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D.C. and District Talk

" Energy Bill Passes House and Senate
I am proud to have served as a member of the House-Senate Conference Committee that negotiated a compromise on national energy policy has passed both bodies and will soon be signed into law by President Bush. The House passed the conference bill on July 28 with a bipartisan vote of 275-156. The Senate passed the bill this afternoon by a vote of 74-26.

As both a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and an ardent advocate of the need for a national energy policy, I am thrilled that we have finally reached this point. We need to implement these provisions, which will help meet our energy needs, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, create jobs, and increase the use of renewable fuels.

The energy bill includes provisions on these issues:

Oil, Gas, and Renewables
Doubles ethanol production to 7.5 billion gallons annually by 2012.
Extends the biodiesel tax credit through December 31, 2008.
Authorizes over $3 billion for oil, gas, and coal industries.
Allows for a deduction over 24 months of geological and geo-physical oil and gas exploration costs.
Cuts the number of special gasoline blends now required for certain cities or areas.

Coal
Authorizes $250 million annually for the Department of Energy's program for new coal research at National Coal Centers of Excellence, possibly including Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.
Provides $1.8 billion over nine years for the Clean Coal Power Initiative.
Authorizes $3 billion over ten years for the Clean Air Coal Program, which provides loan guarantees and financial assistance for the deployment of air pollution control equipment.

Electricity
Institutes mandatory reliability requirements for high voltage power lines.
Contains incentives and legal changes to encourages increased capacity.
Offers financial assistance to generate more electricity from solar, wind, biomass, and geothermal sources.

Energy Efficiency and Conservation
Authorizes a $2.15 billion hydrogen fuel cell program to get hydrogen fuel cell cars on the market by 2020.
Authorizes $200 million for the Clean Cities program to provide grants for alternative fueled and fuel cell vehicles.
Requires a 20 percent reduction in federal building energy use by 2013.
Increases funding for the Low Income Housing Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
Authorizes $200 million for the Clean School Bus Program to reduce fuel usage.

I was pleased to be able to work with my Illinois colleagues who were also on the Conference Committee on certain aspects of this legislation - Senator Obama was very helpful on the ethanol provisions, and Congressman Costello is always supportive of the coal industry.

There are significant benefits for ethanol in this legislation, including a tax credit for gas stations that install E-85 pumps. This was a provision that Speaker Hastert was very supportive of and helpful in getting it included. I was also able to amend the bill to have automakers place a label that identifies the vehicle as being able to run on E-85 on the gas cap or inside the fuel door.

Another provision of the bill is to extend Daylight Savings Time by four weeks beginning in 2007 to run from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. Energy consumption is expected to be reduced. If a study shows that this change will not provide energy savings, Congress can then vote to maintain the current schedule.

Will electricity and gasoline prices drop immediately as a result of this bill, no. But I do believe that it will help us become more independent of foreign oil, will expand our use of renewable fuels, and will make our electricity production and transmission more reliable. All of which will help slow price increases.

" Several Important Health Bills Pass House
I voted in support of several health care related issues this week in Washington.

The Help Efficient, Accessible, Low Cost, Timely Health Care (HEALTH) Act of 2005 (HR 5), which I was proud to cosponsor, will assist physicians who have been facing skyrocketing insurance premiums. This bill promotes speedy resolution of lawsuits by requiring that they be filed within three years of the injury in question; holds defendants jointly liable for the proportion of fault not 100 percent of damages; limits non-economic damages to no more than $250,000; and allows states to keep existing laws intact.

America has the finest health care system in the world, unfortunately we also have the most litigation. Our area has been adversely affected by the loss of numerous physicians and surgeons, and I will do anything I can to keep them here.

The Small Business Health Fairness Act (HR 525), of which I was a cosponsor, attempts to increase the number of people covered by health insurance. Small businesses would be allowed to join together through association health plans (AHPs) to purchase affordable health insurance for their workers as a larger group.

Several other health care related bills also passed:
The State High Risk Pool Funding Extension Act of 2005 (HR 3204) extends federal funding for the operation of state run high-risk health insurance pools for people unable to get coverage due to chronic illness or pre-existing conditions.

The Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act (S 544) encourages the reporting and analysis of medical errors through peer review. This legislation allows this review without violating patient privacy and without adverse actions against the physician.

Finally, the House passed a resolution (HRes 289) which I also cosponsored supporting National Health Center Week. Health centers provide services to those in need without insurance or access to adequate health services.

