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D.C. and District Talk

· Energy Bill Passes House
I was proud to vote in support of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, H.R. 6, on April 21st. I have been a long-time supporter of implementing a national energy plan, and I have voted for numerous versions of this energy bill. This legislation promotes conservation, reduces our dependence on foreign oil, improves our economy, and creates jobs.

As we reach record highs for both oil and gasoline prices, as well as record levels of foreign oil imports, we must tackle these difficult issues. The OPEC oil embargo began 30 years ago this month; many of us remember gas stations running out of gas and very long lines. That took place when we imported just 30 percent of our oil; today, we import over 60 percent of our oil. I believe we must start to produce more oil here at home. H.R. 6 will accomplish these goals.

We should also not forget the massive blackout that hit the northeast U.S. in 2003. This bill deals with the important issue of electricity transmission. I was successful in getting a bipartisan amendment passed in Committee that will ensure investment into improvements in the electric grid. Also, our agricultural sector and our environment will be aided by the inclusion of a renewable fuel standard.

Another aspect of this legislation is the positive effect it will have on job creation here in Illinois. The increased use of renewable fuel is one area where jobs are expected to grow. Additionally, the clean coal initiatives in this bill will help the coal fields of central and southern Illinois.

Finally, I want to touch on the many environmentally-friendly provisions included in this bill. The bill increases funding for hydrogen and hydrogen fuel cell development; increases research funding for coal gasification projects; creates a new Clean School Bus program; and has strong energy efficiency language, including a provision to reduce energy use in federal buildings by 20 percent.

We started with legislative language that was agreed to in last year’s Conference Committee. I hope that this time we will finally be successful in getting a bill signed into law, as we desperately need a national energy plan.

On Wednesday, May 4th I will be discussing the Energy Bill from 9:30am – 10:00am CST on the Illinois Farm Bureau radio network. Please tune in to hear more about this important legislation!

For more information on H.R. 6 as it goes through the legislative process please visit http://thomas.loc.gov.

Constituent Corner

· Mayor Crowder Nominated to the White House Conference on Aging

I am happy to announce that I have submitted the name of Flora Mayor Charles Crowder as the 19th District representative to the White House Conference on Aging.

Mr. Crowder has previously served as a 19th District delegate to the National Silver Haired Congress and is a member of the Illinois Council on Aging. Prior to being elected mayor, he also served as a member of the Midland Area Agency on Aging.

Mayor Crowder is an extremely capable man who is involved in many aspects of his community beyond city business. I am pleased that he is willing to serve in this role.

Mayor Crowder retired in 1992 from Dowell Schlumberger. In 1996 he and his wife moved to Flora. He is a member of Rotary International, Sons of the American Legion, and the United Methodist Church.

For more information on the White House Conference on Aging please visit http://www.whcoa.gov.

· New Food Pyramid Released by USDA

I am pleased to announce that Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns has unveiled MyPyramid, a new symbol and interactive food guidance system. "Steps to a Healthier You," MyPyramid's central message, supports President Bush's HealthierUS initiative which is designed to help Americans live longer, better and healthier lives. MyPyramid, which replaces the Food Guide Pyramid introduced in 1992, is part of an overall food guidance system that emphasizes the need for a more individualized approach to improving diet and lifestyle.

MyPyramid incorporates recommendations from the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which was released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in January. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans provide authoritative advice for people two years of age and older about how proper dietary habits can promote health and reduce the risk of major chronic diseases. MyPyramid was developed to carry the messages of the dietary guidelines and to make Americans aware of the vital health benefits of simple and modest improvements in nutrition, physical activity and lifestyle behavior.

For more information on the new food pyramid please visit www.mypyramid.gov.

· Truth About Cell Phones and the National Do Not Call Registry

If you’ve received an e-mail telling you that your cell phone is about to be assaulted by telemarketing calls as a result of a new cell phone number database, rest assured that this is not the case. Telemarketing to cell phone numbers has always been illegal in most cases and will continue to be so. In response to recent e-mail campaigns urging consumers to place their cell phone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry, the Federal Trade Commission and Federal Communications Commission issue this advisory to give consumers the facts.

