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Fireworks explode above the Lincoln Memorial, foreground, Washington Monument, and U.S. Capitol, during the annual Fourth of July celebration in Washington, July 4, 2003. (AP/WWP Stephen Boitano)

PBS will again be televising “A Capitol Fourth” this year. Tune into your local station to view the celebration from the National Mall in Washington, DC. For more info please visit http://www.pbs.org/capitolfourth.

D.C. and District Talk

· Defending Private Property Rights
I am proud to be a cosponsor of a resolution that passed late June 30 that “expressed disapproval” of the recent Supreme Court decision Kelo v. City of New London.

I believed the court erred in their decision. I believe the Constitution only allows the government to take private property for ‘public use’ meaning a public building, road, school, or similar use. I do not believe taking private property for another private property owner is good policy.

The precedents set in this decision could mean that cities take any land they wish, as long as the end result is some new economic development. Who determines how old homes should be before it’s time to tear them down? Who determines how much homes should be worth before it’s time to tear them down? Who determines that my business is of greater value than your business? I just believe this goes too far.

The resolution (H Res 340) does not override the Supreme Court decision but does indicate the Congress’ opinion that the dissenting opinion upholds the “historical interpretation” of the Constitution. The resolution urges states and local governments to not use this decision “as justification to abuse the power of eminent domain.”

As Justice Thomas wrote in a dissent, ‘Though citizens are safe from the government in their homes, the homes themselves are not.’ I thought private ownership of property was a guaranteed right. This decision puts that into question.

This resolution was simply the first step that I believe Congress will take to ensure the rights of American property owners. Please be assured that I will do everything in my power to fight for these inalienable rights and will do my best to see that this decision is reversed.

· House Resolved to See Chinese Energy Acquisition Reviewed
On Thursday the House passed, with my support, H. Res. 344, introduced by Resources Committee Chairman Richard W. Pombo (R-CA) and chairmen from five other House committees, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that a Chinese government acquisition of a major U.S. energy company could threaten America’s national security and warrants a thorough review.

Last week the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) announced its bid to purchase Unocal Corporation, one of the top 10 U.S. oil and natural gas companies. Economic and national security concerns have arisen as a result of, but not limited to, the fact that CNOOC is a Chinese government-owned entity.

I believe that it is more than appropriate for our government to investigate the economic and national security implications of this potential acquisition by the Chinese national government. Such a move may not be consistent with free market principles or in the best interest of U.S. national security.

I believe that is important for the continued growth of the Chinese economy as they are an important trading partner of the United States. However, I believe that any potential threat to our national security must be investigated thoroughly.

As Vice-Chairman of the Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee, I understand the importance of creating a cohesive energy policy and I continue to work with my Senate colleagues to push for passage of H.R. 6, the Energy Policy Act of 2005. I encourage the Chinese to develop their own national energy policy, but will continue to monitor this Unocal situation carefully.

Constituent Corner

· Remembering Victims of Terrorism

I am proud to be a cosponsor of a resolution that will honor the 19 members of the United States Air Force killed in the June 25, 1996, attack at the Khobar Towers military housing complex in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. An additional 372 people were injured in that attack.

Among those killed was Airman First Class Joseph E. Rimkus of Edwardsville, Illinois.

While the attacks of September 11, 2001, brought the terrorist attacks on our nation to our own soil, they were not the first terrorist attacks, I want to take this ninth anniversary to remember those lost, particularly Airman Rimkus.

A similar resolution was passed on the fifth anniversary in 2001.

· New “Traveling Help Desk” Dates

On Thursday, July 14th, Holly Healy of my Harrisburg district office will be available to help the residents of West Salem and Bellmont. In West Salem, she will be at the West Salem Village Hall on 106 East South Street from 9:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. In Bellmont, she will be in the Bellmont Village Hall on 218 North Main Street from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 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.Res. 344 – Expressing the Sense of the House of Representatives that a Chinese state owned energy company exercising control of critical United States energy infrastructure and energy production capacity could take actions that would threaten to impair the national security of the United States (Rep. Pombo – Resources)

o H.Res. 340 – Expressing the grave disapproval of the House of Representatives regarding the majority opinion of the Supreme Court in the case of Kelo et al. v. City of New London et al. that nullifies the protections afforded private property owners in the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment (Rep. Gingrey – Judiciary)

o H.R. 3130 – Veterans Medical Supplemental Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Rep. Walsh – Appropriations)

o H.R. 3058 – Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (Rep. Knollenberg – Appropriations)

o H.R. 3021 – TANF Extension Act of 2005 (Rep. Herger – Ways & Means)

o S. 714 – Junk Fax Prevention Act of 2005 (Sen. Smith – Energy & Commerce)

o H.Con.Res. 188 – Honoring the members of the United States Air Force who were killed in the June 25, 1996, terrorist bombing of the Khobar Towers United States military housing compound near Dhahran, Saudi Arabia (Rep. Miller {FL} – Armed Services)

o H.R. 458 – Military Personnel Financial Services Protection Act (Rep. Davis {KY} – Financial Services)

o H.R. 1428 – National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Reauthorization Act of 2005 (Rep. Pombo – Resources)

· 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 recess through Tuesday July 12th.

· 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?

· You can send messages of support to our troops overseas from home!

www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil is a website where you can find ways to help support our troops overseas. As we celebrate America’s independence this weekend, it is important to remember our brave men and women who are serving abroad to spread freedom and democracy and protect us here at home. Please take a time out of your weekend and send message to troops. As a former infantryman who served in Germany during the Cold War, I can say that knowing that your fellow Americans are thinking about you really does make a difference.

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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