at Springfield has received a quarter of a million dollars in federal funding to help address the shortage of mathematics teachers in the state of Illinois. The funding will be used to establish an online math teacher certification program that will be offered by UIS for the first time this fall. This program will become a national model to address the shortage of mathematics teachers by enabling those who aspire to teach with the opportunity to make a mid-career change. The state of Illinois projects a need for more than 600 new math teachers in 2005 and 650 in 2006, and it is my hope that UIS will have a large role in filling these important positions. For more information on the University of Illinois at Springfield please visit <<http://www.uis.edu/>>.

· Congressional Art Competition
I wanted to invite all high school artists to submit an entry for the 23rd Annual Congressional Arts Competition, An Artistic Discovery. The winning entry from the 19th District will be chosen to hang on display here on Capitol Hill. Thousands of visitors will view the winners as the winning artwork from around the country hangs in a tunnel connecting the Capitol building to the three House office buildings. The submissions must be framed and be no larger than 32 inches high by 32 inches wide by 4 inches deep, including the frame. Complete application materials, including a release form that must be signed by the student, teacher, and a parent or guardian are available by calling my district office at 618-344-3065. High schools throughout the 19th District have also been mailed information about the contest. I hope to see lots of entries and I’m sure I’ll have a tough decision to make come May 7th, which is the deadline for entry.

· Dress for Success
As we’re starting to get into spring-cleaning time, I wanted to bring to everyone’s attention the Dress for Success program. Dress for Success is a not-for-profit organization that helps low-income women make tailored transitions into the workforce. Each Dress for Success client receives one suit when she has a job interview and a second suit when she gets the job. The Dress for Success Professional Women’s Group program then provides ongoing support to help the client build a successful career. If you have any clothing that you would like to donate we have two drop sites in southern Illinois. They are:

Southern Illinois Dress for Success
7705 W. Main Suite 15B
Belleville, Illinois 62223
Phone: 618-398-3305
Fax: 618-398-3325

Dress for Success - Alton
504 East 12th Street
Alton, IL 62002
Phone: 618-474-8111

You can also contact the Springfield location at <springfield@dressforsuccess.org <mailto:springfield@dressforsuccess.org>>. For more information on what to donate or other ways to help, please visit <http://www.dressforsuccess.org/>.

· Traveling Help Desk
On Thursday, March 18, Doug Bugger of my Collinsville district office will be available to help the residents of Farina and Kinmundy. In Farina, he will be at the Farina Village Hall on 106 South Oak Street from 10:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. In Kinmundy, he will be in the Kinmundy City Hall on 115 West Third Street from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

On Wednesday, March 24, Matt Pickett of my Centralia and Olney district offices will be available to help the residents of West Salem and Geff. In West Salem, he will be at the West Salem Village Hall on 106 East South Street from 11:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. In Geff, he will be in the Geff Village Hall on 220 West Mechanic Road from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

For more information, please visit my web page at <http://www.house.gov/shimkus/helpdesk.htm>. I hope you stop by!

· Shimkus to Hold Office Hours in Vandalia
As part of my ongoing effort to make myself as accessible to my constituents as possible, I will be holding Open Office Hours next week. I encourage you to drop by and share your problems and concerns with me. Appointments are not required, though they are appreciated in order to give me time to adequately address your concerns; if you would like to make one, please call (618) 344-3065.
Here is the location and time:
o Vandalia, March 19 - Friday, March 19 I will be in Oval Conference Room in Fayette County Courthouse, located at 221 South 7th Street in Vandalia from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
For more information on Open Office Hours, please visit my web page at <www.house.gov/shimkus/openoff.htm>. Hope you drop by and chat with me!

Legislative Week in Review

· Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2004 Passes House
I am pleased to announce that H.R. 3717, the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act, has passed the House and has now moved on to the Senate. I believe that this bill is an important first step into creating a more family friendly environment on our airwaves. For more information on this important legislation please visit, <http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c108:3:./temp/~c108Ff7yjz::>.

· Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act Passes House
Known in some circles as the “Cheeseburger Bill”, this piece of legislation would protect manufacturers from frivolous lawsuits. I believe that personal responsibility can often be forgotten in an era of one lawsuit after another. I supported this bill because I feel that we as a nation have to take responsibility for our own actions and what we eat as well. To view the full text of this bill please visit <http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c108:3:./temp/~c108Xi33qJ::>.

Anticipated Action on the House Floor Next Week

· Congress will be in session from Tuesday through Thursday of next week. Some of the legislation which will be considered includes:
o H.Res. 557 - Relating to the liberation of the Iraqi people and the valiant service of the United States Armed Forces and Coalition forces (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Hyde / International Relations Committee /Armed Services Committee)
o H.R. 1375 - Financial Services Regulatory Relief Act (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Capito / Financial Services Committee / Judiciary Committee)
o H.R. 3782 - Counter-Terrorist and Narco-Terrorist Rewards Program Act (Sponsored by Rep. Hyde / International Relations Committee)

Want to know more? Keep an eye on the Committee Central web page at <http://www.gop.gov/committeecentral/docs/pubs/WeeklyFloorBriefing>. This site provides up-to-date information on House legislative schedules.

Did You Know?

· St. Patrick’s Day is this Week!
St. Patrick’s Day is one of the most widely celebrated holidays here in the United States, but very few people actually know the true history of the holiday. For example, many people don’t know that St. Patrick was actually from Britain, but was kidnapped by Irish bandits and was held captive in Ireland for many years. For more interesting facts on St. Patrick and the history of our celebration of this day please visit <http://www.historychannel.com/exhibits/stpatricksday/main.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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