Southern Illinois was once lacking in community health centers, but now has several serving those who either cannot afford regular health care services or who do not have access to other services, particularly in rural areas.

" Transportation Bill Passes House
I voted in support of the Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (TEA-LU) Conference Report. This legislation funds highways, transit, safety programs, and other related projects in fiscal years through 2009. This is the final version that worked out differences between House and Senate versions. It will go to the President after passage by both bodies. It overwhelmingly passed the House July 29.

The Mississippi River bridge project is reported to be funded at a level of $240 million.

In addition, we garnered funding for 16 specific projects in our district:
+ $5.6 million for a four lane connection between Routes 13 and 45 in Harrisburg and upgrades to Netty Green Road in Saline County;
+ $4.8 million for the improved access to I-57/64 in Mt. Vernon;
+ $3.2 million for the extension of MacArthur Blvd. in Springfield;
+ $2.4 million for Route 51 from Pana to Vandalia;
+ $1.6 million for reconstruction and realignment of Evergreen Avenue in Effingham;
+ $1.6 million for U.S. Route 51 south of Moweaqua;
+ $1.6 million for Route 159 in Collinsville;
+ $1.5 million for Outer Belt West in Effingham;
+ $1.48 million for Route 29 extension from Rochester to Taylorville;
+ $1.4 million for a cross town connection between Routes 3 and 67/111 in Godfrey;
+ $1.36 million for the U.S. Route 67 corridor north of Jerseyville to Carrollton;
+ $1 million for an overpass at U.S. Route 40 to Southwest Andrews Drive in
Greenville;
+ $500,000 for improvements to township roads in the Shawnee National Forest in
Pope County;
+ $440,000 for a new intersection with U.S. Route 50 in Olney;
+ $400,000 for a road extension north from University Park Drive in Edwardsville;
+ $334,400 for bus improvements for the South Central Illinois Mass Transit District, based in Centralia and serving Salem, Centralia, Nashville, Carlyle, Mt. Vernon, West Frankfort, and Benton.

In addition to these specific projects, an additional $15 million is included for work on Route 51 and $7 million is included for U.S. Route 67.

The Illinois Congressional delegation worked together in a bipartisan manner on a number of these projects, especially the Mississippi River bridge project. I would like to thank Congressman Costello, Senators Durbin and Obama, Congressmen Johnson, LaHood, Johnson and Evans, along with Speaker Hastert, for their efforts and support for these projects and other projects that will benefit the people of the 19th District. While I am disappointed that the Mississippi River bridge funding level is not higher, this is one of the largest projects funded nationally.

These transportation projects not only provide needed traffic improvements, they will provide construction jobs and then hopefully contribute to economic growth. The U. S. Department of Labor estimates that for every $1 billion in federal highway and transit investment, 47,500 jobs are created or sustained.

Constituent Corner

" New "Traveling Help Desk" Dates
On Thursday, August 4th, Ruth Buettner of my Collinsville district office will be available to help the residents of Salem and Patoka. In Salem, she will be at the City Council Chambers on 101 S. Broadway from 11:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. In Patoka, she will be in the Patoka Village Hall on 301 S. Oak from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
On Wednesday, August 10th, Mary Ballad of my Springfield district office will be available to help the residents of Farmersville and Pawnee. In Farmersville, she will be at the Farmersville Village Hall on Nobbe Street from 12:30 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. In Pawnee, she will be in the Pawnee Village Hall from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 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. 22 - Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (Rep. McHugh - Government Reform)
o H.R. 525 - Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2005 (Rep. Johnson {TX} - Education and Workforce)
o H.R. 5 - Help Efficient, Accessible, Low Cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2005 (Rep. Gingery - Energy and Commerce)
o H.R. 6 - Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Rep. Barton - Energy and Commerce)
o H.R. 3 - Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (Rep. Young - Transportation and Infrastructure)
o H.R. 2361 - Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 (Rep. Taylor {NC} - Appropriations)

" 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 in recess for the month of August. For more info on the House legislative schedule as we get closer to September keep an eye on the Office of the Clerk's web site: http://clerk.house.gov/legisAct/index.html.

Did You Know?

" Today in 1958 the National Aeronautics Space Administration was Established
On July 29, 1958 the United States Congress passed legislation formally inaugurating the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

As you all probably saw in the news coverage, the shuttle Discovery returned to space this week. There is currently some concern over the falling debris during take off. I have every belief that our astronauts will return home safely, but please be sure to keep these men and women in your thoughts and prayers.

For full coverage of NASA's return to flight please visit http://www.nasa.gov/returntoflight/main/index.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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