One e-mail making the rounds says:

“JUST A REMINDER...In a few weeks, cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sale calls. YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS... To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone: 888/382-1222. It is the National DO NOT CALL list. It will only take a minute of your time. It blocks your number for five (5) years. PASS THIS ON TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS...”

Another version claims:

“The Federal Trade Commission has set up a "do not call" list. It is called a cell phone registry. To be included on the "do not call" list, you must call from the number you wish to register.”

Here’s what you need to know about the National Do Not Call Registry program:

•FCC regulations prohibit telemarketers from using automated dialers to call cell phone numbers. Automated dialers are standard in the industry, so most telemarketers are barred from calling consumers on their cell phones without their consent.

•The federal government does not maintain a national cell phone registry. Personal cell phone users have always been able to add their numbers to the National Do Not Call Registry — the same Registry consumers use to register their land lines — either online at www.donotcall.gov or by calling toll-free 1-888-382-1222 from the telephone number they wish to register. Registrations become effective within 31 days of signing up and are active for five years. There is no cut-off date or deadline for registration.

•Business-to-business calls are not covered under the Registry.

To learn more about the National Do Not Call Registry and the rules that enforce it, visit the FTC at www.ftc.gov or the FCC at www.fcc.gov.

· New Grant & Loan to Fayette Water

I am pleased to announce federal funding through U. S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development. The Fayette Water Company will receive a $1 million grant and a $2.1 million loan through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program.

The funds will be used for Phase III to extend this rural water system to 400 new customers.

Water systems are vital to maintaining and growing a community, as well as for economic development. I applaud the company leaders and community residents who worked to expand the Fayette Water Company into these new areas.

The Fayette Water Company currently serves the villages of St. Elmo, Brownstown, and St. Peter and 700 rural customers.

· New “Traveling Help Desk” Dates

On Thursday, May 5, Ruth Buettner of my Collinsville district office will be available to help the residents of Vandalia and Greenville. In Vandalia, she will be at the Fayette County Courthouse Meeting Room on 221 South 7th Street from 10:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. In Greenville, she will be at First Bank on 200 W Main Street from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 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 passed by the House of Representatives this week:

o H.R. 748 – Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act (Rep. Ros-Lehtinen – Judiciary)

o H.Res. 22 – Expressing the Sense of the House that American small businesses are entitled to a small business bill of rights (Rep. Keller – Small Business)

o H.R. 902 – Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005 (Rep. Castle – Financial Services)

o H.Con.Res. 95 – FY2006 Budget Resolution (Rep. Nussle – Budget)

· 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 from Tuesday through Thursday of next week. Some of the legislation which will be considered includes:

o H.R. 366 - Vocational and Technical Education for the Future Act (Rep. Castle - Education and the Workforce)

o H.R. 1185 - Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Act of 2005 (Rep. Bachus – Financial Services)

· 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.

Did You Know?

· Next Week is National Arson Awareness Week

The goal of this year’s Arson Awareness Week is to focus public attention on elementary, middle, and high school arsons. Fatalities from school fires are rare, but injuries per fire are higher than those of all non-residential structure fires. Arson also robs communities of valuable assets in lives and property. The price that America pays for fires set in our schools is extreme. The crime of youth fire-setting and juvenile arson accounts for over 50 percent of all intentionally set fires. In addition to the cost of the damaged property, there is the cost to the community of the increasing resources needed to fight the problem.

Fire in our schools is a Burning Subject…In addition to fire departments; communities must involve the police department, mental health professionals, school system, children’s hospitals, social services and the media. If citizens can be become more informed about arson prevention, along with having intervention and treatment programs for these heinous acts of burning, strides can be made in this preventable malfeasance

For more information on Arson Awareness Week please visit http://www.usfa.fema.gov/safety/campaigns/arson-aaw1.shtm.

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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