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D.C. and District Talk

" Republicans Win Congressional Baseball Game for Charity
On July 8th, Republican and Democrat members of Congress got together for the 43rd Annual Congressional Baseball Game for charity. I pitched all seven innings for the GOP, and we won with a score of 14 to 7. Congressman Bill Shuster of Pennsylvania, who had a run-scoring single and a two-run double in a 3-for-3 performance at the plate, was named the game's MVP.

Each year, proceeds from the game, totaling nearly $100,000, benefit the Washington
Literacy Council, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington's Metropolitan Police Clubhouses and a selection of charities chosen by the game's host, the minor league baseball team, the Bowie Baysox.

Constituent Corner

" Illinois to Receive Funding to Improve Stroke Care
I am happy to announce that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have named Illinois as a funding recipient for the Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Registries. The purpose of the Registries is to collect data on stroke care to improve the quality of care for acute stroke patients.

Through the Registries, states will be able to design, implement, and evaluate interventions based on collected data, which will help hospitals improve their delivery of the critical emergency care that can prevent permanent disabilities from stroke. Strategies to improve the quality of care are expected to focus on policy and environmental approaches, systems change, and professional education to improve stroke treatment.

Stroke is the No. 3 killer of Americans and across the nation an estimated 4.8 million Americans and their families live with its disabling effects. Registry sites, working in collaboration with state health departments and hospitals, will look to improve diagnosis of stroke in the emergency room by directing patients to the most timely, and effective, treatment, as well as improving secondary stroke prevention - controlling high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol, and smoking cessation.

For more information on stroke prevention please visit www.heart.org.

" Students & Teachers from Two Area High Schools Attend College Application Seminar
On July 21, eight seniors and two teachers from Massac County and Pope County High Schools will leave Illinois to join students from four other communities from across the United States at the University of Denver in Colorado for the College Summit National Workshop. Students, teachers, writing experts, and college counselors will assist the students in preparing their college applications.

The workshop is for low-income students with mid-tier grades who have been noted as having high potential by their teachers. The College Summit National Workshop entails four days of hard work and intense learning, both academically and personally.

On average, 79 percent of College Summit Workshop attendees enroll in college, compared to 46 percent of their peers. In addition, 80 percent of College Summit students stay enrolled. I wish them all the best of luck at the seminar and during their college application process.

For more information, visit www.collegsummit.org.

" Jefferson County Recieves Grant to Fight Substance Abuse
I am pleased to announce a grant from the United States Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs for the Jefferson County Mission Possible Coalition to continue its Drug-Free Communities Support Program. The fight against substance abuse is ongoing. We must continue to do everything we can to fight the scourge of illegal drugs and substance abuse and I am happy we can bring federal dollars to the effort.

The grant, through the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, provides $75,000 to the Jefferson County Board, the fiscal agent for the Mission Possible Coalition. To achieve its goals, the Coalition plans to provide intervention and mentoring opportunities for identified at-risk youth; sponsor positive, alternative drug-free activities for youth during out-of-school hours; increase community collaboration by implementing Home Town Mini-Coalitions utilizing faith-based organizations; provide substance-abuse-prevention awareness, education and training to parents; and increase citizen and multi-sector membership and collaboration.

For more information, visit http://ojjdp.ncjrs.org/.

" Newsletter Suggestions
I am always looking for new ways to improve the way I get information to my constituents. If you have any ideas or information that you feel would work in the newsletter please let me know by emailing my systems administrator at shimkus.il19@mail.house.gov.

Legislative Week in Review
" The following bills were passed by the House of Representatives this week:
o H.R. 4766 - Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2005
o H.R. 4759 - United States-Australia Free Trade Implementation Act
o H.R. 4818 - Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2005

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. 3313 - Marriage Protection Act
o H.R. 4567 - Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2005
o H.R. 4600 - Junk Fax Prevention 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.

Did You Know?

" This Week is the 200th Anniversary of the Hamilton-Burr Duel
As some of you may know, 200 years ago in Weehawken, New Jersey, Vice President Aaron Burr fatally shot his long-time political antagonist Alexander Hamilton. Thankfully, in the House my colleagues and I settle our differences either on the floor of the House or sometimes on the baseball field.

Regardless, the Hamilton-Burr duel is an important piece of American history. For more information on the duel and the relationship between these two historical figures please visit http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/duel/.

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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